This article originally appeared on eightieskids.com
The revenge dress
On November 24, 1994, Lady Di attended a party hosted by Vanity Fair at the Serpentine Gallery wearing a black Christina Stambolian dress with a plunging neckline. She stepped out wearing the daring gown on the very same day that her husband, Prince Charles, confessed to committing adultery with Camilla Parker-Bowles. As a result, the dress was dubbed the ‘revenge dress.’ It was auctioned off in 2013.
Her wedding dress
Diana and Charles wed on 29 July, 1981. Diana wore a gown was made of ivory silk taffeta and decorated with lace, embroidery, sequins, and 10,000 pearls. It also featured a 25-foot train – the longest train in royal wedding history. The dress certainly made a huge impact and set the gold standard for bridal fashion in the 1980s. Knockoff versions of the design were available within hours of the wedding, and to this day Elizabeth Emanuel still receives requests for replicas of Diana’s dress.
At the gym
Diana was not only comfortable in ball gowns and expensive dresses – she was also at home in more casual clothes. In the 80s and 90s, she was frequently papped in ‘athleisure’ looks – notably often in her favourite ‘Fly Virgin Atlantic’ sweatshirt. There was a secret reason why Diana wore the same sweatshirt so often – apparently, this was a trick she used to outsmart the paparazzi and devalue their photographs.
Her engagement outfit
Prince Charles and Diana announced their engagement on 24 February, 1981. Diana’s outfit for the occasion was a simple but elegant cobalt blue skirt suit, which was actually picked straight off the rack at Harrods. Apparently, Lady Di had visited the luxury boutique Bellville Sassoon to find an outfit for the announcement there, but the staff failed to recognise who she was and suggested that she try another more affordable shop. The story goes that Diana then popped into Harrods and picked up the suit designed by Cojana.
With William at the polo
Lady Di may have graduated from Sloane Ranger to full-time princess in 1981, but she never truly left behind her penchant for preppy looks. She was pictured at the Guards Polo Club in Windsor in 1988 with a young Prince William in a classic ‘Chelsea girl’ outfit. Diana paired an oversized blazer with a British Lung Foundation sweatshirt and jeans tucked into brown leather boots. She finished off the look with a baseball cap, a small detail that tied the whole outfit together.
Harry’s first day at school
Diana was renowned for being a loving mother and taking a more hands-on approach to parenting than other royals. She was keen to make sure that both Princes William and Harry had as ‘normal’ an upbringing as possible, and this meant that she ensured that she was able to take both of her children to school on their first days. She was pictured in September 1989 dropping Harry off for his first day at Wetherby School in an all-red outfit featuring an embroidered sweater and a casual midi skirt.
At a performance of Miss Saigon
To this day some fashion snobs might turn their noses up at the thought of repeating an outfit – but Lady Di always broke the mould. She was pictured in 1989 at a performance of Miss Saigon in a blue chiffon gown that she’d first worn two years previously at the Cannes Film Festival. The dress was designed by one of Diana’s favourite designers, Catherine Walker. It was worn with a matching scarf that the princess wore draped across her shoulders and has since gone down in history as one of Diana’s best looks.
At Balmoral with Charles
It didn’t matter if Diana was in London or out in the countryside – she always dressed for the occasion. She was pictured with Charles at Balmoral in May 1981 embracing a more pastoral look, with a kitschy sweater, high-waisted cords and wellington boots. The outfit is so iconic that producers of The Crown took great pains to recreate it in the show’s fourth season. In the episode The Balmoral Test, you can see Emma Corrin don a near-identical outfit as she spends time with Charles.
On her honeymoon
The excitement didn’t end after Diana stepped out in her wedding dress – there was still much buzz surrounding what she’d wear afterwards. As the royal couple departed for their honeymoon, Diana was papped in a gorgeous floral white silk co-ord designed by Donald Campbell. She layered the co-ord over a royal blue camisole and paired with a pearl choker. She later threw on a matching white cashmere coat.
At the polo with Fergie
Diana’s ‘black sheep’ sweater is perhaps one of the most memorable items from her wardrobe. The red jumper was emblazoned with rows of white sheep – and a single black one. As well as being a fun and stylish piece, there’s no doubt that Diana was well aware of the symbolism the jumper carried. It functioned as a subliminal nod to the fact that the princess saw herself as something of an outsider within the royal household.
At the Red Cross headquarters in Washington
Back in June 1997 – just one month before her tragic death – Diana visited the Red Cross Headquarters in Washington, DC. While there she made an impassioned speech against the use of landmines – a cause that had remained close to her heart throughout her life. Diana looked prim as ever on the visit. She wore a beautiful lavender skirt suit, and completed the look with a pearl choker and matching earrings.
