The 1980s were a wild time for fashion, what with all those big prints, bold colors, and wild silhouettes. And at the forefront of a lot of those trends was Princess Diana, whose '80s style was off the hook. While some of what she wore looks totally ridiculous through today's eyes, there are a fair amount of '80s trends that are coming back in style. That's why the princess has remained a fashion icon for so long.
With Diana officially joining the royal family in 1981, fans watched as she grew more comfortable in the limelight and began experimenting with her clothing choices. By the end of the decade, she was one of the most stylish women on the planet and nearly everyone wanted to dress just like her.
In honor of the decade that brought her sense of fashion to the forefront, here are some of Princess Diana's wildest '80s styles.
Wedding Dress
Diana's wedding dress was truly a garment of the time. The heavy ivory silk taffeta wrinkled easily, which is now something most people remember the dress for. It also made a statement with all its '80s signatures, like the big puffed sleeves and lacy flounces. No one could re-wear that dress today and get away with it, but it worked for 1981.
Big Ruffle
This was an extremely trendy outfit in 1982 when the princess wore it to a charity fashion show. Looking at the pattern and the giant ruffle and whatever that strange hip flounce is, it's hard to believe this gown was ever in style — but it really was. Diana was at the height of fashion. Many of her '80s looks are still in style today, but this isn't one of them.
Bold Sleeves
Everything about this picture just screams 1983, from Diana's big, bold blouse sleeves to the splashy print. We also love the shoestring leather belt and aviator sunglasses in her hand. This is one of those outfits that actually could be worn today as some '80s fashion trends come back into style.
Bedazzled
Rhinestones were everything in the '80s, and this floaty pink and purple pastel gown is covered in jewels. Adding to its dated design are the silk bows on the ruffled, off-the-shoulder neckline. Diana wore this to a fancy event at the Albert Hall in 1983. And even though we wouldn't wear this exact dress today, she does look great in it.
Kermit the Frog Collar
We do like this green polka dot dress, but the big white collar is a huge miss. It looks like something Kermit the Frog would wear. But this is what was stylish in 1983 when the Prince and Princess of Wales visited Australia with little Prince William. It's so funny seeing Will as a baby in peach-colored shorts.
Silky Drop Waist
The princess was pregnant with Prince Harry in this 1984 photo, so a drop-waist dress was actually the perfect way to accommodate her growing bump. Adding to the '80s of it all are the big shoulder pads, silky material, and the big bow at the hip. She wore this look to the movie premiere for Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.
Velvet With a Giant Bow
By 1985, Diana was still implementing tons of '80s staples into her wardrobe. This dress really has it all. It's made of velvet with puffy sleeves and a giant bow. She paired it with a pearl necklace that she let trail down her back. This revealing look was daring for a royal to wear at the time.
Might as Well be a Prom Dress
In 1985, Diana and Charles returned to Australia and they hit the dance floor during one of their engagements. Diana was dressed like it was her '80s prom in a sparkling, bedazzled turquoise dress complete with a big bow on one shoulder. Then she accessorized with a jeweled headband worn right across her forehead.
Socks & Heels
Even if this outfit wasn't a sweater over a pleated, polka dot skirt, we'd be able to tell it was from the '80s just by Diana's socks and heels situation. She wore this to a polo outing in 1986, and she was totally on trend — polka dot socks, pumps, and all. Honestly, someone should bring this slightly ridiculous style back. Kate Middleton, anyone?
Ski Trip
The royals love to ski, and Diana hit the slopes of Switzerland in 1986. She was determined to stay warm in her black ski jacket decorated in bold pink stripes and geometric shapes. This is one of those patterns that's trendy again, with younger generations scouring thrift shops for '80-style designs. We also love Diana's sunglasses.
Bold Polka Dots
1986 was really just the year of the red polka dots for Diana. She wore this puffed sleeved dress with the biggest red polka dots to match her wide-brimmed hat. We could probably have seen this pattern from space. But it was actually an incredibly on point look, because Diana was visiting Japan — a country whose flag is a red circle on a white background.
Military-Inspired
As Michael Jackson began to popularize glam military wear in the '80s, so did the princess. In 1987, she wore this tailored white dress with a gold braided cord design on the front and shoulders. She accessorized with a white hat that kind of made her look Navy-esque. Alternatively, she could also be leading a marching band.
Long Gloves
The princess wore this Catherine Walker dress to the opera in 1987. And there is, um, a lot going on here. We like the blue velvet bodice and we could get past the super long gloves, but the skirt is a whole other story. It's a high-low design made from shiny blue fabric and decorated with matching giant blue roses. Why does it exist? We couldn't tell you except that at one point it was trendy.
Bubble Skirt
Bubble skirts and dresses were all the rage in the '80s, and Diana made hers a little more formal by adding a long white blazer on top. This picture was taken at the Cannes Film Festival in 1987. The festival is known for its glamorous red carpets, and Diana likely stole most of the photographers' attention in this outfit.
Bright Jumpsuit
Another one of Diana's 1987 outfits was this yellow jumpsuit with gold flats and a gold belt that she wore on a trip to Spain. We can start to see how the '80s would bleed into the '90s with styles like this. It's another example of something Diana wore that would be stylish again today.
Colorful Pattern
The '80s will forever be known for the bright colors that people loved to wear. The princess put this style on display at a 1988 polo match when she wore a bright blue dress covered in nearly neon pink and yellow flowers. The ruched waist was also on trend at the time, and it's back in style now.
One Shoulder
Also in 1988, Diana wore this patterned red and black dress while attending a formal dinner in France. Everything about this look is so of-the-time. There's the pattern, for one, plus the asymmetrical sleeves. And then there's the cut of the bodice where it comes to a point in the front when it meets the skirt. Only Princess Di could pull this look off.
Oversized Coat
Another signature '80s style was the oversized look. Diana leaned way into that when she wore this gigantic blue coat to a festival in Scotland in 1988. It's a little bit like when a young girl tries on her father's jacket for a game of dress-up. She's practically swimming in the large garment.
Patterned Sweatshirt
This 1989 ensemble was a sign of things to come for Diana, who spent much of the '90s in her iconic oversized sweatshirts and bike shorts. On this occasion, she matched her patterned top to her red skirt and heels while bringing her sons to school. Her red outfit really makes the red in their uniforms pop.
Color Blocking
We'll leave you with one final look of Diana's from the '80s. Taken in 1989, this outfit illustrates the '80s obsession with bold color blocking. Her whole ensemble is blue and white and she's got those big blazer lapels and a chic hat to match. It's a Catherine Walker dress with a Philip Somerville hat, and we love it.
