Sirikit, Thailand’s Queen Mother and Glamorous Fashion Icon, Dies at 93

Thailand's former queen, Sirikit has, died in Bangkok. She was 93.According to reports, the Royal Palace stated that the cause was complications from blood sepsis. The Queen Mother of Thailand was rarely

seen in public, as she had suffered a stroke in 2012.She was the widow of King Bhumibol, the world’s longest-serving head of state who had died in 2016. He was succeeded by the couple's son and the present monarch, King Maha Vajiralongkorn.

Sirikit was born into a royal family as the daughter of Prince Nakkhatra Mangkala Kitiyakara and Mom Luang Bua Snidvongs.She married King Bhumibol on 28 April 1950. The couple met in France when she was a teenager and her father was Thailand's ambassador. A week after their marriage, the king was coronated as Rama IX of the Chakri Dynasty, and she received the royal title Somdet Phra Nang Chao Sirikit Phra Borommarachininat. The former queen's birthday is celebrated as Mother’s Day in Thailand, a national holiday.

The Making of a Glamour Queen

The royal couple enjoyed travelling around the world. She was known to be a charmer, and during their royal visits her elegance would fascinate people. According to Seth Mydans for the New York Times, "In both Western dress and Thai silks, she topped the International Best Dressed List — a prestigious annual ranking of the world’s most stylish figures — four times in the 1960s."

She was thoughtful about her wardrobe and understood the influence her clothes had on the public. She mixed fashion with diplomacy, and her outfits would grab headlines. American Vogue published a ten-page editorial about the Thai court.According to the website of The Pink Lookbook, "Vogue was not the only magazine covering the young Queen and her fashion. Balmain’s orange dress with embroidery from 1962, called 'Marly', was also featured in L’Officiel de la Mode, and 'Concerto', a yellow silk ensemble, was printed in L’Art et la Mode." Yellow-coloured outfits dominated her wardrobe, which is not surprising, since the colour is also associated with the Thai King.French couturier Pierre Balmain was known as a "dear personal friend" of the Queen. "In the ‘60s and ‘70s, Pierre Balmain designed for Thailand’s royal family, creating an extensive wardrobe for Queen Sirikit, who was considered to be one of the best-dressed women of her time. Her one-of-a-kind Balmain collection was filled with exceptional day, cocktail and eveningwear designs that melded Parisian couture techniques, silhouettes and tailoring with the beauty of Thai silks, embellishments and patterns," states the website of Balmain. Her "Chut Thai" adaptations, or traditional Thai costumes, were modernised for international diplomacy. She was also known for matching accessories meticulously, including handbags, shoes, jewellery, and even flowers in her hair.

She was keen to promote Thai identity and is remembered as the driving force behind the rise in popularity of Thai silk. According to The Nation, "By partnering with French designer Pierre Balmain, she crafted sophisticated, royal-looking dresses made from Thai silk, blending classic French styles with local craftsmanship. The result was a fashion revolution, where Thai silk went from being a traditional fabric to a high-fashion statement."Her shoes were made by René Mancini, who supplied many Paris couturiers.