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9 Stealing the show in a
metallic Bruce Oldfield
creation at a 1985 gala.
10 Diana wears a classic
monochrome ensemble
by Catherine Walker
(one of her go-to
designers) and a Freddie
Fox hat. 11 The Victor
Edelstein gown she wore
to the White House
in 1985 was dubbed
the “Travolta dress”.6 At Kensington
Gardens in 1983 –
pleats had become
one of her signatures.
7 By 1985 the princess
was opting for more
sophisticated styles,
such as this crimson
gown by Bruce
Oldfield. 8 Gloves,
hat and scarf ... every
inch the royal in 1984.were not like that, and that translated
to the fashion.
One of my favourite things I made
for her was a red and white suit that she
wore on a trip to Portugal and Spain,
and a few times after that. Contrary to
what the public think, the royals do
wear outfits more than once. There was
also a long, silver lamé backless dress
that I loved – she was going out with me
that night. I’d always take safety pins,
thread and needles with me in case of
any wardrobe malfunctions.
Her outfits never needed to
be daft and outrageous or over
the top. She always looked
great in a well-cut suit, espe-
cially in blue or red. That’s
not to say she didn’t have some
disasters. Sometimes I’d think,
“Oh no. Who was looking after her
that day?” There was a particular mo-
ment in Melbourne in 1985 involving
some wayward shoulder pads that stillsends chills down my spine. One part of
me thinks, “Couldn’t she tell?” The
other part appreciates the fact that she
had more on her mind than clothes.
Around 1990 we stopped working
together, but would still meet up at par-
ties. What can I say? People come and
go. Most of the time, she still rocked it.FELICITY CLARK
BEAUTY EDITOR
In the late 1970s, I was beauty edi-
tor at British Vogue and Diana’s
sister, Lady Jane Spencer,
worked as my PA. Diana used
to pop into the office, so I had
my eye on her from when she
was 14. We first photographed
her when she was 19 as an “up-
and-coming beauty”. But suddenly
she was marrying Prince Charles, so the
shots became the official photos to run
with the engagement announcement.I don’t think Diana was in any way
obsessed with clothes back then.
Despite the fact that she became a
fashion icon, I’m not sure she ever
truly was obsessed. But she absolutely
fell in love with a blouse I’d chosen
for the shoot: pale pink chiffon,
designed by the Emanuels – who I later
took her to see and who would, of
course, go on to design her wedding
dress. She may not have been fashion
mad, but she knew what she liked,
which at that time in her life was
anything with frills, frankly.
As her duties multiplied and
fame soared, she needed a new ward-
robe, but she found it embarrassing
if she went into shops and didn’t
buy anything. I suggested that we
bring some things into our office
and she could come in and treat it
like a boutique.
The princess and I remained in
touch. We used to have lunch and678 119
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