A look at every one of Princess Diana's best ever dresses (yes, including that revenge dress)
It's been 25 years since the untimely death of Princess Diana, but despite the passing years, her impact and influence endures. For the sartorially-minded among us, that influence of course, extends to the style icon's beloved wardrobe…
From the polka dot smock she wore when leaving the hospital with baby Prince William and the iconic athleisure look she become known for, now coined by celebs like Hailey Bieber, to her much-talked-about 'Revenge Dress', Diana's wardrobe was the most scrutinised of her time.
Unlike today – when everyone even remotely in the public eye is judged for what they wear thanks to the relentlessly endless cycle of images published globally – at the time, the young royal was one of the few known faces to be photographed everywhere she went. Thankfully, fashion critics across the world loved her.
Never one to shy away from a trend, Princess Diana braved a smorgasbord of styles that would no doubt be deemed inappropriate for the Duchess of Cambridge to wear today, such is the new unspoken royal dress code.
While the Duchess is, of course, a style icon in her own right, wouldn't it be fun to see Kate Middleton wearing a glitter-beaded, one-shoulder gown to a James Bond premiere or a strappy black mini dress so show-stopping that you'd think she'd just fallen off an Eighties Versace runway?
Thanks in equal measure to both the sartorially-experimental era that she lived in and her much-adored rebellious streak, Princess Diana wore just about everything she likely wasn't supposed to. Which is almost certainly a key factor in her wardrobe's unwavering impact to this very day...
Here's to the enduring power of royal fashion.
Oversized collars that would make Ganni proud, Bardot necklines that made global headlines and shoulder pads that, well, we're desperate to borrow, the Princess had one of those innate, iconic, and instantly-recognisable senses of style that you just can't teach. Princess Diana's aesthetic was truly one of a kind.
We take a look back at some of our favourite looks from an utterly unforgettable royal fashion icon...
PA PhotosThe Dress: Valued in 1981 at £9,000, Lady Diana Spencer’s antique lace wedding dress was complete with a 25-foot train of ivory silk taffeta. It was one of the most guarded secrets in fashion history, only to be matched by the hushed privacy surrounding Kate Middleton’s stunning Alexander McQueen wedding dress.
The Occasion: The wedding of Lady Diana and Charles, Prince of Wales on 29th of July, 1981.
Why We Love It: Designed by Elizabeth Emanuel, the dress captures the very extravagance of the Eighties era. This frock was not attempting a fashion understatement.
Rex FeaturesThe Dress: A respectable high-neck and long-sleeved maxi dress in silk.
The Occasion: A Royal family occasion, for the wedding of Nicholas Soames.
Why We Love It: There’s nothing quite like matching accessories and a stunning piece of millinery to set a fashion-loving nation’s hearts alight.
PA PhotosThe Dress: At 9 months pregnant, a 20-year-old Diana rewrote the palace rules on maternity wear and opted for elegant comfort, rather than restrictive formal attire.
The Occasion: This slouchy pink number was a breezy choice for perusing the flash cars at the polo.
Why We Love It: The young princess didn’t fall afoul to the global spotlight and kept her priorities in place. Feel good. Look fabulous. Hear hear.
PA PhotosThe Dress: A V-neck, polka-dot blouse dress, paired with preppy pumps. A natural parallel can be drawn here with the spotty Jenny Packham dress that Kate Middleton wore when leaving the very same hospital with the latest Royal babe.
The Occasion: The paparazzi’s first glimpse at the new royal parents and the swaddled babe, Prince William, outside St Mary’s Hospital.
Why We Love It: It’s practical chic and that nautical neckline is still bang-on trend.
PA PhotosThe Dress: A Bruce Oldfield midnight blue dress.
The Occasion: Diana attends a banquet in Guildhall, London in November, 1982.
Why We Love It: The drama of the asymmetric shoulder and the perfect match of accessories – what’s not to adore?
Rex FeaturesThe Dress: A white asymmetric gown covered in silver bugle beads by Hachi. This dress raised over £60,000 at a Christie’s auction.
The Occasion: Octopussy, the James Bond premiere in June, 1983.
Why We Love It: The Royal outshone all the stars on the red carpet in a contemporary cocktail number that would score style points today.
PA PhotosThe Dress: This sparkling red evening gown was a custom-made creation by one of her long-standing favourite designers, Bruce Oldfield.
The Occasion: A black-tie dance.
Why We Love It: It’s the archetypal ‘princess’ shape – a frou frou skirt and the ever-important cinched-in waist.
PA PhotosThe Dress: An Emanuel sparkling turquoise dress.
The Occasion: A black tie dance on the Royal tour of Australia, spring 1983.
