Elizabeth Holmes

Elizabeth Holmes is a writer and journalist based in Los Angeles, California, born in 1980. She gained recognition for her insightful coverage of the British royal family's style and the messages conveyed through their fashion choices. Her debut book, "HRH: So Many Thoughts on Royal Style," published in November 2020, became a bestseller.

Holmes's journalistic career began at The Wall Street Journal, where she progressed from reporting assistant to political reporter and later focused on the business of fashion and beauty as a senior style reporter. She also hosted a web video series for the publication. Transitioning to freelance work in 2017, she has since contributed to prominent outlets such as The New York Times, Town & Country, Real Simple, and InStyle. Her work often delves into the strategic use of fashion by public figures, particularly within royal circles, examining how clothing choices serve as a form of communication and branding.

Elizabeth Holmes's career in journalism provided a foundation for her later focus on the communication strategies embedded in fashion. After graduating from St. Olaf College and earning a master's in journalism from Columbia University, she began her professional journey at The Wall Street Journal. There, she covered political campaigns before shifting her focus to the corporate world, reporting on major retailers and apparel companies. Her role evolved into a senior style reporter and columnist, where she explored the business dimensions of the fashion and beauty industries. During her tenure, Holmes also developed a web video series. In 2017, she moved into freelance journalism, contributing to publications like The New York Times and Town & Country. This period also saw the inception of her popular Instagram series, "So Many Thoughts," which dissects the sartorial choices of the British royal family, interpreting the underlying messages and intentions behind their public appearances.

Holmes views royal fashion not merely as aesthetic choices but as deliberate instruments of communication and purpose. Her work, including her bestselling book "HRH: So Many Thoughts on Royal Style," explores how Queen Elizabeth II, Diana, Princess of Wales, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, leverage their clothing to convey specific messages, brand themselves, and advance their objectives. Holmes posits that royals invest significant thought into their attire because they understand the attention it garners and aim to harness it for their public roles. She explains that analyzing these fashion choices reveals a respect for the effort involved, recognizing that these individuals use style as a powerful tool to impress, draw attention to their work, and fulfill their duties in service to the Crown and country. This perspective highlights the strategic and purposeful nature of royal presentation.

“Sometimes people ask, 'Why do you care so much about what they're wearing?' I care because they care, because they're putting a lot of thought into it because they recognize, good or bad, that this attention is there. And they're going to harness it to further their purpose.”

“They need to impress and wow and draw attention to what they’re doing because it’s a real opportunity. And they’re looking at it as part of their duties. It contributes to the overall mission of serving the crown and the country, and when you look at fashion through that lens, it’s a really powerful thing.”