Full disclosure: I planned to write a blog post on Princess Diana’s incredible and timeless style months ago. But my timeline slipped, which often happens when you’re running a blog while working full-time. So now it just so happens to coincide with the birth of Baby Sussex but I just wanted to make you aware that I always have and always will love Princess Diana’s style and she is one of my ultimate style icons.
As an 80s baby, I pretty much grew up seeing Princess Diana on TV and in papers. While I was too young to understand why she was constantly in the media, what I *did* know is that she was a princess…and she had an incredible dress sense. Fast forward a couple of decades and I’m much more informed about Princess Diana as an incredible humanitarian as well as one of the most enduring style icons of the 20th century.
I’ve been increasingly drawing on Diana’s style recently, from her off-duty athleisurewear to her incredibly 80s eveningwear looks with obligatory pearls. I’ve created a whole Pinterest board with my favourite looks which I often use as a reference point. I’m not the only one who is enamoured with Princess Diana’s style signatures, such as power shoulders, cycling shorts and pastel suits – Virgil Abloh dedicated his SS18 Off White to Lady Diana and she often referenced by designers.
I wanted to share three of my favourite Lady Di looks to channel so you too can emulate the Princess’ signature styles:
1. Athleisure
Personally, Princess Di’s athleisure looks are my ultimate fashion inspiration. The just-left-the-gym look of chunky 80s kicks, cycling shorts and an oversize jumper are absolute perfection. So much so that every time I wear cycling shorts, I try to channel her aesthetic. For this look, I wanted to go for an elevated version so I wore leopard print cycling shorts with an oversized jumper and a pair of sleek mules.
2. The LBD
Princess Diana’s “revenge dress” was one of the most iconic style moments of the 90s and one of her most defining looks. The off-the-shoulder dress was designed by Greek designer Christina Stambolian and worn on the night Prince Charles admitted to being unfaithful. I’m not usually a fan of LBDs but I love how extra Di’s were.
3. Power suits
One of the most enduring 80s aesthetics is the power suit and you betcha ass that Princess Diana made this look her own. Impeccably tailored suits became her signature look for royal engagements but did you know that Diana broke royal protocol by wearing a navy suit to a The Prince’s Trust event in 1990? She became the first senior royal to wear trousers to an evening event! I prefer her soft pastel suits to the bold shades but either way, make sure your blazer has strong shoulder pads to get the Princess Diana look.
Jumper – H&M (past season) | Cycling shorts – Nasty Gal | Heels – Reserved (past season) | Handbag – Chloe (past season)
Photography by Kylie Eyra.
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