Summer's coming, and if anyone needs some warm weather accessories inspiration, look no further that Princess Diana's best sunglasses. For two decades, she was on top of all the eyewear trends — from the big, colorful plastic frames of the 1980s to the chic oval shades of the '90s. Both decades are coming back in style lately, so it's never been a better idea to look at Diana's shades collection and try to copy it.
The princess remains one of the world's biggest style icons of all time, as she fully embraced the trends of the time — something other royals weren't always so keen on. And if we thought Kate Middleton's sunglasses collection was cool, we hadn't seen anything yet. Diana's multitude of shades are so chic.
Here are her 15 best sunglasses moments of all time.
'70s Glam
This photo was taken in 1983, but it could just have easily been 1975. Diana is rocking the aviators with her white blouse and high-waisted, wide-legged pants. She wore this to a polo match, where she historically let her more casual side show and often skipped the Queen's no-pants-allowed rule. It's really working for her here.
Seeing Red
Colorful plastic sunglasses are a definite sign of the '80s, and sure enough — this pic was taken in 1987. We love that Lady Di matched her glasses rims to the shade of red in her dress. These days, Kate Middleton often matches her clutches and hats to her outfits, and Diana liked to match her sunglasses. Totally stylin'.
Classic Ray-Bans
Speaking of Kate Middleton, it turns out that the Duchess of Cambridge and Diana share a favorite sunglasses brand. Kate often turns to Ray-Ban for all her summertime sunglasses needs, and Diana was spotted in the brand as well. The late princess wore these shades while on a trip to Nigeria.
Seeing Double
Back when Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson were still married, the two princesses went on a ski trip together. We love both of their shades, actually. Diana's wiry mirrored aviators are so fashion forward, and Fergie's chunky blue shades look futuristic. It's fun to see these two ladies having such a good time together.
Pop of White
Here's another great example of Diana using her sunglasses as more than just an accessory. She's using these white-rimmed shades as an extension of her outfit, and they perfectly complement the white trim of her green suit and hat. The aviator shape of the shades also radiates Diana's classic '80s sense of style.
Fun Pattern
Another amazingly '80s pair of shades that Diana wore were these from a 1988 ski trip. The frames have a wacky scribble design all over them, and she added white laces to the temple pieces to keep the sunglasses secure as she flew down the mountain. It's stylish and practical, all at the same time. That's our girl.
His and Hers
It's kind of fun to see both Charles and Diana's sense of style when it comes to shades. A 1990 visit to Nigeria called for some sun-blockers, and they both went with fairly large frames. Although Diana's aviator shape still has some style, it's a different story when it comes to Charles. It kind of just looks like he raided his mom's accessories drawer. Those glasses are way too big for his face.
Bug-Eyed
Take note, Charles. This is how to do an oversized frame properly. Diana wore these bug-eye shades on a visit to Australia. They're tortoiseshell and rounded, and even though they are large, they don't totally overwhelm her features. It looks like she purposely chose bigger frames for the fashion of it all, not because she wasn't paying attention to which glasses she chose.
Super Chunky
On another ski trip, the princess opted for a pretty intense frame. These sunglasses have a super chunky shape. Between that and the dark tortoiseshell color, it has a very Kanye West vibe. It's a whole mood, and it shows a new side of Diana. Gone are the color-coordinated plastic frames. She's not messing around with these.
Chic Trio
When Diana hit the slopes with her young sons, they all brought their fashion A-game. We especially love each of their unique shades. Diana rewore her chunky square ones, whereas William opted for a classic rounded pair. Harry is really bringing the style with his yellow and green frames and multichrome lenses.
John Lennon Style
For a 1992 visit to Spain, Diana switched things up with a pair of circular sunglasses. We were moving into the '90s at this point, and some of the bulkier '80s square frames were becoming more outdated. We love these John Lennon-style shades on the princess. She looks super chic for her international trip.
So Spotty
Fittingly, these cat-eye shaped shades have almost a jaguar/cheetah pattern. She wore these sunglasses on a 1993 ski trip, and we just have to admire her winter sports style. That jacket? Iconic. The gold hoops? Still trendy today. And the spotty tortoiseshell sunglasses really bring the whole look together.
Heavy Duty
A sunny day at the 1994 British Grand Prix called for some protective shades, so Diana pulled these out. They're kind of aggressively gigantic — not in lens size but in temple thickness. They really stand out on her face. We also like that they have a little pop of amber and red, adding a splash of color to her black and white outfit.
Change in Shape
In the '90s, oval and rounded sunglasses were all the rage. The decade had moved completely away from the big square shapes of the '80s. Always one to take note of the trends, Diana, of course, adjusted accordingly. She wore these black oval shades for a trip to Angola in 1997. They're a really good shape for her face. She looks so chic.
So Luxe
Here's another pair of Diana's new favorite oval sunglasses. These had really intricate gold patterns on the temples. When she turned her head, photographers caught the flash of gold glam juxtaposed against the black plastic. The gold of the shades also matches her earrings, tying all her accessories together.