At the River Dee with Charles
Although Diana and Charles’ romance proved to be short-lived, the couple looked very loved up after their wedding. The couple posed for photos beside the River Dee in Wales during their 14-day honeymoon. Diana looked very much at home in an all-tweed outfit which was custom-made by designer Bill Pashley. Rumour has it that Diana requested no other copies of the suit be made – meaning her outfit here is truly one of a kind.
In Gloucestershire, while engaged to Charles
In May 1981, following the announcement of her engagement, Diana went on her first ‘walkabout’ with Charles in the town of Tetbury in Gloucestershire. Crowds flocked to meet Diana and watched as Charles opened a new operating theatre in the local hospital. Diana was showered in bouquets of flowers and proved hugely popular with the public. Her outfit also did not disappoint and she dazzled in a red and white polka dot suit by Jasper Conran, paired with a white high-necked blouse.
At her first public appearance with Charles
Diana made her first public appearance with Prince Charles at a charity ball at Goldsmiths’ Hall in aid of the Royal Opera House. Again, Diana was a hit and proved comfortable and confident rubbing shoulders with other royals such as Princess Grace of Monaco. She attended the event in a black taffeta dress by the Emanuels. The look was finished off with a diamond tennis bracelet and matching necklace.
At Nicholas Soames’ wedding
Back in June 1981, Diana attended the wedding of Winston Churchill’s grandson Nicholas Soames to Catherine Weatherall. She chose a red high-neck dress with a white, green, and blue print for the occasion. She matched her accessories to her dress and donned a red hat, clutch bag, and heels.
On a royal visit to Nova Scotia
Charles and Diana made an 18-day visit to Canada in 1983 – with Lady Di celebrating her 22nd birthday on the last day of the royal tour. The tour began at Garrison Grounds in Halifax, Nova Scotia on June 14, and Diana wore an impactful outfit to mark the occasion. She donned a cream and burgundy grid-patterned dress and tied the look together with a matching hat, necktie, and belt.
In Queensland
Diana shone on royal tours. In the spring of 1983, she captivated crowds as she and Charles travelled around Queensland, Australia. On April 12 the pair greeted admirers and onlookers – with Diana plainly the centre of attention, much to Charles’ annoyance – and visited Yandina Ginger Factory. Diana kept cool in a floaty yellow puff-sleeve dress and accessorised with a white clutch bag, wide-brimmed hat, and kitten heels.
Leaving St Mary’s Hospital with William
All eyes were on Princess Di when she emerged from St Mary’s Hospital with her son – and future king of England – William. Diana delivered Prince William in the private Lindo Wing of St. Mary’s Hospital in London before debuting him to the world alongside her husband Charles. She looked radiant on the hospital steps in a simple but chic green polka dot dress featuring a bow neckline detail. She paired the dress with sensible red flats.
Leaving St Mary’s Hospital with Harry
Diana looked equally radiant when she left the Lindo Wing two years later with baby Harry. Again, Lady Di knew that the world was watching her as she stepped out with her blue-blooded newborn baby and picked her outfit accordingly. She wore a red coat by Jan van Velden complete with trendy shoulder pads. With her striped sleeves just visible and a red bow necktie, it’s clear that Lady Di was paying attention to detail when she put together this look.
At a charity polo match
Some of Diana’s best looks are from her time spent watching Charles play in polo matches. On June 29 1988 she attended a charity polo match sponsored by Hello magazine at the Guards Polo Club in Windsor. She wore a floral patterned dress, designed by acclaimed designer Bellville Sassoon. With shoulder pads and bright colours, Diana tapped into some of the biggest 80s fashion trends in this look while still appearing as classic and timeless as ever.
Visiting Howe Barracks
In May 1995, following her separation from Charles, Diana visited the Queen’s Royal Hampshire Regiment at Howe Barracks in Canterbury, Kent. Although news of Charles’ affair had come to light just a few months prior, Diana put on a brave face and looked as graceful as ever on the visit. She wore a pink Versace suit and a matching hat by Philip Somerville, accessorising the look with gold jewellery and accents.
At the polo with Charles on their second wedding anniversary
Charles and Diana were still maintaining their image as a fairytale couple in the early 80s when they attended a polo match at Cowdray Park Polo Club in West Sussex on their second anniversary in 1983. Lady Di wore another laidback look which oozed effortless style and class to mark the occasion. She paired a loose white blouse with a necktie detail with some pinstriped, high-waisted trousers that accentuated her small waist. She tied the look together with oversized sunglasses, an adorable floral, a quilted bag, and gold earrings.
At the Guildhall in London
Lady Di looked as fashionable as ever when she attended a fashion show at the Guildhall in London back in November 1982. She wore a one-shoulder royal blue dress printed with a circle pattern by Bruce Oldfield for the occasion. She paired the dress with a three-stranded pearl choker and black clutch bag which completed the look perfectly.
