Remembering Princess Diana's style and influence on world fashion

A short life with huge achievements
25 years since the fateful car crash
Diana: a style icon
Remembering Diana
Early fashion
The look
The ruffle
The hat
Style
Green and White
Pink and red are a pair
Neutral colours with flair
Hats for all occasions
A Pink Princess at William's christening
A nod to the military
A nod to the Italian navy
Princess Diana did the 80s so well
Though she did like the powerhouse look
Diana's hair
They don't do hair like this anymore
Queen of sparkle
The Princess of glamour
Blue sequin dress
The Spencer Tiara
Was to be the future Queen
The Jewels had some weight
Pearls - and diamonds
Pearls and more pearls
A step ahead in fashion
The mini
The Suit - in pastels, too
THE dress
Displayed at Kensington
White gowns
Another iconic dress
Made into a doll
Athleisure
Beautiful in pregnancy
Fashion similarities with Kate
The black hat
Not all big bold colours
The engagements
The Princesses of Wales
A short life with huge achievements

Diana was just 36 years old when she died and sent a wave of grief across the world. In that short time, the late Princess of Wales achieved more than most people would in a full lifetime. Aside from her incredible charity work, being a voice for the people and royal tasks, she was also a world style icon.

25 years since the fateful car crash

Diana, Princess of Wales dies in 1977 and is remembered for the grace, elegance and style she brought to the monarchy. To this day, the late Princess has inspired many in the world of fashion.

Diana: a style icon

Princess Diana was an example for 80s' and 90's fashionistas with her classic combinations as well as slightly riskier outfits. She managed to push boundaries with her glamorous clothing, whilst staying dignified and graceful for her role as a royal.

Remembering Diana

We look back at Diana's best style moments - a woman who was not only ahead of her time in fashion, but also blended couture and royalty so well.

Early fashion

Although she had been of interest for many years to the press, Diana was mainly thrown into the spotlight at the beginning of the 80s when she was due to be engaged to Prince Charles. The photo was taken weeks before their wedding and she seemed to make the transition from 70s' to 80s' fashion so easy.

The look

Many remember this moment when Diana and Charles visited Australia - or more so, remember the look. Iconic Diana. She never shied away from bold colours and her clothes often boasted beautiful details. This time? Polka Dots.

The ruffle

On public duty, Diana sports a classy ruffle shirt with a green jacket in the early 80s. She wore this shade of green on many occasions throughout her life.

The hat

Diana over the years sported some incredible hats. The matching of these hats with her outfits was seamless.

Style

Diana was not afraid to contrast either, as we see here in this photo taken of her with her husband, Prince Charles on a visit to Australia. The navy hat seems to be a stark contrast to the light dress but matched those polka dots perfectly.

Green and White

On official duty, Princess Diana revisits the green shades that she wore so well, pairing a wrap around dress/jacket with a stylish hat that features a long draping bow one side. While Harry was playing up and sticking his tongue out, Diana stayed totally calm and graceful.

Pink and red are a pair

Diana rocked the clashing colours in 1989 as she arrived in Kuwait, wearing a dress designed by fashion designer Catherine Walker. Catherine Walker deigned many of Diana's dresses and gowns. The hat, by Philip Somerville, is not visible in the photo but it was the same deep red as her skirt. Worked a treat.

Neutral colours with flair

Sporting neutral beiges, browns and creams, Diana set out on official duty in New Zealand looking elegant, royal and fashionable.

Hats for all occasions

Diana still looks good in a Sailor's hat. She donned the naval garment visiting the Submarine HMS Trafalgar. Diana definitely added style to anything.

A Pink Princess at William's christening

Looking every bit graceful and calm, William's Christening wasn't as perfectly pretty as it seemed in the photos. Diana said of the event, “Everything was out of control, everything. I wasn’t very well and I just blubbed my eyes out. William started crying too. Well, he just sensed that I wasn’t exactly hunky-dory.”

A nod to the military

We love this outfit worn by Diana in 1987. She attended a passing out parade at Sandhurst in a Catherine Walker military dress with Graham Smith hat.

A nod to the Italian navy

A white sailer look alongside Charles: Diana Princess of Wales with Prince Charles on board a ship at the naval base on April 20, 1985 in La Spezia, Italy during the Royal Tour of Italy. Diana wore a dress by Catherine Walker with a hat by Kangol.

Princess Diana did the 80s so well

The 1980's was a huge change from the 70s in terms of women's fashion and Diana pulled off the change, sticking to classic cuts and strong colour pairings.

Though she did like the powerhouse look

The 80s was a decade for women to show power - and they did so in their fashion. Diana rocked the shoulder pad look and even took the fashion further at times, wearing suits and ties, as she is seen here walking through London with a gift.

Diana's hair

Diana rarely made any big changes to her hair, which is why this photo of her, taken on her visit to Ealing in London in 1984, is one we had to include in this list. Her hair is pulled back and given a softer wavy curl. Paired with the Jasper Conran suit and bow detail, she pulled off a sleeker look than normal.

They don't do hair like this anymore

Diana, at the Sydney Opera House in Sydney, Australia, celebrating the Australian Bicentenary in January 1988. She is wearing a jewelled star in her hair to celebrate the Bicentennial Fashion Show. Simple, elegant, glamorous.

