Meet Elizabeth I, Queen Of Fashion, And Henry VIII, The Ladykiller - Modern Day Historical Figures (PICTURES)
Meet Elizabeth I, The Queen Of Fashion - Modern Day Historical Figures (PICTURES)
Matthew Tucker— The Huffington Post UK
Born in today's society, would Elizabeth I have reigned supreme as Queen of the Shops, like fellow red-head Mary Portas? Would 'Horrible' Henry have enjoyed making and breaking dreams in showbusiness, like TV's 'Mr Nasty' Simon Cowell?
A team of digital artists spent three months updating a series of classic portraits - working closely with historian Dr Suzannah Lipscomb to ensure the new artworks accurately reflect how the historical figures might look in 2013.
Dr Lipscomb leaned heavily on the insight gained from the Secret Life Of series on Yesterday channel, starting 2nd May at 9pm, which delves deep into the lives of iconic historical figures and dishes the dirt on their unexplored secret lives.
Adrian Wills, General Manager of Yesterday said: "Secret Life Of takes a completely new perspective on the lives on some of history’s most fascinating and notorious figures. The iconic personalities' lifestyles and habits are dissected through the eyes of the contemporary, celebrity-obsessed world. "
Take a look at the digital creations below, with the character references that made up the modern-day personas:
Elizabeth I - the Virgin Queen reigns supreme in designer suit
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A powerful no-nonsense female leader, Elizabeth might have straightened her hair in a powerful yet stylish short cropped style
Known for her love of fashion, she would be more likely to wear a bespoke stylish and unique female suit made with rich colours and material
Rarely pictured smiling, Queen Elizabeth exudes power in the modern day portrait, and hides her new veneers purchased to disguise her notoriously bad teeth
Henry VIII - 'Horrible' Henry embraces customary Simon Cowell ‘open shirt’ and pearly white veneers
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Renowned for being vain and lavish, King Henry has been given white veneers and hair plugs to hide his balding head
Instead of the cotton shirt fastened up to the chin he now sports an unbuttoned shirt ‘Simon Cowell’ style and is very much the ‘modern day lady killer’
An avid sportsman and known for being conceited he has been slimmed down. Henry’s vanity would have ensured he would have retained the naturally muscly, rugby-player type figure he had in his youth
Known for having spent a lot of time outdoors riding, hunting, and playing tennis, Henry VIII has also been given a tan
Flick through other historical figures who have been given a modern makeover:
Icons Of History Are Given Modern Day Makeover
ELIZABETH I(01 of05)
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- A powerful no-nonsense female leader, Elizabeth might have straightened her hair in a powerful yet stylish short cropped style - Known for her love of fashion, she would be more likely to wear a bespoke stylish and unique female suit made with rich colours and material - Rarely pictured smiling, Queen Elizabeth exudes power in the modern day portrait, and hides her new veneers purchased to disguise her notoriously bad teeth
SHAKESPEARE(02 of05)
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- Daring and forward thinking hipster Shakespeare has been fashioned as a ‘modern day playwright’ with his edgy Shoreditch shirt and waistcoat look - He has been given piercings on both ears, leaving questions about his sexuality unanswered - An actor as well as a playwright, Shakespeare might have taken advantage of modern-day hair transplanting techniques to sport a full head of hair like numerous celebrity actors
MARIE ANTOINETTE(03 of05)
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- Her three-foot tall hair has been let down and her unusually high forehead concealed with a trendy fringe - Known for her crooked teeth in her youth she has been given a full modern-day orthodontic treatment - Teased for her small breasts as a teenager, she has been given breast implants - Known for being fashionable and changing clothes three times a day, Marie Antoinette is dressed in a modern designer dress. Reported to express how she was feeling through the accessories in her wig, she is wearing a flirty Philip Treacey style hat - Her modern day portrait also shows the her fully-made up in colourful make-up
ADMIRAL LORD NELSON(04 of05)
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- A Vice Admiral and dedicated navy officer Nelson is dressed in a modern naval uniform - In today’s Navy – Nelson would spend more time deskbound and as such he would have gained a little weight which is reflected in the portrait - To replace the right arm lost after being wounded in battle, he has been given a prosthetic to wear - The Victoria Cross wasn’t available during his time but had they been in existence, he would have qualified
HENRY VIII(05 of05)
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- Renowned for being vain and lavish, King Henry has been given white veneers and hair plugs to hide his balding head - Henry VIII, known to flaunt his wealth, is now out of his voluminous puffed sleeve velvet gown and in a tailored designer black suit, wearing a sparkling diamond ring and designer watch - Instead of the cotton shirt fastened up to the chin he now sports an unbuttoned shirt ‘Simon Cowell’ style and is very much the ‘modern day lady killer’ - An avid sportsman and known for being conceited he has been slimmed down. Henry’s vanity would have ensured he would have retained the naturally muscly, rugby-player type figure he had in his youth - Known for having spent a lot of time outdoors riding, hunting, and playing tennis, Henry VIII has also been given a tan - Henry VIII has exchanged his uncomfortable flat footed shoes for modern shoes with a heel