Queen of Champagne–Barbe Nicole Clicquot

Madame Clicquot’s favorite color was unknown, but we know she loved Pinot Noir wine, so this was the inspiration for this color.

Portrait of Madame Clicquot

Oil on canvas painted by Léon Cogniet (1794-1880) and dated 1861. Reims, Maison Veuve Clicquot.

Credits: Veuve Clicquot

Portrait of Madame Clicquot and her great-grand-daughter Anne de Mortemart

Oil on canvas painted by Léon Cogniet (1794-1880) and dated 1859. Château de Brissac (Maine-et-Loire, France).

Credits: Collection Château de Brissac

The Original Cork Logo

Her initials Venue Clicquot Ponsardin (VCP) and the anchor symbol for hope and stability in the storms of life.

Queen of Clean–Anna Bissell

There was no reference to Mrs. Bissell’s favorite color, so we used a dark blue portrayed in the brand’s early days.

Photo of Mrs. Bissell–date unknown

Credits: BISSELL Homecare, Inc.

Queen of Black Beauty–Madam C.J. Walker

The color chosen was a goldenrod yellow because that was the color of Madam Walker’s original product containers.

Queen of Cosmetics–Elizabeth Arden

Elizabeth Arden was known to like pink, but we saw her rich in gold.

Queen of Baking–Margaret Rudkin

Pepperidge Farm’s colors range from red to yellow.

Margaret Rudkin–Downingtown, Pa [1956]

Credits: The Campbell Archives

Queen of Aviation–Olive Ann Beech

Mrs. Beech surrounded herself in her favorite color, known as the “Beech blue” color.

Olive Ann Beech is standing at her office desk

Credits: Mary Lynn Oliver

Olive Ann inside her personal airplane known as “The Free Enterprise”

Credits: Mary Lynn Oliver

Olive Ann Beech standing on the steps of a Queen Air aircraft

Credits: Mary Lynn Oliver

Queen of Haute Couture–Coco Chanel

“Red is the colour of life, of blood, I love red,” stated Coco Chanel.

Queen of PR–Estée Lauder

Estée Lauder loved bold and bright colors that attracted attention, like red.

Queen of Barbie–Ruth Handler

Barbie pink is synonymous with one of Ruth Handler’s most outstanding achievements.

Ruth and her husband with their famous Barbie doll

Credits: Mattel Archives

Queen of Washington–Katharine Graham

Mrs. Graham was a very private person, so we selected a bright red that she often wore.

Queen of England–Queen Elizabeth II

Vogue analyzed what colors Queen Elizabeth wore most often, and the winner was blue.

Queen of Pink–Mary Kay Ash

No surprise, Mrs. Ash surrounded herself with the color pink.

Mary Kay Ash beside her famous pink Cadillac

Credits: © Mary Kay Inc., Printed with permission from Mary Kay Inc., Addison, Texas, U.S.A.

Mary Kay Ash in her office

Credits: © Mary Kay Inc., Printed with permission from Mary Kay Inc., Addison, Texas, U.S.A.

Queen of Mail Order–Lillian Vernon

A portrait of Lillian Vernon by artist Enid Cutler in the National Portrait Gallery inspired this blue.

Queen of Separates–Liz Claiborne

Liz Claiborne’s favorite color was sunshine yellow. So in 1965, her husband surprised her with a brand new Ford Mustang convertible custom painted in a “Taxicab Yellow.”

Queen of Domestic Arts–Martha Stewart

Martha Stewart was notorious for her pastel colors like this one.

Queen of Green–Anita Roddick

Green was Anita Roddick’s theme and brand.

Dame Anita Roddick filling product bottles.

Credits: The Roddick Foundation and The Body Shop

PR shot of Dame Anita Roddick

Credits: Joel Anderson and The Roddick Foundation

Dame Anita Roddick serving perfume in her store

Credits: The Roddick Foundation

Queen of Media–Oprah Winfrey

Oprah Winfrey’s favorite color is green—psychological green, which is analogous to listening to your instincts.

Queen of Cookies–Debbi Fields

Debbi Fields is synonymous with the brand’s bright stopping red logo and features.

Queen of Preppy Chic–Tory Burch

Tory Burch proclaims, “I love blue in all its shades and textures. I wear navy like others wear black, and I love the blue in flowers—cornflowers, delphiniums.”

Queen of Undergarments–Sara Blakely

Sara Blakely says she always wears red lipstick because “It’s bold and unapologetic and reminds me to be fearless.” She also has a lucky red backpack.