On the Isle of Wight
In December 1988 Diana visited the Isle of Wight to name the new HM Customs patrol boat ‘Vigilant’. Once again, Lady Di managed to seamlessly blend practicality with perfect style as she publicly christened the ship. Gearing up against the freezing English weather, Di donned a stylish black and yellow coat by Escada and paired it with a matching Philip Somerville hat.
At the Savoy Theatre
Diana visited the Savoy Theatre to celebrate its official reopening following its restoration on 19 July 1993. Although Lady Di always dazzled in her stunning gowns at black tie events, the dress she picked for the Savoy reopening was really something special. The off-the-shoulder pink silk dress was designed by Catherine Walker and featured intricate pearl beading. Diana chose not to wear a necklace with the dress, instead showcasing her beautiful décolletage.
At a banquet in Seoul
Back in November 1992, Lady Di attended a state banquet hosted by the South Korean President in Seoul. She wore a beautiful floral embroidered evening dress by Catherine Walker and the Spencer family tiara – the same tiara that she wore during her wedding. The dress was actually the same gown that she wore to meet the president of Nigeria in 1989 – but she had the skirt altered to keep things fresh.
In Kent
A skirt suit paired with a simple blouse was one of Diana’s most reliable outfit formulas. She wore the classy combo on a visit to Tenterden in Kent in October 1990. She wore a red and black checked skirt suit by Escada and paired it with a simple white blouse. To accessorise, the Princess opted for gold jewellery and a black clutch bag.
At work in a London nursery
When the news first broke about Charles and Diana’s relationship, Diana was targeted by photographers who lingered by the nursery where she worked. Photographer Arthur Edwards took some now-famous photos of the future Princess at work in September 1980. She wore a blouse under a sweater vest, her famous ‘D’ necklace, and a thin chiffon skirt. The photos were splashed across the tabloids the next day, as when the sun came out, Diana’s legs were visible through her skirt – something which was seen as scandalous.
Outside her flat at Coleherne Court
Lady Diana Spencer attracted much media attention once rumours began to spread about her relationship with Prince Charles. Photographers preyed on her and she was frequently papped outside her flat in Coleherne Court in Earl’s Court, London. Here she is in November 1980 wearing a burgundy fair isle cardigan, paired with a white high-neck blouse and high-waisted pinstripe trousers.
Outside Coleherne Court
Diana was hounded by the paparazzi throughout her adult life. The incessant attention from photographers ultimately resulted in her death in 1997. The media’s obsession with Diana began in 1980 when she was first romantically linked to Prince Charles. She is pictured here outside her Coleherne Court flat wearing a green V-neck sweater, white blouse, grid-print skirt, and shoulder bag.
At a polo match
Wearing this Liberty print shirt and canary yellow overalls to a polo match at Windsor Great Park in the summer of 1981, Diana demonstrated that she could do casual just as well as high-end glamour. Diana wore these overalls just a few weeks before her wedding to Prince Charles. She paired them with a yellow and pink floral top and completed the look with wedges decorated in pink and white stripes, as well as gold bangles and sunglasses. The Crown reimagined this outfit in season 4, where Emma Corrin plays the role of Lady Diana.
At a charity gala at Goldsmiths Hall
Lady Diana wowed the world when she wore this black taffeta strapless dress to her first official engagement with Prince Charles at a charity gala concert in 1981 (about two months before their marriage). The dress was designed by David Emanuel, who went on to design Diana’s iconic wedding gown. After telling Diana that she couldn’t arrive at a function without something else to wear over her strapless dress, Emanuel and his team made her a black wrap. Diana’s decision to wear black at her debut as Prince Charles’ fiancé was bold, since as Charles reportedly told her at the time black was traditionally worn at funerals, not evening functions.
At the V&A
Diana wore this Bellville Sassoon gown to the opening of an exhibition at the V&A in 1981, two months before announcing her pregnancy with William. The princess wore the full-skirted, iridescent dress only a few months after her wedding to Prince Charles. In this photo, Diana appears as a modern-day Sleeping Beauty facing the hard, real world of constraints imposed by her rank and intrusive paparazzi.
At the Highland Games in Scotland
Nobody wore plaid better than Princess Diana. While most royals stuck to traditional tartans, Princess Diana wore plaid in every colour imaginable—from red to blue to yellow. She was photographed wearing this Caroline Charles brown and ivory plaid dress, with a matching tie and dark green Argyll cap, at the Braemar Highland Games in Scotland on September 4th, 1982. Designer Caroline Charles confirmed that the dress was made exclusively for Diana. The ensemble was auctioned off in 2016 alongside a few other iconic dresses, and sold for £5,500.