Why We Love It: While the frock is fabulous enough, we love the dare-devil addition of diamonds and emeralds (here, her necklace is worn as a headband).
PA PhotosThe Dress: The long hemlines of the 1983 Australia tour continue, this time in pink and complete with a rather reserved matching jacket.
The Occasion: A formal procession.
Why We Love It: The Princess looks like the epitome of an English Rose in that pastel hue.
PA PhotosThe Dress: A reserved, polka-dot silk summer frock. This certainly falls under the ‘smart casual’ category, in royal terms.
The Occasion: An official visit to New Zealand, 1983.
Why We Love It: The mega collar. Enough said.
PA PhotosThe Dress: The bright pink, silk evening gown that received rave reviews from the global press. ‘Pretty in pink’, they declared.
The Occasion: 1983’s official visit to Brisbane, Australia.
Why We Love It: Few can pull off such a shade of pink without looking too saccharine. Of course, for Lady Diana this is a fashion thumbs up rather than a faux pas.
PA PhotosThe Dress: A floor-length, dropped-waist peach sparkling dress. On paper? Brave. On Diana? Fabulous!
The Occasion: The Starlight Express London premiere, 1984.
Why We Love It: Diana recycles her fashion accessories – note the new spin on her metallic clutch and court shoes combination.
PA PhotosThe Dress: More polka-dots for the Princess but this time, worn with a loose coat and accessories that hark to Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman.
The Occasion: A Youth Rally visit in Wales, 1985.
Why We Love It: As she was prompted by the palace to wear a selection of British designers, Diana enjoyed collaborating and making her outfits lively.
PA PhotosThe Dress: The stunning midnight blue Victor Edelstein evening gown.
The Occasion: The White House State dinner, given by President and Mrs Reagan in November 1985, in which the Princess memorably danced with John Travolta.
Why We Love It: This dress is utterly timeless. In March 2013, at the Kerry Taylor Auction in London a man who wanted to ‘cheer up’ his wife bought it for £240,000.
GettyThe Dress: The gold lame Bruce Oldfield dress that wowed the world.
The Occasion: A View To A Kill, James Bond premiere in 1985.
Why We Love It: This is what an iconic fashion moment looks like. Marilyn who?
Rex FeaturesThe Dress: The Catherine Walker green sequin dress that was auctioned in 2013 for over £170,000.
The Occasion: Arriving at The Royal Lancaster Hotel in London for a charity benefit.
Why We Love It: It’s one of the Princess’ most talked about outfits thanks to the thigh-baring split and swooping neckline.
Rex FeaturesThe Dress: Another Bruce Oldfield fashion number worn by the Princess.
The Occasion: America’s Cup Ball, 1986.
Why We Love It: Rather than buckle under the pressure of what to wear on another royal outing, the Princess upped the ante with a bare décolletage, demure long evening gloves and a tulle skirt that would have made any fellow Eighties power dresser swoon!
Rex FeaturesThe Dress: Formal and chic rolled into one frock, Catherine Walker custom-made this dress for Diana.
The Occasion: The royal tour of the Gulf states in Saudi Arabi, 1986.
Why We Love It: Predominantly for that impressive shoulder padding.
Rex FeaturesThe Dress: No, it’s not a wedding dress but rather a stately gown for a black-tie ball. Lace, silk and a tiara make this a ubiquitous style moment.
The Occasion: A formal dinner at the British Embassy in America, 1986.
Why We Love It: This number stays on the right side of the Eighties.
PA PhotosThe Dress: Famously inspired by Grace Kelly, this Catherine Walker dress lit up the Cannes red carpet.
The Occasion: The Cannes Film Festival, 1987.
Why We Love It: In a recent auction it raised over $70,000, proving its status as a museum-worthy gown to be remembered.
Rex FeaturesThe Dress: Dubbed the ‘Elvis Dress’ by harsher members of the British press, the Princess’ Catherine Walker dress set tongues wagging.
The Occasion: A tour in Hong Kong, 1989.
Why We Love It: We DO adore a frock that whips up some controversy.
PA PhotosThe Dress: Who else but Bruce Oldfield could dress Lady Diana in head-to-toe sparkly red and make it look good?
The Occasion: A banquet held in Claridges, London in 1989.
Why We Love It: Full marks for fashion bravery.
Rex FeaturesThe Dress: The bois de rose taffeta strapless dress by Catherine Walker. It raised $50,000 in an auction.
The Occasion: When The Whales Came, film premiere in 1989.
Why We Love It: This dress may have pushed the parameters of what the Buckingham Palace style guide allowed, which makes it even more fun in our opinion.
