Dressing Diana [Hardcover]

With all the hoopla regarding Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding, I thought it only fair to have, yet again, a stroll down memory lane and look back to Diana, her style, her beauty and her essence.

This book analyzes Diana's style from her early years as a Royal Princess who was trying very hard to "fit in", to the confident woman of the nineties until her untimely death. Photographer Tim Graham, who over the years photographed the Waleses both in private and in public (publishing a book by that name as well), and Fashion Editor Tamsin Blanchard, offer a lavish book with full colour photographs of many of the most important outfits the Princess wore.

The volume shows how when Diana started her life in the royal family, she was shy and insecure, and her fashion choices deeply reflected her personality at that time. There were lots of romantic, flowery dresses, quite a few of them by designers Bellville Sassoon and milliner John Boyd (one of the Queen's favorites). The hats often had feathers and looked awkward on her head.

As her marriage crumbled and her figure improved, Diana went for the "Dynasty Di" look of the mid and late eighties on the hand of names such as the exquisite Victor Edelstein, who created the unforgettable navy blue velvet gown first worn to the White House to dance with John Travolta; and Bruce Oldfield, who created a stunning lamé number for her. Lots of colour, big hair and royal blue eyeliner, which naturally brought out her eyes, were the trademarks of this time.

After her divorce Diana grew more and more confident. She was now her own person, living life the way she had always wanted privately, and focusing totally and with a unique force and interest into her charity work. Her wardrobe was that of a professional working woman, with smart suits and shorter hemlines for daytime and glamorous gowns for the galas she was attending at night. Her hair was sleek and she adopted a chic and minimalist approach.
The book includes special references to details and accessories the princess used, as well as her love for jewellery and how she adapted many of her pieces for cleverly customized looks. Towards the end, some of Diana's most endearing designers are interview and photographed in their own ateliers, with a special spread on Catherine Walker, Diana's backbone designer of all time, now sadly deceased.

But beyond all the wonderful clothes, which suited her perfectly and made her look stunning, Diana was most loved and will always be missed by her very own nature. Milliner Philip Somerville summarizes that je ne sais quoi of the Princess, that made her so beloved the world over, very simply and succinctly when he states "she glowed warmth" (page 204). And that was, undoubtedly, Diana's most endearing quality.

This book will attract two kinds of individual: those who loved Diana and those who love fashion. Everyone would agree that Diana was one of the most stylish women of our day, and this photographic visit to her clothes closet is a wonderful opportunity to browse and maybe dream a little.

Comprehensive and obviously done by a serious fashion professional. Beautiful candid photographs. Not an overpriced souvenir like so many books books about Diana. Emphasis on the post-royal period was just what I wanted because the styling of her earlier wardrobe is totally unsuitable for modern women.

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