Queen of sparkle

Perhaps one of her most famous outfits, this black gown with detail bolero is absolutely stunning and Diana wore it with the Spencer tiara and simple earrings.

The Princess of glamour

Diana wearing a black pleated chiffon dress, with floating side panel, by Christina Stamboulian, during a party given at the Serpentine Gallery in London.
Often, Diana would take the risk and wear clothes that were cut off-the-shoulder or even sleeveless. Match that with sheer tights and a short hem on the skirt, Diana proved royals could also do fashion and glamour.

Blue sequin dress

Attending the premiere of 'Shirley Valentine' at the Empire Cinema, Leicester Square, on October 1, 1989, Diana wore a blue dress completely covered in sequins. It fit her perfectly and showed off her wonderful figure.

The Spencer Tiara

Lady Diana Spencer, at this point now known as HRH The Princess of Wales, wore a pair of brilliant double teardrop earrings to go with the equally brilliant Spencer tiara in November 1985 when she attended a state dinner in Canberra, Australia.

Was to be the future Queen

Diana looked every inch a white queen in 1986 wearing the Spencer Tiara and a dress designed by the Emanuels at a State Banquet in Bahrain.

The Jewels had some weight

Princess Diana loved to wear her family jewels and always matched her adornments beautifully. Often favouring pearls, Diana wore them at many events at different lengths and styles. Here the pearls are wrapped around a number of times, probably adding to the serious weight of them. In fact, Diana actually fainted on this day when she visited the Expo Exhibition in Canada.

Pearls - and diamonds

Diana knew how to accessorise. She loved her Spencer tiara but this is also a tiara worn by the late Princess. It is known as The Cambridge Knot Queen Mary Tiara Of Diamonds And Pearls and was given to her by The Queen.

Pearls and more pearls

Diana loved to wear pearls. Her family jewels were very important to her and she especially loved this necklace. It was initially a brooch that belonged to Queen Mary. Diana had this diamond-and-sapphire brooch made into a necklace with a seven-strand pearl choker, and it remained one of few statement jewellery pieces that she wore through and after her divorce.

A step ahead in fashion

Here is Princess Diana wearing an exquisite blue dress while visiting Tokyo. We love the diadem she chose to match the deep, vibrant colour of the dress and she quite literally shone.

The mini

The 90s brought back mini skirts and dresses and Diana changed with the times completely. She looked stunning in this Catherine Walker dress at an auction of her gowns.

The Suit - in pastels, too

Diana was leaving St Paul's Cathedral with a reassuring hand on her son's shoulder. Of course, she looked every inch stylish in the Cathrine Walker suit. The pastel contrasted with the deep purple lines and buttons creating a striking look.

THE dress

Diana's wedding dress was one fo the most famous dresses in all history. She looked beautiful in an ivory silk taffeta and antique lace gown, with a 25-foot train and a 153-yard tulle veil, which was valued then at £9,000.

Displayed at Kensington

To mark Diana's 60th birthday, the dress was on display at Kensington Palace. Her sons Prince William and Prince Harry loaned the dress to the exhibition. And, did you know, the bodice is actually overlaid with lace that belonged to Queen Mary?

White gowns

All those years ago, Diana auctioned her dresses for charity. Here, she came to New York to help with the auction. We have been paying particular attention to this white gown the Princess is looking over and adore the intricate details.

Another iconic dress

She had originally commissioned the gown for an official visit to Hong Kong (the pearl beading is a nod to Chinese culture), and later re-wore it for the 1989 British Fashion Awards. The designer, Catherine Walker, said of the Princess, "She shone in the dress and the dress shone around her in a shimmering column of glistening pearls." It was nicknamed the 'Elvis' dress.

Made into a doll

In fact, the dress was so iconic that they made the image of her in this bolero-collared dress, along with glamorous tiara into a figurine. Timeless.

Athleisure

Yes, it is a word. Princess Diana was the first to really put leisure into business - which was, of course, scandalous by royal standards. But when she really was at leisure, she still looked fashionable in anything from running clothes to a ski suit.

Beautiful in pregnancy

Two pregnancies, two slightly different fashions, but one graceful woman. Princess Diana wore a flowing pink dress on a rural excursion, circa 1982. Pregnant with her second son, Prince Harry, she wore a pale blue Catherine Walker gown whilst attending the film premiere of 'Indiana Jones And The Temple of Doom' in Leicester Square just weeks before his birth.

Fashion similarities with Kate

Kate seems to have given Diana a nod in fashion over the years, the most notable being in this photo of the uncanny resemblance between the two in red dresses as they present their children to the world.

The black hat

Kate also pulls off a hat as well as her husband's late mother. The similarities between the two fashion styles is clear here as we see them both side-by-side sporting red and black.

Not all big bold colours

Green has always been Diana's choice of colour, despite being able to wear pretty much anything. But here Diana went for a more subtle hue. Later, Kate would too - and pay homage to the late Princess choosing a strikingly similar outfit.

The engagements

Perhaps the biggest similarity we can see between the two ladies in terms of fashion and photography is when they announced their engagements. Both in a blue dress. Both with their hair free. Both with their hand poised showing off the ring. Both looking radiant.

The Princesses of Wales

Catherine took over her late mother-in-law's title when she became Princess of Wales upon the death of queen Elizabeth II. For many, Diana will always be the Princess of Wales and her legacy and influence will live on forever.

 

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