It had never been `hot fashion` what Diana weared. Indeed, it was Vice Versa: Diana's clothes and style used to become fashionable. She wasn't neither a model nor star made by designer's clothers. So delightful she was that she used to make stars out of clothes! As a royalty, highly-watched ambassador on the international arena and simply charming lady with so many admirable qualities, Princess Diana knew (as she felt) how to successfully use haute couture as an appeal or prayer, flattery or weapon, goodwill message and finally... protest. It seems to me no woman has never been so exquisite and refined, so instrumental and honest-minded in expressing herself with clothes and style, whatever it's been: elegant designer's masterpieces or plain clothes of her own choice. Diana, you were simply the best... I wish to devote to you a series of articles.
Princess Diana not only loved fashion and designers. She made and supported fashion and designers. Diana had been encouraging and actively supporting a number of UK designers, first of all Arabella Pollen, Bruce Oldfield, Amanda Wakeley and Catherine Walker. Initially Diana was encouraged by staff of Vogue to pursue a particular look. Afyer her mariage, Diana gained confidence in her own fashion style and became more and more elegant as she began to understand what suited her. She started to wear clothes by international designers of her own choice including Versace, Christian Lacroix, Ungaro and Chanel.
Tim Graham and Tamsin Blanchard wrote in their book "Dressing Diana" in 1998: "A key to Diana's style was her versatility and ability to get it right, to wear waterproofs on board a naval ship, gold braid and frogging to a military parade, or a soft floral dress and matching hat on a royal walkabout. ... Diana wore Chanel on a state visit to Paris, Escada to Germany and Moschino to meet the Italian president. Her choices were often seen as witty flattery: wearing a sailor hat to visit a naval base, and sporting a rising-sun circle on a white hat in Japan."
As a royalty, highly-watched ambassador on the international arena and simply charming lady with so many admirable qualities, Princess Diana knew (as she felt) how to successfully use haute couture as an appeal or prayer, flattery or weapon, goodwill message and finally... protest.
Still photographs just don't do her justice. You had to see her move in those gowns, bringing them to life -- transforming a couple of yards of fabric into a worldwide headline.
By the 1990s she was a world leader of fashion in clothes, accessories, make up and hair. She became a trendsetter hounded by the press for her latest look, latest remark or latest romance.
It seems to me no woman has never been so exquisite and refined, so instrumental and honest-minded in expressing herself with clothes and style, whatever it's been: elegant designer's masterpieces or plain clothes of her own choice. Diana, you were simply the best...