Princess Diana’s Fashion Evolution Epitomised Royal Glamour
Princess Diana’s fashion evolution can only be described as legendary. Even decades after her tragic death, it’s impossible to ignore the Princess of Wales’s ongoing impact on the world of style. The royal remains an inspiration to millions for both her philanthropic work and her distinctive personal expression. In fact, Diana’s looks are so famous that they come with special names and stories of their own; they’re some of the most talked-about outfits of all time. The revenge dress, the Travolta dress, that fairytale, David- and Elizabeth Emanuel-designed wedding dress – each stands out as a distinct pop culture moment.
Diana’s rise to prominence during the 1980s meant embracing some of the decade’s key trends. The era of big shoulder pads and shapeless suits was a fashion challenge for all who lived through it, but for royals, it was especially tough. Modern princesses can dress in runway fare from McQueen and Givenchy and – occasionally – test out daring styles. Protocols against short skirts, bare legs, and cleavage are still intact, but their enforcement was stricter in Diana’s day. Still, she was able to cultivate a look that felt unique to her. Pre-fame, she stuck to Sloane Ranger staples like preppy sweater vests, printed midi-dresses and equestrian boots. Once she became a princess, Diana switched gears and began to rely on trusted designers like Catherine Walker, Anya Hindmarch and Murray Arbeid to create exquisite custom pieces.
Statement-making gowns were Diana’s calling card. Whether she was taking in a performance of The Phantom of the Opera in a strapless navy ball gown by Arbeid covered in silver stars, or wearing a Catherine Walker taffeta number with a gathered skirt at a society gala in Melbourne during the Australian tour she and Charles undertook in 1988, Diana embodied the ideal of the princess, even when her life was far from that fantasy.
It’s telling that Diana’s style truly bloomed once she was freed from royal restrictions. After her separation from Prince Charles in 1992, she found herself with a wealth of new options and plenty of designers eager to dress her. The woman who dared to wear a Dior slip dress to the Met Gala in 1996 or body-con turquoise Versace at the Heart Foundation Ball that same year wasn’t the same Shy Di who hid behind baggy sweaters. Confident and entirely in control of her destiny, this era was her best.
No one knows what the princess could have contributed to the world if her life hadn’t been cut short, but her legacy still resonates. Current royals like Catherine, the Princess of Wales, regularly reference her fashions and habit of rewearing favourite pieces multiple times. Millions who remember her fondly have also incorporated lessons from her wardrobe into their daily lives, and it’s through these homages and tributes that Diana’s fashion influence lives on.
On the 29th anniversary of Princess Diana’s death, revisit her style evolution below.
Photo: Getty Images1/53November 1980
A 19-year-old Diana Spencer wore a red blazer, pinstripe skit and black sweater on the streets of London’s Chelsea, where she worked at a nursery school.
Photo: Getty Images2/53February 1981
Lady Diana wore a cobalt blue Cojana suit with a white pussy-bow blouse to stroll the grounds of Buckingham Palace during the announcement of her engagement to Prince Charles.
Photo: Getty Images3/53March 1981
The ruffled satin Emanuel dress Lady Di wore to her first public engagement with Prince Charles made front-page news the next day for its shoulder-baring silhouette and black hue, which was usually reserved only for mourning.
Photo: Getty Images4/53May 1981
The pink alpaca sweater Diana wore at Balmoral ahead of her wedding to Prince Charles was purchased for around £5 in London at a Peruvian shop. The almost-Princess paired it with a beige turtleneck, pleated corduroy pants, thick red socks and green wellies.
Photo: Getty Images5/53July 1981
For her wedding, Diana wore a silk-and-taffeta dress designed by David and Elizabeth Emanuel. The now-iconic dress featured lace puff sleeves, a 25-foot train, and was hand-embroidered with mother-of-pearl sequins and 10,000 pearls.
Photo: Getty Images6/53November 1981
Diana’s first official maternity look: a red fringed Bellville Sassoon coat with blue and yellow accents. She paired it with a blue hat by John Boyd.
Photo: Getty Images7/53November 1981
Diana wore an ethereal blue Bellville Sassoon to a gala at the Victoria and Albert museum.
Photo: Getty Images8/53November 1982
For a banquet and fashion show at London’s Guildhall, Princess Diana wore a glossy blue Bruce Oldfield gown with an asymmetrical neckline and drop waist.
Photo: Getty Images9/53March 1983
During a visit to Australia, Princess Diana wore a silk yellow and white Jan Van Velden dress and wide-brimmed hat.
