When Lady Diana Spencer joined the royal family she revolutionized previous royal traditions and brought a fresh, hands-on approach to being a public figure. She broke down the barriers of stuffy, outdated royal conventions and made the entire institution much more personal with her humble and compassionate ways. One of the most apparent traditions Diana broke was when it came to fashion! She breathed new life into royal dressing and added her own trendy twist to her outfits while still looking dignified and presentable. Although we love Diana’s propensity for bold style, it was quite shocking at the time and many of her statement looks definitely got a second glance or two for breaking royal style rules. Follow along for 11 of Princess Diana’s most controversial looks:
11. Low Back
Diana was known for forging her own path when it came to fashion and many of her outfits broke traditional style rules that were expected of Royal women. One, in particular, is this crushed velvet dress she wore to meet ballet dancers at Saddlers Wells theatre. The look was a gorgeous burgundy color and featured an oversized bow on the back. The real standout with this look, however, is the super low back that we’re quite certain the Queen wouldn’t have approved.
Photo by Anwar Hussein/Getty Images10. Low Neckline
Low necklines and royalty rarely go hand-in-hand! The royal family is known for being quite modest and conservative in the fashion department, which is why we can’t imagine the Queen would have approved some of Diana’s more lowcut numbers, like this look she wore to a Charity Dinner At The New York Hilton Hotel.
Photo by Antony Jones/UK Press via Getty Images9. Bike Shorts
Bike shorts were one of Princess Diana’s go-to looks during her casual off-duty days in the ’90s. While we love seeing Diana in her comfortable, relaxed outfits, we’re not sure the Queen would say the same, especially for shorts this tiny and short!
Photo by Anwar Hussein/Getty Images8. Sheer Skirt
This photo of Princess Diana is one of the most iconic of all time from when she was first dating Prince Charles and working as a Kindergarten assistant. The sunlight in this photo made the skirt appear sheer which displayed a silhouette of her legs. We’re certain that once she married into the Royal family that the Queen took precautions to help Diana have a more suitable and less revealing Royal wardrobe.
Photo by Steve Back/Getty Images7. No Hat
It was often expected for British royals to wear hats and fascinators for public outings, but Diana didn’t always abide by this rule! According to British Vogue, Diana was very intentional with her clothing and thought about the perception each piece would give off. Hats, for example, she thought made her seem unapproachable and even explicitly stated, “You can’t cuddle a child in a hat.” Although she did wear hats on most formal occasions, for hospital visits or visiting children, she refused to abide by this royal fashion protocol.
Photo by David Levenson/Getty Images6. All Black
It was often expected that royals standout when they attend royal outings, with Queen Elizabeth setting the standard with her brightly colored suits in every shade of the rainbow. Allegedly the Queen opts for these colors to ensure members of the public are able to see her amongst a crowd and are able to say “I saw the Queen!” Diana, however, didn’t follow this practice and had an obvious fashion propensity for black, navy and neutrals.
Photo by Anwar Hussein/Getty Images5. No Gloves
Similar to her no hat policy, Diana reverted the previous royal tradition to wear gloves for public outings! Instead, she opted to keep her hands bare to allow a personal touch and skin-to-skin contact with those she met. Previously, it was expected that royals were higher in the social hierarchy and should not be touched, but Diana changed these notions with her humble demeanor and down-to-earth way of royal life.
Photo by David Levenson/Getty Images4. One-Shoulder Neckline
The royal family never typically opted for anything overly fashion-forward or revealing, until Princess Diana joined the family, that is! Diana loved fashion and took to trendy cuts and styles when it came to dresses, such as this one-shoulder neckline. Nothing like this had ever been worn by a royal before, and it was quite refreshing to see a royal chose something sparkling and on-trend rather than something rather dull and lackluster.
Photo by Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images3. Wore Necklace as a Tiara
Diana loved to style her clothes in new and interesting ways and this look from a gala in Australia is the perfect example of that! The sparkling headpiece Diana wore was actually a necklace that was gifted to her by the Queen. It was remodeled for Queen Mary, then inherited by Queen Elizabeth in 1953, who chose to pass it down to Diana as a wedding gift. We’re quite certain this isn’t the way the Queen had in mind for Diana to style the piece, but we love her unique take on the traditional emerald necklace!
Photo by Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images2. Casual Fashion
Diana gave a new meaning to casual fashion when she joined the royal family! Before her, it was rare to see a royal wearing anything remotely informal, but Diana’s down-to-earth personality definitely gave way to a more low key style uniform within the royal family. This particular outfit was definitely one of her most casual consisting of a reindeer-printed knit sweater layered on top of a turtleneck and loose-fitting corduroy pants.
Photo by Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images1. Chunky Jewelry
Before Diana, it was common practice for royals to be quite minimalist in nature when it came to jewelry. They had their statement tiaras and family heirlooms but tended to wear only one to avoid looking overly glamorous or flashy. Diana, however, had a penchant for wearing chunky, oversized jewelry and did so with pride. This sapphire choker, for example, was one of her go-to pieces and she had no problem styling it with dangling earrings or a sparkly, pearl dress.
Photo by David Levenson/Getty Images
