From her wedding dress to her “revenge dress,” the people’s princess rocked some seriously gorgeous gowns throughout the ’80s and ’90s. Diana’s distinctive fashion won’t be soon forgotten, and both celebrities and designers alike still look to her iconic style today. Read on to see 50 of the most stunning dresses Princess Diana ever wore.
1
1980
For her first public outing with her fiancé, Prince Charles, Lady Diana Spencer made a big splash with the press. The future royal wore a black strapless taffeta evening gown designed by David and Elizabeth Emanuel, who also designed her wedding dress. The look led to the press nicknaming her “Daring Di” and the public took note of her emerging style sense.
Anwar Hussein//Getty Images1981
With a 25-foot train and 10,000 pearls, co-designer David Emanuel didn’t downplay Diana’s most famous fashion moment: Her wedding. “I wanted the dress to reflect that but she was going in as Lady Diana Spencer and coming out as the Princess of Wales,” he said. “If you did a subtle little number, it’s not going to work!”
1981
While attending an event at the Victoria and Albert Museum in 1981, the Princess opted for this dreamy off-the-shoulder chiffon ballgown by Bellville Sassoon. Diana favored the high-end designer in her early royal days, especially while she was pregnant.
1982
With Prince William on the way, the newlywed turned heads in this drop-waist gown by Bruce Oldfield. “The English rose syndrome was never my bag,” the designer said. “I liked to see her in much simpler things.“
5
1982
While pregnant with Prince William, Diana stunned in an empire-waist red satin ballgown covered with intricate details. From the square neckline to the lace-trimmed bell sleeves, Diana looked straight out of a Jane Austen novel.
6
1983
On her royal tour to Australia and New Zealand, Diana accessorized her pink Victor Edelstein dress with the Spencer family tiara. Unlike other members of the royal family, she rarely wore gloves so she could connect more freely with the people she met.
7
1983
The Emanual design team created this sheer garment for a meeting with New Zealand’s prime minister.
1984
London-based designer Catherine Walker created over 1,000 looks for Diana over the years, including this color-blocked gown for a night at the ballet.
1984
Princess Diana looked ethereal in a two-tone pink sequin gown, as she attended a performance at the Apollo Victoria Theatre in 1984. The Princess paired the pleated drop-waist gown with a rope pearl choker and metallic accessories.
10
1984
Pregnant with her second son, Diana attended a movie premiere in glamorous maternity wear also by Catherine Walker.
1985
The royal definitely embraced the broad-shouldered fashions of the day, including this backless lamé dress by Bruce Oldfield. The favored silhouette soon earned her the nickname “Dynasty Di.”
1985
In addition to Walker, Bruce Oldfield also frequently dressed Diana through the ’80s. She wore this ruched number to the National Gallery in Melbourne.
1985
The fashion icon knew good outfits wow from every angle. She styled this plunging Catherine Walker gown by wearing a long strand of pearls down her back.
1985
Diana didn’t always wear her necklaces as necklaces, however. She once repurposed an emerald choker — a wedding gift from the Queen — as a headband for a formal night out. Her matching gown is by the Emanuels.
16
1985
The Princess of Wales won over Americans on her first official visit to the U.S. This asymmetric beaded gown came from the Japanese designer Hachi.
17
1985
During that trip, the young princess famously stole a dance with John Travolta. An iconic photo captures her Victor Edelstein dress twirling perfectly.
1985
It may look like a wedding dress, but the lace-and-satin design by Murray Arbeid appeared at a dinner in Washington D.C. Diana showed off another gift from her mother-in-law: A diamond tiara called “Queen Mary’s Lover’s Knot.”
1985
Princess Diana turned heads in a satin yellow ballgown designed by Murray Arbeid, while arriving for a premiere in London in 1985. The puffed sleeves and deep V-neck were very on-trend back then.
Getty Images1986
Diana turned to cream again for a banquet in Oman. This Emanuel ensemble favors a slimmer satin skirt, though.
Princess Diana Archive//Getty Images
Getty Images1987
The Cannes red carpet never recovered from this all-star moment. Diana literally glowed in this chiffon creation by Catherine Walker, reportedly inspired by Grace Kelly in To Catch a Thief.
Getty Images1987
Walker seemingly took cues from Disney princesses for this fairytale look. The rosy ballgown — worn first at the Berlin Opera House — also appeared in an official portrait by Terence Donovan.
Princess Diana Archive//Getty Images1988
Princess Diana chose a one-shoulder gown by Catherine Walker for a state dinner at the British Embassy in Paris. The red and black floral evening gown featured a full skirt and ruched bodice, and paired perfectly with the Princess’s subtle red lip and pearl earrings.
