Cover girls: Celebrating English style down the ages

Some were models, most not. But all embodied a certain Englishness the rest of the world could envy, no matter what they thought of England itself.

Perhaps it was Elizabeth Taylor who started it, radiating an early Fifties Hollywood-made glamour back to the austerity-ridden shores of her homeland.

But it has taken until now for someone to quantify what – and more importantly, who – makes a British style goddess.

Harper’s Bazaar magazine, the self-styled resource for “women who are the first to buy the best”, has celebrated its 150th anniversary by compiling a list of the world’s 150 most fashionable and stylish women.

Flying the union flag are the Duchess of Cambridge, Naomi Campbell, Amal Clooney and the singer Adele.

The list takes in only those at height of their fame, and so excludes such quintessential English roses as Princess Diana, and more idiosyncratic idols like Margaret Thatcher, who never underestimated the power of a good handbag.

Yorkshire can take some credit for the Duchess of Cambridge’s distinctive look: her signature Burberry trench coat, her most-worn piece in her courting days, was turned out at the company’s factory in Castleford, from fabric milled up the road in Cross Hills, near Keighley.

Harper’s Bazaar’s editor-in-chief, Glenda Bailey, said editors of the magazine’s 32 editions around the world had contributed to the style list, and their selections were “more or less the same”.

As well as the British standard bearers, they included Mrs Obama and the 16-year-old American singer Willow Smith, daughter of the actor Will Smith.

“These women are renowned for style around the world. This is in praise of the individual,” Ms Bailey said.

Anita Barr, of the fashion retailer Harvey Nichols, said: “Britain can boast a wealth of style icons, from the queens of the catwalk, including Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, to the Monarch herself and in most recent years the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton. Other leading ladies across the music, theatre and film industries further amplify Britain’s fashion authority and has helped to highlight London’s home-grown design talent too.

“We can now celebrate a roster of leading international labels such as Alexander McQueen, Stella McCartney, Erdem and Roksanda who have all enjoyed sell out collections at Harvey Nichols following endorsements from style icons such as Kate Middleton.

“These brands epitomise the timeless and elegant style that Britain has become known for and consumers over the world will continue to look to London, in particular, for inspiration.”

Back in Yorkshire yesterday, the fashion designers of tomorrow were being schooled in the theory.

Rebecca O’Leary, a tutor on the Fashion Design and Production BA Honours course at York College, said Britain’s rich fashion heritage made it particularly stylish.

“We are also influenced by other cultures, and fashion is ingrained in us,” she said. “Our High Street is world-class, with catwalk versions of the latest styles readily accessible to the general public.”