Rex FeaturesThe Dress: Another favourite from Catherine Walker. Yes, it’s modest but oh-so stunning.
The Occasion: A royal visit to Kuwait, 1989.
Why We Love It: That ruched waist.
PA PhotosThe Dress: Well guessed, yet another creation by Catherine Walker.
The Occasion: A concert at the Royal Albert Hall, 1990.
Why We Love It: This look proves that formal can also be fun.
PA PhotosThe Dress: A fitted bodice dress complete in a classic floral print. This gown was placed up for auction in March 2013 and raised tens of thousands for its iconic status as a feminine Diana dress.
The Occasion: At a banquet in Brazil, 1991.
Why We Love It: Oh, this reignites the fashion desk’s love of a one-shouldered look.
PA PhotosThe Dress: The two little princes may steal the show style-wise but it’s a close contest thanks to Diana's baroque red and pink cocktail outfit.
The Occasion: The Joy Of The World, Christmas Spectacle at the Royal Albert Hall, 1991.
Why We Love It: This colour clashing still feels super contemporary.
PA PhotosThe Dress: We hereby mark the beginning of Diana’s mini dress era with this sexy navy blue dress.
The Occasion: A concert at the Royal Albert Hall, 1991.
Why We Love It: The hemline may only just rest above her knee, but this was the beginning of her wardrobe rebellion against her allegedly restrictive style guide.
Rex FeaturesThe Dress: As the Princess dabbled in more off-the-shoulder styles, her hemlines started to climb higher.
The Occasion: Attending a production at the Sadlers Wells theatre, London in 1991.
Why We Love It: Fashion aficionados, meet the perfect black and pink cocktail dress. Sigh.
GettyThe Dress: The Spencer family tiara was deftly teamed with this Catherine Walker dress.
The Occasion: The 1991 tour of India.
Why We Love It: This outfit captured the very essence of modern royalty.
PA PhotosThe Dress: Still on duty to promote the British fashion industry, the Princess entrusted her favourite designer, Catherine Walker, to conjure up another dress that balanced playfulness with a reserved touch.
The Occasion: A film premiere, London 1993.
Why We Love It: A well-appointed off-the-shoulder neckline will always win our hearts.
PA PhotosThe Dress: Known by press as the ‘revenge’ dress, designed by Christina Stambolian. At this stage various scandalous books and tapes had been published. And so, the fashion rebellion truly began…
The Occasion: At the Serpentine Gallery in summer 1994.
Why We Love It: This is the LBD that speaks a thousand words. It has since been auctioned for $74,000.
Rex FeaturesThe Dress: As the pressure to wear mainly British deisgners lifted off of Diana’s shoulders, she dabbled with new names such as Jacques Azagury.
The Occasion: On a trip to Venice, 1995.
Why We Love It: A little red dress is the ultimate ‘freedom’ statement.
PA PhotosThe Dress: An ice blue, beaded Catherine Walker cocktail dress. It served to prove that she didn’t totally abandon her style roots.
The Occasion: A Vanity Fair party in 1995.
Why We Love It: Her new fashion agenda had been set – the smart micro mini dress overtook her penchant for long and dramatic gowns. This dress has also been auctioned and raised $77,300.
Rex FeaturesThe Dress: The Versace LWD.
The Occasion Children of Bosnia charity concert, Milan 1995.
Why We Love It: Diana was fashion’s darling from the start but outfits like this had her topping Best Dressed lists.
Rex FeaturesThe Dress: A simple Catherine Walker mini dress in classic black.
The Occasion: Apollo 13 premiere in 1995.
Why We Love It: Diana worked the all-time classic combination of pearls, LBD and red nail varnish to perfection.
Rex FeaturesThe Dress: Wearing Ralph Lauren with Ralph Lauren.
The Occasion: A White House dinner in Washington, 1996.
Why We Love It: It was a high society moment, darlings.
Rex FeaturesThe Dress: Taking a fashion vacation from mini dresses, Diana wore a striking purple evening dress by Versace with pearls and her iconic sapphire ring.
The Occasion: Field Museum in Chicago, 1996.
Why We Love It: It was a timeless Gianni Versace creation worn by a national treasure. Plus, there's some seriously good accessorising going on here.
Rex FeaturesThe Dress: A Dior evening gown.
The Occasion: Dior’s 50th Anniversary in New York, 1996.
Why We Love It: It was such a nonchalant look and an early contender for the underwear-as-outerwear trend.
The Dress: An effortless orange shift dress.
The Occasion: On a visit to Northwick Park Hospital, 1997.
Why We Love It: Bright, chic and sexy rolled into one.