In Melbourne
Diana wowed in this Bruce Oldfield ruched power dress in red and complete with a slash-neck and in-built shoulder pads, which she wore to the National Gallery Melbourne during a Royal visit to Melbourne, Australia in 1985. The silhouette was perfection. Boxy square shoulder pads, combined with the gown’s architectural shape, created a unique and memorable look.
Visiting Hong Kong
The “Elvis Dress”—a strapless gown with a simple silhouette and a jewelled bodice—is one of the most famous royal gowns ever created, and is often cited as one of Diana’s all-time best outfits. On November 8, 1989, she and Prince Charles attended a special reception and concert at Hong Kong’s new cultural centre. For the occasion, Diana wore a white silk strapless column gown by Catherine Walker with a matching bolero jacket embroidered with sequins and pearls. Diana dubbed the dress “the Elvis Dress” because the tall collar resembled the high collars of Elvis’s jumpsuits in his later years. The original dress and jacket were donated to the Victoria & Albert Museum in London in 2006.
On a tour in Cairo
Princess Diana was always an elegant figure, and her 1993 visit to Egypt’s Heliopolis War Cemetery shows off her refined style. She paired a blue and white Catherine Walker suit with a matching Philip Somerville hat. She originally wore the outfit on a trip to India in 1992.
On a ski trip in Austria
This might be the most stylish decade ever! Princess Diana wore double-denim with her kids in Austria in 1993. William’s Moon Boots are pretty cool, too. We’ll be looking for a leather bomber jacket like the one Diana has on! The princess was often seen wearing denim, particularly when she attended informal events. She sometimes donned a full denim ensemble to make a look colloquially known in North America as the Canadian Tuxedo.
As a wedding guest
Princess Diana finished her bright green suit dress with navy accents and a statement bow hat for her appearance at the wedding of Lady Helen Windsor and art dealer Tim Taylor, at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle in July 1992. She was accompanied by Prince Harry.
Visiting Alton Towers
The late princess, known for her colorful and elegant wardrobe, was spotted wearing a Philadelphia Eagles varsity jacket on several occasions between 1991 and 1994. As random as it might seem for the Princess of Wales to wear an American football team’s jacket, there’s an interesting story behind this sartorial choice. In 1982, Diana attended the funeral of Princess Grace of Monaco (aka film legend Grace Kelly). Here she met Jack Edelstein, a friend of Princess Grace who worked as a statistician for the Eagles. When he returned to the United States, he had a bunch of Eagles merchandise made and sent it to her. “We also sent her a beautiful Eagles jacket, made for her,” Edelstein said. “She sent me a very nice note, how she’d been wearing them around.”
At a gala dinner in Chicago
In 1996, Princess Diana and Prince Charles divorced after 15 years of marriage. According to one style expert, the fashion choices Diana made during that year reflected her newfound freedom from royal constraints. One of those looks was the purple Versace dress and matching Jimmy Choo bag Diana wore to attend a gala dinner at the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago. Diana became close friends with Gianni Versace after she modelled an icy blue Atelier Versace gown on a 1991 magazine cover. His sister Donatella designed the dress for her.
On her way to an auction in New York
This photo of Princess Diana, taken two months before her death, exemplifies the informal glamour she was known for. Her dress is by one of her favourite designers, Catherine Walker, and the shoes are Jimmy Choo. Diana was in New York to auction off some of her most iconic fashion garments, and the auction brought in $3.25 million for 79 dresses, with an average price of more than $41,000 a dress. The event was attended by more than 1,100 people, many of them first-time bidders.
On a royal tour
On her royal tour to Australia and New Zealand, Diana wore a pink Victor Edelstein dress and accessorized with the Spencer family tiara. Unlike other members of the royal family, she didn’t wear gloves so she could connect more freely with the people she met. Diana bared her shoulders in the bright-pink, spaghetti-strap gown, which was seen as very daring.
At home with family
The stylish and comfortable outfit that Princess Diana wore during a photoshoot at Highgrove House in Gloucestershire, England in the mid-1980s remains one of her most beloved ensembles. The princess was photographed in pink gingham pants, a white shirt, and a hot pink cardigan. This look encapsulates Diana’s unique approach to fashion, which was to take a traditional style and make it contemporary, making her own mark in royal fashion history. The outfit was later recreated in The Crown.
At a movie premiere
In the last year of her life, Diana attended the premiere of Sir Richard Attenborough’s 1996 film In Love and War. The director’s brother Sir David Attenborough was a close personal friend of the princess, who had been invited to the dinner along with other influential figures in the British arts world to help raise money for the Red Cross Anti-personnel Mines Campaign, a cause that Diana had dedicated herself to in her final months. Wearing a scoop-neck blue dress with lace detailing by Catherine Walker, the People’s Princess dazzled on the red carpet.
