Watch a Sneak Peek of Netflix's 'The Crown

Queen Elizabeth portrayed as a young woman in 'The Crown'

(Image credit: Netflix)

published 17 October 2016

The Crown, Netflix's new show about the life of Queen Elizabeth (opens in new tab), is reported to be their most expensive show to date ($156 million!!), so you should 100 percent expect an amazingly over-the-top wardrobe.

A young Queen Elizabeth tries on her crown in 'The Crown'

Case in point: The show's massive costume department could have relied on vintage items for Queen Elizabeth's circa 1940s and '50s clothes, but designer Michele Clapton chose to work with a team of over 50 people to painstakingly custom-make almost every piece—down to the shoes. The result? Hundreds of bespoke costumes, many of which are fitting for a literal queen.

"We see Elizabeth searching for a way to deal with her roles: Queen, wife, and mother," Clapton tells MarieClaire.com of the wardrobe's narrative needs. "She develops a uniform—the equivalent of a man's suit. Formal, without feminine details. An armor of sorts. I try to show her different roles by using different styles: the country tweeds, jodhpurs, and cardigans for home; the uniform for work; and the gowns, coats, and hats for formal. As we see her become more confident, a personal style starts to creep in."

Netflix gave MarieClaire.com a sneak peek at The Crown's gorgeous costumes in the clip below, and spoiler alert: Queen Elizabeth's wedding train took six weeks to embroider.

Watch here, and mark your calendar for the show's premiere on November 4:

Follow Marie Claire on Facebook (opens in new tab) for the latest celeb news, beauty tips, fascinating reads, livestream video, and more.

Mehera Bonner is a celebrity and entertainment news writer who enjoys Bravo and Antiques Roadshow with equal enthusiasm. She was previously entertainment editor at Marie Claire and has covered pop culture for over a decade.