It’s been over two decades since Lady Diana Spencer’s life was taken by the horrific car crash in Paris. Guess the reality hit her and us hard. Even as a true princess, her life wasn’t a fairytale, by any means.
Despite her discomfort regarding constant media attention, and the responsibilities of which would shoulder on her once she married the prince, Diana was so convinced that she and the prince were in love; if only she could know before the marriage that the prince was in love with another woman. She suffered from bulimia and depression, and always felt being an outsider in the Royal Palace. As such, her dramatic life story has exploited by media throughout her life, even to this very day.
April 22, 1986
In a black dress paired with a black-and-white blazer arriving in England
August 1, 1986
In a blue dress and white jacket while visiting Tildworth, Hampshire.
From the moment of Diana’s entry into public life, she became a site of public pleasure and property of the royal kingdom, but she grew and thrived from all of those. In her last years, Diana did an interview with BBC Panorama where she stripped away the strings and shared her critique of the monarchy. The interview significantly interrupted the racial and patriarchal boundaries of British aristocracy.
“Anywhere I see suffering, that is where I want to be, doing what I can,” said Princess Diana. The “People’s Princess” was always dedicated to humanitarian work. Her tireless charitable endeavors helped numerous people who were afflicted HIV and those who lost their limbs to landmines. “I am not a political figure, I am a humanitarian figure, always was, always will be.”
April 9, 1985
In a blue coat by Bellville Sassoon with matching hat and a patent-leather clutch while visiting Hereford Cathedral.
March 1989
In a red jacket, skirt and ballet while visiting St. Mary’s Hospital in London.
Apart from her extraordinary humanitarian efforts and bold royal exposure, Diana often communicated through her clothing, both politically and personally. “It is very surprising how little footage there exists of the Princess actually speaking. We all have a sense of what we think she was like, and yet so much of it comes from still photographs, and a large part of that [idea] is communicated through the different clothes that she wore,” said Eleri Lynn, curator of Diana: Her Fashion Story.
As of today, Princess Diana is still remembered as one of the most powerful fashion icons of all time. Her style and sophistication were highly loved and emulated. More importantly, Diana’s style often shook up the limitation and stuffiness of conventional royal fashion.
December 8, 1982
In a red glittering dress while attending a ballet at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden.
June 23, 1981
At the Royal Academy in a blue sequin dress.
March 26, 1985
In a metallic dress by Bruce Oldfield arriving at a fashion show at Grosvenor House Hotel in London.
1985
In a dark red velvet gown attending the premiere of Back to the Future.
February 23, 1987
In a sparkling, emerald-green dress and matching clutch at a performance of High Society in London.
March 5, 1985
In a satin yellow gown at the premiere of 2010 in London.
March 9, 1997
In a light blue blazer, skirt and hat with nude pumps at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor, United Kingdom with Prince William.
December 10, 1996
In a lacy black dress and white choker at the 50th Anniversary celebrations for Dior in New York.
June 3, 1997
In a light blue sequin mini holding a metallic purse at a Swan Lake performance in London.
Not only is her clothing timeless, glamorous and classy, but it also has an indescribable enchantment that somehow makes all of us feel relatable (maybe not the part that she was born with a palace to inherit). This relatability probably comes from our empathies to her, which we feel that deep down she was an imperfect, introverted woman with a strong soul. She reminded us that even the princess went through the same struggles normal people dealt with.
Dominant leaders in the fashion world have also never parted from Diana’s influence. Generations of designers are inspired by her. The king of streetwear, Louis Vuitton’s current artistic director Virgil Abloh dedicated his label Off White’s SS18 collection to Diana.
Left: Off White SS18 collection |Left photographer: FRANCOIS GUILLOT | Right: Tim Graham 
Left: Off White SS18 collection |Left photographer:FRANCOIS GUILLOT | Right: Anwar Hussein
And last year, Vogue Paris invited Hailey Bieber to collaborate a feature shoot in paying tribute to Diana. The issue went viral. Since then, the fashion world’s and Hailey Bieber’s obsession with Diana’s athleisure looks have strengthened.
photo: allure.com. (left: Instagram @haileybieber/ Right: Getty Images) 
photo: Getty Images
From the bicycle shorts to the sweatshirts, from the oversized jackets to the cowboy boots, Diana spearheaded so many modern-day trends. Princess Diana’s influence lives on and continues to inspire, in fashion and in life.
“Only do what your heart tells you.” ——Princess Diana
We will always remember.
GETTY IMAGES
July 27, 1989
In a white blouse, pink skirt and matching satin heels at a Swan Lake performance in London.
The Beau Monde Express 