It's hard to believe that Princess Diana has been gone for more than 20 years, but we've never been more sure that her legacy lives on — especially when it comes to the clothing she wore and her fashion sense. It goes without saying that Diana was a total royal fashion icon in her time as the Princess of Wales (and even after her marriage to Prince Charles), but it's clear she's kept her icon status since then, too, influencing style all over the world.
It's not just that we've seen royals such as Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle wear pieces that are totally influenced by Diana's style. She's also had an impact on the way all kinds of people dress and the way clothing is designed today, and some of her most iconic pieces have even made comebacks, going back into production because of the demand. Who else could achieve this but Diana?
Read on for all the ways Diana's continued to be a style icon, even in her death. We may not be able to afford her wardrobe, but we can definitely take cues from the things she wore in styling our own outfits — and especially the attitude she had while she wore them.
Her Engagement Ring
Though Diana's ring now belongs to Kate Middleton, it's remained just as iconic as it's always been — if not more. In fact, even though the ring has been around so long, it's also been voted the highest-ranked celebrity engagement ring in 2020, and plenty of brides are opting for sapphires just like Diana.
The Black Sheep Sweater
Diana wearing this sweater was a symbol of the fact that she, herself, was the black sheep in the royal family, and now, that sweater is making a comeback. In fact, the new version of the sweater sold by Rowing Blazers along with the original designer is consistently selling out, even though it costs almost $300. That is fashion influence.
Her Wedding Dress Is Still Iconic
Although we all know how Diana's marriage to Charles ended, we also know that her wedding dress will forever live on as one of the most iconic — maybe of all time. Of course, it made an impact on her wedding day, but even now, in 2020, people remember Diana's dress, and there's no doubt it influences dress designs today.
The Bright Colors She Loved
Diana was never afraid to make a splash with the colors she wore, even if she might have been expected to dress a certain way as the Princess of Wales. But today, the royals still wear very bright colors (including Queen Elizabeth!) and colorful statement pieces (such as the pants Diana wears here) have become a trend we're still seeing in 2020.
Her Revenge Dress
Little black dresses never go out of style, and this one worn by Princess Diana still has people talking. Folks especially love to rehash why she wore it. This look has become known as Diana's revenge dress because she wore it to a party that occured at the same time as an interview in which Charles confessed to being unfaithful to her was aired on TV.
Her Most Casual Look is Coming Back
In the '80s and '90s biker shorts were everywhere. Now, they're making a comeback. When Diana wore them, it was very on-trend, and it's likely her affinity for the spandex shorts helped influence their comeback now — especially when we see them paired with an oversized sweatshirt or shirt like Diana wore.
Her Mom Style
Non-royal moms might not be able to afford a lot of Diana's pieces, but let's be honest: When she was just hanging out with her kids, she dressed the way most of us do. Sweatshirts and jeans? Yes, please. On Diana, these looks were comfy and cute — and perfect for chasing after her sons.
Diana's Red Coat
Princess Diana's wardrobe is still influencing the way current royals dress — even the ones who never had the pleasure of meeting her. Diana's coats, such as this one, were gorgeous and made a splash. Kate's winter coat collection (including a stunning red one) is envied every winter.
Royal Blue
Just as Diana loved her sapphire ring, she also loved clothes in the royal blue hue — and they looked amazing on her, especially with her blue eyes. Kate also wears a lot of that same blue shade, which happens to go perfectly with Diana's ring that the Duchess of Cambridge now wears.
The Luxury Sweater
Yet another iconic piece of Diana wardrobe that's still loved is the sweater that said "I'm a luxury that few can afford" across the front and the back. This sweater has also been recreated by Rowing Blazers, and it's been selling out quickly, proving that even now, plenty of people want to copy Diana's style.
Effortless Style
Diana wasn't afraid to go super casual and wear jeans — and she looked good doing it. This look is somehow so put together but also so effortless, all at the same time. We've seen Kate pair jeans and blazers (and tall boots) many times since she joined the royal family. Plus, fashionistas everywhere are rocking oversized blazers like this one.
The Elvis Dress
This sparkly dress was nicknamed Diana's "Elvis Dress," and it was the perfect amount of over-the-top. Diana loved it so much she wore it more than once, much like Kate recycles some of her best looks. This "Elvis Dress" famously made an appearance during a visit to Hong Kong and at the 1989 British Fashion Awards.
Her Love of Patterns
Diana was never afraid to wear patterns (even bold ones), and that part of her fashion influence has never gone away. Patterns like these have reappeared in Kate and Meghan's outfits, as well as those of other stylish influencers. After all, cute fabric designs aren't just for royals.
Big Hats & Pastels
Nobody will be able to pull off this look quite like Diana, but when it comes to royal style, it's still very much in — especially during events such as Trooping the Colour where big statement hats are the thing to wear. Kate could totally pull off a look like this if she wanted to!
The New Mom Look
Diana started the trend of posing outside of the hospital with her new baby. We've seen Kate follow in her footsteps. Even though she had just given birth, Diana looked incredible and had the public in awe of her post-baby style while presenting her sons to the world — just like Kate has done when each of her three children were born.
Traveling With Class
Being a member of the royal family comes with a good deal of travel, and Diana always looked good doing it. Can we talk about this outfit? Everything from the bold color to the collar, those sleeves and everything in between is perfect. We could definitely see Kate wearing something like this.