Getty Images1989
While headlines dubbed it her “Elvis dress,” Walker reportedly drew inspiration from Elizabethan ruffs. Her interpretation included a white silk crepe dress and bolero jacket, both embroidered with sequins and pearls.
1989
Walker also created this elaborate pink ensemble, which Diana wore while meeting the Crown Prince of Kuwait.
Getty Images
1989
Diana debuted this Victor Edelstein design at the premiere of Dangerous Liaisons, but it more famously appeared on the cover of Life magazine after her death.
1989
In Dubai, Princess Diana turned to designer Zandra Rhodes for her lilac evening gown at the British consulate’s dinner. The sheer long-sleeved gown featured a deep V-neck, a geometric pattern and a jewel pendant center.
1990
The Princess especially adored this Victor Edelstein number. She rewore the dress eight times over the years.
1990
No sleeves, no problem. The Princess of Wales chose this blue Catherine Walker dress for a presidential banquet in Cameroon.
1990
The fashion-forward Diana converted another piece of jewelry into a choker. A wedding gift from the Queen Mother, a large sapphire and diamond brooch became the clasp of a seven-strand pearl necklace. Diana frequently paired the piece (even after her divorce) with strapless dresses, like this Catherine Walker sheath.
1990
Diana stepped out in her so-called “mermaid dress” not once but twice: First on a 1986 Austrian state visit and again to the 1990 Diamond Ball. The Catherine Walker gown has since sold for over $130,000 at auction.
1991
For the film premiere of Backdraft, the Princess of Wales turned to a Bellville Sassoon dress with embroidered straps.
1992
Does that top look familiar? It’s the same bodice from the royal’s Kuwait visit, now paired with a slim skirt for a banquet in South Korea.
1992
Reminiscent of Diana’s Cannes look, this pale blue chiffon dress also comes courtesy of Catherine Walker. The Princess of Wales wore this one for a gala benefiting the London City Ballet.
1993
1994
The infamous “revenge dress” almost never happened, according to its designer. Christina Stambolian created the figure-hugging gown three years before, but the Princess felt too nervous to wear it. She changed her mind the day Prince Charles admitted to his affair with Camilla Parker Bowles. “She wanted to look a million dollars,” said her former stylist Anna Harvey. “And she did.”
1995
After her divorce, Diana embraced new styles and designers that raised her profile as a fashion icon. At a Parisian dinner held in her honor, she chose a red cocktail dress by Christian Lacroix.
1995
Another short style, this Catherine Walker halter neck dress featured glass beads embroidered in a scroll pattern. Diana wore the beaded shift to a gallery opening.
1995
At a Pavarotti concert benefiting the Red Cross, Diana nodded to the organization’s primary color in a two-tone Catherine Walker dress.
1995
Throughout her life, Diana worked with Walker on developing her “royal uniform,” determined not to let her clothes wear her. This simple tank dress did the trick at a London movie premiere.
1996
The color’s reminiscent of the ruffled Bruce Oldfield creation from almost a decade before, but the sleek Versace silhouette couldn’t look more different. Di wowed in the design at a benefit for cardiac research in Sydney.
1996
The Princess of Wales received her pearl-studded salwar kameez as a gift from expat friend Jemima Khan, InStyle reports. Di loved the outfit so much, she requested more Pakistani-inspired designs from Catherine Walker.
Getty Images1996
On her only trip to Chicago, Diana stopped by Northwestern University before stepping out in the school’s colors at a gala the next day. She accessorized the Versace gown with Jimmy Choo shoes — a relatively unknown brand at the time.
1996
Arriving at the Met Gala, Princess Diana wore a Dior dress designed by John Galliano. Diana reportedly almost didn’t wear the satin slip dress with black lace trimmings, as she felt it would embarrass her young son, Prince William.
Getty Images1997
The Princess literally sparkled at a performance of Swan Lake in London. Jacques Azagury designed the glittering shift, and Garrard created her pearl and diamond necklace. The jeweler also made matching earrings, but didn’t finish the set in time.
1997
Diana wore Catherine Walker yet again at the launch party for her Christie’s auction. By selling 79 of her most iconic dresses, the Princess netted $3.25 million for AIDS and cancer charities. The event — held just months before her death — shows how the Princess used her wardrobe to promote her true passion: helping others.
1997
Princess Diana arrived in a stunning sleeveless black beaded column Jacques Azagury gown for her 36th birthday celebration. She accessorized with diamond drop earrings and an emerald and diamond choker, which she wore many times before, most notably as a headband in 1985.
