Diana's Bold Fashion Statement During Engagement to Charles
Princess Diana captured public attention by defying royal clothing traditions and establishing her own unique fashion style.
As a member of the royal family, Diana was expected to follow strict rules and protocols, particularly regarding attire. Official engagements required knee-length or longer skirts and dresses with tights, and hats were mandatory at royal weddings. Bright nail polish and black clothing were discouraged, with black traditionally reserved for mourning.
Despite these expectations, Diana often chose to forge her own path in fashion. Fashion designer Dame Zandra Rhodes revealed that Diana had a fondness for Little Black Dresses (LBDs), even though black attire was typically reserved for funerals. Rhodes explained that Diana would visit her shop and sometimes pick black designs, which were then made in different colours to comply with royal customs: "She was very shy. She would come into my shop in Mayfair and go through the rails," Rhodes told Saga magazine, as reported by Hello!. "Sometimes she picked something in black, which the royals weren't allowed to wear except at funerals, so we would make it in her size in a different colour."
Diana consistently challenged this unwritten rule and openly defied it on several occasions. In 1981, during her engagement to Prince Charles, she wore a striking black gown designed by David and Elizabeth Emanuel to a fundraising concert. The off-the-shoulder taffeta ensemble drew attention and prompted a comment from Charles, who remarked, "Only people in mourning wear black!"
Undeterred by Charles's critique, Diana continued to wear black attire for various events, both glamorous and informal. For instance, she wore a black Chanel sailor-style dress when visiting Charles in the hospital with their sons, Princes William and Harry.
Her most famous LBD was the one she wore to the Serpentine Gallery in 1994, known as her "revenge dress." This bold choice was widely seen as a response to Charles's televised admission of adultery with Camilla Parker Bowles.
In contrast, Diana's future daughter-in-law, Kate Middleton, shares a love for fashion but generally adheres more closely to royal protocol. While Kate consistently impresses with her stunning attire at official ceremonies, she reserves black clothing strictly for mourning and funerals.
