Every girl has always being fascinated by the royalties, we all wish to be a princess...to have all the beautiful jewels, gowns, tiaras at just a wave of our fingers! Don't we!? But there's also another truth that is glued to the fact of being a princess, that I learned when I looked up at Princess Diana. Being a princess is just not about beautiful tiaras, gown or jewels... its far more than that! There has to be a beautiful person.. a beautiful soul behind a beautiful face. And that's how Princess Diana for me is truly A Princess of millions of hearts!
AS much as she was known for her philanthropy, kindness and the scandal that surrounded her marriage, Diana, Princess of Wales, was also known for her unerring sense of style that influenced a generation of women. From her early days in the limelight as a shy and blushing nursery school teacher, and afternoons spent at the polo, to figure-skimming dresses by Versace and Catherine Walker - we remember the style of a true fashion icon.
Diana’s fashions were chronicled extensively in the press of the time, just like Duchess Kate’s are today. But her own flair for fashion was fully revealed in the years after her marriage dissolved. The shy teen disappeared and a confident, sophisticated woman took her place, with a closet of fashion-forward designer clothing to match.
Though Diana’s looks were always elegant, they were cutting-edge enough to embrace trends that today’s woman is still happy to wear.
Today lets remember her classical yet chic style and get inspired!!
Two Toned:
While the shoulder pads Diana sported might seem outdated, this suit’s bold, two-tone theme still resonates today. Color-blocking can be found everywhere, from the runway to retail stores. Even the pastel colors of this suit are still a fashion win. Here, Diana wears a suit by one of her favorite designers, Catherine Walker, to a special service at London’s St. Paul’s Cathedral for fire department veterans, accompanied by her two sons, Princes William and Harry.
Menswear:
Collars of all types are all over today’s fashion pages, and can be found on celebrities from Kim Kardashian to Drew Barrymore. But nearly three decades ago, it was Princess Diana who rocked this chic, menswear-inspired look. The princess’ everlasting femininity personalized this trend, giving her a fashionable edge. Here, her black masculine bow tie is contrasted with a feminine white skirt suit, designed by Jasper Conran, that she wore during a 1985 visit to Florence, Italy.
Military Style:
Princess Diana chose to wear a military-themed suit on a visit to Sandhurst, the elite military academy her son Harry later attended. The white jacket, decorated with gold rope and buttons, was created by her pet designer Catherine Walker. Military style is a tremendous inspiration for designers, and just last June, the Duchess of Cambridge wore a military-inspired dress to present medals to members of the Irish Guard with her husband, Prince William.
One shoulder:
While Princess Diana didn’t start this trend, it’s a look that has become inextricably linked to her. She wore the look to event after event, showing off her athletic, well-toned arms. The one-shoulder dress can still be regularly found on the red carpet, while even one-shoulder casual shirts are popular in stores today. Here Diana wears a turquoise silk dress by Versace to a benefit dinner in Sydney in October 1996.
Plaid:
Princess Diana wore this plaid dress to the Braemar Highland Games in Scotland in September 1982, but you don’t have to be in Scotland – or the 1980s – to embrace this timeless style. Although plaid as a trend seemed to reach its peak in the 1990s, it’s still very much in fashion. Burberry classic check has never gone out of favor, while other designers regularly turn out plaid shirts, skirts and embellishments. And these days tartan isn’t just for winter or wool; the pattern is often printed on silk, chiffon and other light fabrics.
Monochromatic nude:
Understatement is always in style, as Diana knew well. Monochromatic outfits and nude-colored clothing were everywhere this past season, while nude shoes are all the rage and match outfits of every color. This versatile color is a great choice for any season, from winter to summer. Diana, pictured here with her husband and staff, wore this tan dress during her first tour of Australia, in 1983, when Prince William was just a year old. Not surprisingly, this color is also a favorite of Diana’s daughter-in-law, Catherine. Most recently, she was wore a nude lace dress by Alexander McQueen to the queen’s Jubilee celebrations.
(Source:www.thelook.today.com)
Some more fascinating glimpse of our beloved Diana:
She collaborated on her wedding gown with little-known design team David and Elizabeth Emanuel. "In the end, the design process was quite simple because it was just the three of us," the duo wrote in A Dress for Diana. They had the future princess slip sample dresses on over her jeans: "She was terribly excited to be trying on huge bouffant petticoats, satin skirts and boned bodices." The final garment was made of British-woven silk and featured a dramatic 25-foot train.
The princess was nicknamed "Dynasty Di" by the tabloids because of her wide-shouldered gowns like this silver Bruce Oldfield. "She was very involved," Oldfield has said of his client's wardrobe, but, "you'd have to be fast because she didn't have much patience."
Diana wore this wine velvet Catherine Walker dress to a London premiere. Although it looked conservative from the front, the gown had an open back that the princess accentuated with a long pearl necklace worn backwards.
For an appearance in Melbourne, Australia, Diana accented a single-shoulder gown with an emerald-and-diamond choker worn as a tiara. The necklace was a wedding gift from the Queen, who likely imagined the deco treasure being worn in a more conventional way.
The high collar on this Catherine Walker pearl-encrusted bolero was inspired by Elizabethan ruffs. The less historically minded press christened the ensemble "the Elvis dress."
She looked radiant at a London Kire Te Kanawa concert in a raspberry-hued Victor Edelstein gown.
Princess Diana's "Revenge" dress was by Christina Stambolian, and was purchased for a Vanity Fair dinner at the Serpentine Gallery. The black silk dress had an asymmetrical bodice and came to be known as the "revenge" dress because she wore it on the same day her ex-husband, Prince Charles, admitted to marital infidelities. The dress sold for $74,000 at auction in 1997.
Princess Diana wore the trends of the times, like these seam-back hose in 1985.
