Back in 1986, a young Princess Diana, just 25 years old, embarked on an official tour of the Gulf States with her husband, Prince Charles. The tour included stops in Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia. Before she set off, Diana took great care to ensure her wardrobe would reflect both her style and respect for local customs. She commissioned sketches of dresses designed to maintain modesty, aligning with the traditions of the regions she was visiting.
Designers Behind Diana's Vision
Enter David and Elizabeth Emanuel, the talented husband-and-wife duo responsible for bringing Diana’s vision to life. They crafted detailed drawings of four potential outfits, including a full-body burqa, which Diana ultimately decided not to wear. Now, these sketches, along with fabric swatches, letters, and invoices, are set to go under the hammer at RR Auction. Experts estimate they could fetch up to $30,000, showcasing the enduring fascination with Diana's iconic style.
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A Closer Look at the Archive
The sketches, provided by RR Auction, give us a glimpse into what the dresses would have looked like if David and Elizabeth Emanuel had been given the green light to create them. Bobby Livingston, RR Auction's executive vice president, shared his thoughts in a statement: “This is a remarkable, comprehensive archive from the famously stylish royal.” It’s clear that Diana’s fashion choices were not just about aesthetics but also about diplomacy and cultural sensitivity.
Diana: A Fashion Icon
Princess Diana’s impeccable sense of style made her a global fashion icon. Eleri Lynn, curator of the exhibition "Diana: Her Fashion Story," spoke to Vanity Fair about how Diana used clothing as a form of self-expression. "It’s surprising how little footage exists of the Princess actually speaking," Eleri noted. "Yet, we all have a sense of who she was, and much of that comes from still photographs and the clothes she wore." Diana’s style was so beloved and emulated that it became an integral part of her public persona.
Diana at the Met Gala in 1996. (Photo Credit: Getty Images)
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Her Fashion Choices on Royal Outings
According to Eleri, Diana often chose “cheerful, colorful clothes” for her royal outings because she wanted to convey warmth and approachability. She avoided gloves so she could hold people’s hands and sometimes wore chunky jewelry so children could play with it. After a while, she stopped wearing hats to children’s hospitals because, as she put it, "you couldn’t cuddle a child in a hat." It’s evident that Diana thoughtfully selected each outfit to reflect the person she was and the image she wanted to project. We’re thrilled to see her legacy carried on through the style choices of her daughters-in-law, Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle.
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