Princess Diana's sense of style was already cutting edge for the '80s and '90s, and now with the fashion of those decades coming back, her looks are trendier than ever. So trendy, in fact, that we'd love to see Kate Middleton rock the modern-day equivalent of some of Diana's most iconic looks.
The Duchess of Cambridge is no stranger to dressing like her late mother-in-law. There have been many occasions when Kate has worn a similar outfit to something the Princess of Wales had previously worn. They have similar styles, and they're both influencing fashion every time they step outside.
But Kate can also fall into fashion ruts at times and rely too heavily on staples like her signature coatdresses. By trying out some of these bolder Diana looks (think textured fabrics, sparkly embellishments, big patterns), Kate can have some fun switching up her style while still staying on trend.
Diana's Gym Look
Diana basically invented athleisure. She was one of the first royals to use a public gym, and her go-to workout look was bike shorts and an oversized sweatshirt. The iconic style is totally trendy again — even Hailey Bieber has gotten on the train. Kate should definitely give this one a try.
Monochromatic
Wearing separates that are all the same color is super chic right now, but Diana was doing it way back when. We love her commitment to the color red for this outing — red blazer, skirt, stockings, heels, and even a red bag. Kate already likes to coordinate her outfits, but we'd love to see her in bright, head-to-toe (literally) monochrome.
A Bold, Backless Design
Diana decided to get literal for the premiere of Back to The Future. She wore a backless velvet dress and a backwards necklace. It's a pretty risqué look for a royal, but the princess was never afraid to be bold. Kate rarely shows this much skin, but we'd love to see her take a fashion risk like this.
Pink Capri Pants
Capri pants used to be so in style, but their popularity has faded in recent years. Bet we know who could bring it back: fashion icon Kate. She should follow in Diana's footsteps with a bold pink pant and matching sweater combo. This is one of Princess Di's cutest outfits.
Embellished With Pearls
Embellished dresses were a huge trend during the '80s, but Diana's head-to-toe pearl gown is still so stunning today. And to pair it with her iconic pearl tiara was an inspired choice. All pearl everything. The gown was designed by Catherine Walker — who also happens to be a favorite of Kate's — so trying a look like this should pretty much be a no-brainer for the Duchess of Cambridge.
Comfy & Casual
This is such an iconic outfit, from the casual T-shirt and the baseball cap to the blazer and the jeans. Diana wore the ensemble for a polo event. Now, usually Kate wears breezy summer dresses when she watches Prince William play polo, but this look is comfy and casual, and she may want to try it out.
Bold Polka Dots
We have seen the Duchess of Cambridge wear polka dots before, but she tends to go for a smaller version of the print. We'd love for her to channel the more '80s-style big, bold polka dots like Diana did here. The princess matched her dress with a red hat, and the whole look is breathtaking. Such a style icon.
The Revenge Dress
Like the backless dress, this is another look that we would probably never catch Kate in. It's just showing too much skin. But we would love to see her take a fashion risk like Diana did. Of course, Diana wore this look after Prince Charles admitted to cheating on her, so maybe we don't want Kate to have an occasion to wear this look.
'90s Skirt Suit
Before we talk about Diana, can we just take a moment to acknowledge baby Prince Harry's knee socks? Too cute. OK, back to the princess. This chic beige skirt suit was so very '90s, but the '90s are back! We could totally see Kate rocking a padded shoulder and business skirt. And don't forget the hat!
Matchy-Matchy
Because Kate already likes to dress to match her kids, it wouldn't be much of a stretch for her to give something like this green and white outfit a try. Just imagine Prince Louis in the green suspenders and Kate in that jacket and big hat. She could definitely pull it off.
Cozy Sweater & Skirt Combo
Move over, Taylor Swift — Diana discovered #cottagecore long before the Folklore album came out. Cottagecore is basically just romanticized country life, and there's something about Diana standing in a field dressed in a cozy sweater over a breezy skirt that perfectly encapsulates the current trend. If Kate doesn't want to try this outfit, we will. Looks comfy.
Yellow Overalls
Imagine if Kate not only tried overalls, but yellow overalls. Diana made the somewhat childish look seem much more mature when she wore this ensemble to a polo match in the early '80s. It's actually one of the styles that was copied for young Diana's wardrobe in The Crown.
Pencil Skirt
The duality of this outfit is what we love most about it. It's form-fitting on the bottom, but voluminous on the top. This was one of those signature '80s silhouettes with the contrast between oversized and fitted pieces. Kate doesn't do many outfits with tight or long skirts, usually opting instead for a knee-length coatdress. This is one way to shake up her style.
'70s Vibes
Although Diana wore this outfit in 1983, it had some definite leftover '70s vibes to it — from the aviator-style sunglasses to the wide-legged striped pants. We've seen Kate channel that decade before, and this would be a fun way for the Duchess of Cambridge to mix some more pants into her mostly skirts and dresses wardrobe.
Something Super '80s
OK, so this whole look wouldn't exactly translate as is to today's style, but Kate could take elements from it. The '80s are back in fashion, and perhaps a nice pair of elbow-length gloves or a velvet dress or some silk roses are in order for the Duchess of Cambridge. It would certainly be fun. Maybe the palace should throw a costume party at some point.
Barbie Pink
Barbiecore is totally a thing right now. While Kate is a fan of pink, she tends to go for a brighter shade when she wears the color. We think it would be fun if she tried out a more pastel, bubblegum pink like Diana did when she wore this matching set in Argentina in 1995. She'll end up looking like a real-life Barbie doll in the best way.
Denim Jumpsuit
Denim jumpsuits are back — just ask the Kardashians — but Diana rocked this look way back in 1993 while on a ski trip with her sons in Austria. Speaking of which, we're also very into William and Harry's colorful ski jackets. They made such a fashionable family.
Menswear-Inspired
Kate keeps it feminine with her style, but we'd love to see her take a page from Diana's book and try out a tuxedo. The princess was often inspired by menswear fashion trends, and she made them all look amazing. Meghan Markle has been fond of menswear looks as well. Time for Kate to get onboard!
Check out our Meghan Markle page for all the latest news about Meghan, Prince Harry, and their growing family.
Prom-Inspired
Diana did get to dance at this event, so her prom-style dress was appropriate for the occasion. We love the floaty blue fabric, the asymmetric shoulder, and her matching jeweled headband. It's a whole vibe. Kate should channel '80s prom at her next formal dinner. We'd love to see it.
The Diana Hairstyle
We've never seen Kate in short hair. She usually keeps her locks long and blown out, and while it's pretty, wouldn't it be fun to see her rock the iconic short and fluffy Diana cut? If Kate doesn't want to commit to a chop, we'd settle for a wig. Might be nice to try something different.
A Varsity Jacket
There's something so "mom" about Diana throwing a Philadelphia Eagles jacket over her matching skirt and top ensemble — it's very much working mom trying to stay warm while dropping her kids off to work, but since this is Diana, it also ends up being effortless high fashion. Kate could totally pull this off.
Puffy Sleeves
Here's another classic '80s look of Diana's (after all, she was living in the decade) but there's something regal about statement sleeves on a dress like this. Kate might not go for such an electric color, but we could see her wearing this in a more low-key shade.