Photo: Getty Images10/53June 1983
At a banquet during an official tour of Canada, Diana looked every bit the fairy tale princess in a white gown by Gina Fratini.
Photo: Getty Images11/53June 1983
At a dance at the Broadlands, a country house south of London, Princess Diana wore a sparkling silver-and-white one-shouldered sheath designed by Hachi. She paired the look with a silver shoes and diamond drop earrings.
Photo: Getty Images12/53March 1985
The 23-year-old Princess wore a backless, pleated silver and gold lamé gown designed by Bruce Oldfield to an evening gala at London’s Grosvenor House ballroom. She paired it with a matching metallic clutch and large, gold leaf-motif earrings.
Photo: Getty Images13/53October 1985
During an official tour of Melbourne, Australia, the Princess wore a one-shouldered turquoise satin organza dress by David and Elizabeth Emanuel. The headband was actually a diamond and emerald choker – a wedding gift from the Queen.
Photo: Getty Images14/53October 1985
At the opening night gala for Les Miserables at the Barbican, Princess Diana wore a black velvet gown with a deep v-neckline designed by Bruce Oldfield. The dress was auctioned in 2013, garnering £50,000.
Photo: Getty Images15/53November 1985
The iconic Travolta dress – an off-the-shoulder navy blue velvet gown by Victor Edelstein – was worn for a gala hosted by President Ronald Reagan at the White House where Princess Diana was the guest of honour.
Photo: Getty Images16/53October 1986
Princess Diana actually wore this midnight blue tulle Murray Arbeid gown several times: to the premiere of Phantom of the Opera, to a dinner at Claridge’s for King Constantine of Greece, and to a ballet performance at the Royal Opera House. The gown featured a strapless bodice embellished with glittering, diamante stars.
Photo: Getty Images17/53May 1987
The icy blue tulle Catherine Walker gown that Princess Diana wore to Cannes Film Festival was inspired by a dress worn by Grace Kelly in the Alfred Hitchcock film To Catch a Thief, which was set in the South of France.
Photo: Getty Images18/53February 1988
For a state dinner in Bangkok hosted by the King of Thailand, Princess Diana tapped Catherine Walker to create a custom fuchsia and violet silk chiffon dress. As a tribute to her host, Princess Diana wore orchids in her hair – a flower that is deeply symbolic in Thai culture.
Photo: Getty Images19/53November 1988
At the Château de Chambord in France, Princess Diana wore pearl drop earrings to complement a white beaded evening dress with a lapel collar by Catherine Walker.
Georges De Keerle20/53March 1989
Princess Diana wore a strapless, shimmering gown by Catherine Walker to a performance at The Savoy Hotel in London.
Photo: Getty Images21/53October 1989
Princess Diana wore a baroque floral patterned red-and-black gown designed by Catherine Walker to an event at the Royal Albert Hall in London.
Photo: Getty Images22/53October 1989
The famed “Elvis Dress” Princess Diana wore to the British Fashion Awards in London was designed by Catherine Walker and featured pearl beading and a matching jacket with a high neck collar. (The Princess also wore this same dress shortly later, with a pearl tiara, during a visit to Hong Kong.)
Photo: Getty Images23/53March 1990
Princess Diana wore a draped, silk chiffon dress with a halter neck and delicate floral print designed by Catherine Walker for an outing in 1990.
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Photo: Getty Images24/53March 1991
For an Easter service at St George’s Chapel, Princess Diana wore a pink gingham suit dress with pearl buttons designed by Catherine Walker.
Photo: Getty Images25/53October 1991
During a royal tour of Canada, Princess Diana wore a Moschino suit in high-contrast black and red houndstooth. She paired it with a white T-shirt, sheer black stockings and a wide-brimmed hat with black netting.
Photo: Getty Images26/53October 1991
The Princess wore a Catherine Walker-designed pearl-embroidered gown in pale pink chiffon on a visit to Pakistan. It featured a paisley-patterned bodice, sarong-style skirt, and matching pink chiffon Pakistani dupatta-style stole.
Photo: Getty Images27/53November 1991
Princess Diana wore a custom Bruce Oldfield dress with a shimmering tartan pattern to a film premiere in Leicester Square, London.
Photo: Getty Images28/53May 1992
In a silk Catherine Walker skirt suit, Princess Diana matched the Giza Pyramids behind her. “When people ask me to stand in front of places like the Pyramids, I feel awkward, especially when I’m on my own. I don’t like posing. But I will do it really quickly – and once – and you can grab the picture,” she told photographer Anwar Hussein ahead of the visit.
