Today we are commemorating 25 years since the premature passing of Lady Diana, The Princess of People, and one of the greatest fashion icons of the 20th century. Each and every appearance of Lady Di emerges as a flash of pop culture, some of the looks being the most talked-about in history: the revenge dress, her wedding statement gown, or the ‘way ahead-of-time’ casual outfits that inspired major trends such as the recent return of athleisure. Her choice of using fashion as a form of communication, together with the ability to pull up the most sophisticated ball gowns in the evening and baseball caps, or Hunter boots by day infused into the captivating character of a style icon. Since her popularity increased along with the rise of the paparazzi phenomenon, she understood that there was no “off duty” second, every glimpse, and every still photograph was and continues to be ‘THE’ moment.
Her style evolved along the historical moments of her life: from “Shy Di”, the young fiancé of Prince Charles in pastels and delicate blouses, to a real splendor and symbol of elegance in flamboyant looks draped in velvet, sequins, and finally, to her revived post-divorce style. The idea of who she was, how she felt, and what she valued was widely articulated through her attire. She ditched the royal tradition of wearing gloves because of favored touch and direct contact with people, and when asked why she was no longer wearing hats, she replied: “You can’t cuddle a child in a hat”. Alongside the means of kindness and compassion, Lady Diana’s manner of challenging the strict royal protocol outlined her approachable, yet bold and rebellious nature. She made history as the first female royal who wore a pants suit at an official evening event, while her choice of power suits and tuxedos started to emphasize her commitment to work, with both confidence and femininity. The Princess of People succeeded to redefine and democratize luxury through her unconventional and eclectic personal style by giving the same value to a Dior gown, diamond tiara, jeans, or baseball cap. Thought that wearing two gold watches on the same wrist is a trademark of rappers? Diana did it way before Travis Scott, wearing both hers and her husband’s watch at a polo game in 1980. One of the most photographed women in history also experimented with (re)styling ahead of any fashion movement, by wearing a precious emerald choker gifted by the Queen, as a tiara. We also owe the ‘post-break-up’ glow-up trend to Lady Di’s “revenge dress” daring statement. She stepped out in the above-the-knee, over-the-shoulder taffeta dress designed by Christina Stambolian at the Vanity Fair annual fundraising gala, the same night her husband confessed adultery on national television. The iconic, striking moment was later covered in the press under titles like “The Thrilla He Left To Woo Camilla,” as The Sun wrote. Touché!
Her style legacy continues to defeat time, while the fashion bible she engraved during the 80s and 90s is shared all over Instagram. In a mix of utter elegance, coolness, and a sprinkle of strangeness, her outfits succeeded to translate the bold self and democratic dressing approach to the public. Decades after her passing, Virgil Abloh dedicated an Off-White show in Lady Di’s memory, while the photographs of her Harvard sweatshirts next to Hermes bags and pearl glasses stylings are outlining a mood-board of the quintessential 21st-century fashion flair.
Comments
If you need more info about the item, you can write your comment below. The seller will be notified as soon as the comment is displayed on the page..