Remembering Princess Diana on her birthday, we look back at her most stylish moments
We’re celebrating Diana’s birthday by looking back at her most iconic looks, from the 25-foot wedding train in 1981 to her ‘revenge dress’ in 1994
Princess Diana would likely have celebrated her 56th birthday on July 1, had she not died in a car crash in Paris on August 31, 1997. While speculation about the reasons for her death has continued unabated since her death, numerous books, documentaries and interviews have long tried to unearth secrets about the private life of a princess whose looks, style and ability to inspire common folk everywhere ensured that every move and utterance captivated millions around the world. As we approach the 20th anniversary of her death, we look back at some of those highlights.
White elegance
1981 – “Going in Lady Diana Spencer, coming out the Princess of Wales”
Her story begins here. Crowds of 600,000 people filled the streets of London and an estimated 750 million global audience watched the wedding ceremony on television. On July 29, 1981, the 20-year-old Diana Spencer walked down the aisle of St Paul’s Cathedral to marry Charles, Prince of Wales. Designed by David Emanuel and his former wife Elizabeth, Diana’s off-white wedding gown had voluminous sleeves, 10,000 pearls and a 25-foot train.
David recalled, “She was going in Lady Diana Spencer, she’s coming out the Princess of Wales, so this dress had to be young and sweet, but it also had to be glam because she was going to be a royal princess. She couldn’t do a quiet-looking, low-key little gown.” Obviously, the design duo made a massive success. Diana’s wedding look became a look for the ages.
1988 – One of Diana’s favourite dresses
This oyster duchesse-satin dress with a bodice and bolero embroidered by Hurel, the renowned hand embroidery house, was one of the favourite dresses of the Princess designed by Victor Edelstein. She wore it at a banquet in the Élysée Palace in Paris during the official visit with Charles in 1988. She paired the dress with the iconic Cambridge Lover’s Knot tiara – a wedding present from the Queen. The delicate dress showed off Diana’s elegant and aristocratic side.
1989 – The “Elvis dress”
In 1989, Charles and Diana were invited to officiate the opening ceremony of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre. That night, Diana wore an outfit created by British designer Catherine Walker who was inspired by the Elizabethan ruff and created the distinctive sequin- and pearl- encrusted jacket. However, the dress came to known by the press as “Elvis dress” because of the similarities to Presley’s Las Vegas ensembles.