Photo: Getty Images29/53September 1992
At the Odeon Cinema in London, the Princess of Wales wore a red silk, off-the-shoulder Victor Edelstein with red pumps and a diamond necklace.
Photo: Getty Images30/53May 1995
The Princess played homage to Jacqueline Kennedy in a pink Versace skirt suit and matching Somerville pillbox hat at a military engagement in Canterbury, England.
Photo: Getty Images31/53November 1992
Princess Diana paired the Spencer family tiara with a lilac Catherine Walker dress during a visit to Seoul with Prince Charles. It was the last official tour the royal couple would take together.
Photo: Getty Images32/53November 1992
Princess Diana matched her shoes, stockings and clutch to the burgundy velvet and lace Valentino dress she wore to a Paul McCartney concert in Lille, France.
Photo: Getty Images33/53November 1994
To a charity dinner at the Palace of Versailles, the Princess wore a black evening halter dress with a shimmering sweatheart neckline by Catherine Walker.
Photo: Getty Images34/53January 1995
As the guest of honour at a gala at the Serpentine Gallery in London, Princess Diana wore a slinky black Victor Edelstein gown.
Photo: Getty Images35/53November 1995
A black turtleneck, black tights, and black Dior bag contrasted with the marigold-hued Versace skirt suit Princess Diana wore during a visit to Liverpool.
Photo: Getty Images36/53November 1995
Princess Diana arrived in Buenos Aires, Argentina wearing a white Versace skirt suit, a black Dior handbag and black pumps.
Photo: Getty Images37/53January 1995
The Princess of Wales wore a navy blue gown by Catherine Walker and a pearl and sapphire choker to a CFDA event in New York City.
Photo: Getty Images38/53June 1995
In a pale blue, shimmering halter-neck Catherine Walker dress and pearl earrings at a dinner hosted by Vanity Fair at the Serpentine Gallery in London.
Photo: Getty Images39/53June 1995
The Princess wore a champagne-coloured sheath dress designed by Catherine Walker to the Bolshoi Ballet during a visit to Moscow.
Photo: Getty Images40/531996
For a visit to the Harbour House in London, Princess Diana wore white biker shorts, an oversized college sweatshirt and trainers, paired with a Gucci bag.
Photo: Getty Images41/53June 1996
To a gala at the Field Museum Of Natural History in Chicago in 1996, the Princess wore a floor-sweeping Versace gown in purple with matching Jimmy Choo shoes and a multi-strand pearl, diamond and sapphire choker.
Photo: Getty Images42/53September 1996
Freshly divorced from Prince Charles, Princess Diana was radiant in a white lace Catherine Walker gown to a gala in Washington DC.
Photo: Getty Images43/53October 1996
Princess Diana wore a slinky, asymmetrical Versace gown to a benefit at the Victor Chang Institute in Sydney.
Photo: Getty Images44/53February 1997
For a Valentine’s Day to Ormond Street Hospital in London, the Princess wore a mint green Chanel suit.
Photo: Getty Images45/53February 1997
Princess Diana wore a figure-hugging Catherine Walker dress in navy blue lace to a premiere in London.
Photo: Getty Images46/53March 1997
To attend Prince William’s Confirmation, Princess Diana wore a Karl Lagerfeld-designed Chanel suit in sky blue with a matching pillbox hat. She paired the look with a tan handbag and tan pumps.
Photo: Getty Images47/53March 1997
While out in Mayfair, London, Diana wore a gray power suit by Dior.
Photo: Getty Images48/53April 1997
The Princess of Wales wore an impeccably tailored pale blue Versace suit to visit the Royal Brompton Hospital in London.
Photo: Getty Images49/53June 1997
Princess Diana in a short, lace Catherine Walker sheath to a fashion event in New York City.
Photo: Getty Images50/53June 1997
The Princess wore a red column dress by Jacques Azagury to fund raiser for the American Red Cross in Washington DC.
Photo: Getty Images51/53June 1997
The Princess of Wales wore an icy blue shift dress by Jacques Azagury to a ballet at the Royal Albert Hall in London.
Photo: Getty Images52/53July 1997
In honour of her 36th birthday celebration at the Tate Gallery in London, Diana wore a black beaded gown by Jacques Azagury – a gift from the designer – and an emerald Queen Mary choker, which had been a wedding gift from the Queen.
Photo: Getty Images53/53August 1997
In what was to be her last publicly photographed outing with Prince Willliam, Diana wore a beige suit and scoop neck top.
