Princess Diana of Wales conquered the world with her loving and down to earth personality. Lady Di’s style and her outfits remain a source of inspiration to this day.
Fashion is full of legendary women: Diane Keaton, Kate Moss, Zendaya, Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel. They’ve all marched to the beat of their own drum and become fashion icons. There are undoubtedly many women who have shaped the way we dress today and continue to be a source of inspiration for our day-to-day outfits, but the ultimate timeless style icon is Diana, Princess of Wales.
Lady Di won the hearts of the world through her actions. Her personality and behavior made her as a breath of fresh air that revitalized the image of the British Royal House in the eighties. Whether on her first royal trip with her husband Charles of Wales to New Zealand in 1983 or New York to visit the children’s ward for HIV patients at the Harlem Hospital Center, Diana simply reflected an image of humility, love, and affection, and this positioned her as one of the most influential figures of her time.
As if her big heart and devotion to humanitarian causes were not enough, Lady Di also knew how dress. She knew that the looks she wore were a way of expressing her feelings and thoughts. Many of these outfits became inspirational as they were a mix of English designers such as Catherine Walker, Bruce Oldfield, David Sassoon and the Emanuels; international luxury brands, like Dior, Versace, Ferragamo; and more accessible garments like sweatshirts, trousers, denim, and knitted sweaters. Her style did not follow the trends of the time but was a reflection of her personality. She had timeless aura that influenced the way people dressed around the world.
People have always been fascinated by Diana’s style. Her name is included on any best-dressed list, and her looks continue to be a constant source inspiration for designers and fashionistas. But in recent years we have seen the fervor for “The People’s Princess’” style grow among younger generations. This new love for Lady Di is in part thanks to the series The Crown, in which Diana is played by Emma Corrin (season 4) and Elizabeth Debicki (season 5 and 6), and the recently released film Spencer by the Chilean director Pablo Larraín, in which Diana is played Kristen Stewart.
As a fan of Princess Diana’s style, I tasked myself to find some of her most famous outfits and recreate them with clothing you can buy today.
Cobalt Engagement Suit
To announce her engagement to Prince Charles, Diana chose a cobalt blue two-piece suit that she purchased off-the-rack at Harrods. She combined her jacket and skirt with a white blouse with blue accents and a bow at the neck, a black leather clutch, and black flats. La pièce de resistance was her the engagement ring made from a 12-carat sapphire.
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Black Sheep Sweater
One of the most popular outfits that Diana, Princess of Wales, wore not once but twice in public was this signature Warm & Wonderful sweater. This woolen piece with a white and a black sheep print was one of the most famous pieces in Lady Di’s wardrobe. She sometimes combined it with white sport pants and other times with jeans.
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White Military Suit
For the Sovereign’s Parade at Sandhurst Military Academy Diana, chose a white two-piece suit from Catherine Walker. What’s memorable about this look is the military-style jacket with gold appliqués on the front and shoulder pads. It was a feminine look that also paid tribute to the armed forces.
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The Revenge Dress
Diana invented the “revenge dress.” After Charles’ and Camila’s affair became public, she wore this stunning little black dress by designer Christina Stambolian to the annual Vanity Fair fundraiser for the Serpentine Gallery. This outfit was her way of getting revenge for her husband’s infidelity, and she looked like a million bucks.
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Polka Dot Dress
To attend Royal Ascot in 1988 the Princess of Wales chose a white, pleated long-sleeved dress with black polka dot print. She paired this timeless outfit with a wide-brimmed hat with the same print, a white pearl necklace, a clutch, white gloves, and two-tone shoes.
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Red Coat
For her arrival at Birmingham Airport, Lady Diana wore a red wool coat with a contrasting black lapel and buttons. She paired this Catherine Walker piece with a black silk blouse with a bow, a pair of black patent leather kitten heel shoes, a red beret, and a black leather envelope clutch.
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Met Gala Dress
As you might have expected, Diana was one of the fashion icons that graced the red carpet of the Met Gala. It was in 1996 that Diana made her appearance in New York wearing a navy-blue silk slip dress with a lace detail at the neckline designed by John Galliano for Dior. She combined it with a sapphire and pearls choker and the iconic Lady Dior bag.
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Harvard Sweatshirt
Diana used to exercise and play tennis at the famous Harbor Club, a fact that was known to the paparazzi who shot pictures of her when leaving the club. This sporty outfit is the epitome of casual luxury: a Harvard University sweatshirt, cycling shorts, her Diana bag from Gucci, and white sneakers.
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Diana is without a doubt one of the best dressed women who has ever walked the face of the Earth. It’s no wonder she won the hearts of the world when she visited New Zealand in the early 1980s. The media called this fanaticism Dianamania, and today I can safely say that Dianamania has returned and is here to stay!
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