How to dress for this weekend’s Coronation if you’re not a royalist

His Majesty King Charles III is set to be sworn in as the new monarch this 6th of May, but it’s not all bunting and cucumber sandwiches. The country is officially divided: you have the one Royalist half dedicating their weekend to camping outside Buckingham Palace dressed head-to-toe in Union Jack merch, more than likely snoozing next to a cardboard cutout of Kate Middleton, and the other half who are bypassing the celebrations due to the institution’s tumultuous history. Unaccountability, undemocratic, unfair, and elitist, not to mention the archaic views and traditions. Other than an instilled sense of nationalism, the arguments for the remaining Royalists are few and far between. 

Public opinion hangs heavy in the air as the King takes his crown, and it’s not exactly positive. Brits, as patriotic as some may be, thrive in their country’s history. Yes, that includes the history of England and its rulers, but also (more importantly) the subcultural influence of anti-monarchist dressing. Politics are quite frankly the pillars of modern fashion, and the younger generation is saying it louder and prouder than ever before. So if you really thought this historical milestone wasn’t going to be met with a slew of abolish-the-monarchy sentiment dressing, think again. This weekend, youngsters will undoubtedly be out in full force showing their opinion of this Coronation. Here, HUNGER explores how the other side of this weekend’s events may play out through fashion, and how to dress if you’re not a royalist…

Red, white, and blue

Now, nothing says ‘whooo Britain’ quite like the flag, but nothing also says ‘booo Britain’ like it either. Red, white, and blue has been stamped onto anti-monarchist fashion, and with King Charles as the new head, it would seem now is a better time than ever to get buying your new stamps. Fractured Britishness can be narrated with your own interpretation of the Union Jack, taking bits of Cool Brittania, for example, as reference. The Liam Gallagher flag parka, the Kate Moss cape, and more recently Dua Lipa’s minidress, and even Stormzy’s Banksy vest. There are so many iterations of the flag being reclaimed for the people, that it almost seems ridiculous not to wear it in the name of your politics. HUNGER has traced back its evolution, and it’s safe to say we are on the cusp of reinvention. Now more than ever, in the wake of the Coronation, the flag can be a symbol of change. Wear yours in whichever manner you may, but just know plastic glasses and a shoddy bowler hat aren’t the vibe, we are looking at draped dresses and punky union jackets galore.

A good ol’ cup of ironic tee

Anti-coronation protests are being organised throughout London, with protestors donning bright yellow signs that read ‘Not My King’. These demonstrations are set to happen over the course of the weekend but for those not partaking, the sentiment does not have to be lost. Gen Z is unequivocally reigning the ironic tee game, and DIY is the ultimate clap back it would seem. The beauty of DIY is in the name: it’s a quick, political statement of your choosing. An A4 piece of paper and your own printed quip is the ultimate go-to style and can be worn to any family function or pub trip of your choosing. The only question that remains is: what will you print on your tee this Coronation? 

The Ladette 

The 90s and 00s all-drinking, all-dancing hedonism of the ladette is the perfect look for this weekend. Seeping into fashion already through the likes of bloke-core and blokette, this subculture is all mini-skirts, boozing, and perhaps a flash of the knickers. It’s as British as it could get. One of the pioneering fashion icons of the movement, Denise van Outen, has her own anti-monarchist scandal that hit headlines at the time. Nicking an ashtray from Buckingham Palace, van Outen was christened, by the likes of The Daily Mail, as the face of a national scandal – but it only fuelled the ladette antics on more. One major look for the ladette is the roughly chopped bob with bangs. So perhaps your hedonistic weekend can start off with a change of ‘do to honour the King? Seems like the perfect time for us.

God Save the King

Last, but by no means least, is the God Save the King spoof. The late British designer Vivienne Westwood created one of the most iconic youth symbols of the times, the t-shirt that read ‘God Save the Queen’ with a picture of Elizabeth II and a safety pin stuck through her lip. The reinvention of the national anthem into the Sex Pistols tune as well as Westwood’s fashionable feats will go down in subcultural history. With a switch of the monarch, it seems your own printing will need an update too, ‘God Save the King’, anyone? Punk is back in all its full-blown anti-Royal glory this Coronation, and ‘Anarchy in the UK’ may be more than just a song with however you choose to express your opinions through fashion this weekend.