Diana, Princess of Wales’s stylist Anna Harvey once gifted the royal a pair of printed Pucci leggings and a set of Gap T-shirts for her birthday. “She was delighted that I thought she might wear something this zany,” Harvey, a former British Vogue deputy editor, recalled. Such joy was typical of the so-called “People’s Princess”, who was “very open to ideas” regarding her transformation from “unsophisticated” upper-class English girl to elegant stateswoman. She took on board the ’80s power silhouettes, the exquisite headline-making evening wear, and the sleek ’90s tailoring. But she never gave up the splashy colours and vivacious prints she adored.
Case in point: Lady Di’s polka dots. The philanthropist loved the cartoonish print that manages to conjure up Minnie Mouse fashion while being wholly, unabashedly feminine. From mini to macro, the royal was dotty for spotted looks in fuchsia, turquoise, red, lilac and navy. No silhouette was off the cards, nor any accessory (she once matched her ankle socks to her pleated white and red polka dot skirt). Such was the princess’s enthusiasm for the cheering print, that every time her daughter-in-law, the Duchess of Cambridge, has worn old-school dotted looks, she has been compared to the original polka dot fan: Diana, Princess of Wales.
Here, 16 times Lady Di joined the dots in style.
1990
Immaculate in nautical-inspired polka dots in Brighton.
© Shutterstock
1989
Welcoming the President of Nigeria, Ibrahim Babangida, in her most vibrant polka dot look of all.
© Shutterstock
1996
Diana’s neat black polka dot shift dress and ballet pumps would stand the test of time now.
© Beirne/Shutterstock
1994
Having an Annie Hall moment in a fabulous polka dot tie in ’94.
© Brendan Beirne/Shutterstock
1985
A day at the polo called for Roy Lichtenstein-style spots.
© Peter Brooker/Shutterstock
1983
A tomato-red suit would not have been complete without a signature dotty flourish via a pussy-bow blouse in ’83.
© Mauro Carraro/Shutterstock
1986
Looking every inch the epitome of ’80s glamour at the London premiere of Othello.
© Shutterstock
1985
Pretty in pink polkas in Italy.
© Shutterstock
1986
Kapow! Lady Di made a splash in red and white polka dots on the royal tour of Japan.
© Shutterstock
1982
The princess leaving St Mary’s Hospital after the birth of her first son, Prince William.
© Shutterstock
1981
Lady Di wore dots for her first royal walkabout with her then-fiancé, Prince Charles.
© Princess Diana Archive
1986
The Queen and Diana, Princess of Wales awaiting the arrival of West German President Richard von Weizsäcker at Victoria Station.
© Princess Diana Archive
1983
Wearing a polka dot Catherine Walker gown and the Spencer family tiara at a state banquet in Auckland.
© Princess Diana Archive
1986
Matching her socks to her dots at the polo in Windsor.
© Anwar Hussein
1988
The President of the Republic of Turkey, Kenan Evren, met a dotty princess in 1988.
© Mirrorpix
1988
To the races! Diana, Princess of Wales took her seat in the royal box at Ascot in 1988 wearing classic navy and white polka dots.
© Julian Parker
From British Vogue
