The looks a young Diana, Princess of Wales wore in her early twenties are emerging from the shadow of her ’90s Versace and Dior to get the fashion kudos they deserve at last – and not just because Emma Corrin is stepping into Di’s tennis shoes in the soon to land fourth season of The Crown. Some of her best-known looks from that era are available to buy once more.
The American label Rowing Blazers is launching itself into womenswear with the help of two of the royal’s most characterful knits, having revived the archive designs with the blessing of the brands behind the originals. The well-known Warm & Wonderful sheep jumper, and Gyles and George’s “I’m A Luxury” sweater, both of which Diana wore in the ’80s, are headed for the shop floor of Selfridges and RowingBlazers.com from 15 October – just in time for your The Crown viewing parties.
The famous sheep sweater – now part of the Victoria & Albert Museum’s permanent collection – depicts a lone black sheep among a herd of white, and was interpreted as a sartorial message from the young Diana when she wore it shortly after her engagement to Prince Charles was announced.
Designed by Warm & Wonderful — a favourite of the Sloane Ranger set — in 1979, the style spawned countless copies, and gave the two women behind it cause to branch into knitwear full time. The partnership endures to this day, under the name Muir & Osborne.
“Since Diana’s first public appearance in one of our bright red sheep jumpers, she and the design have been inextricably linked,” they said in a statement released to support the reedition. “The Princess of Wales wore the sweater on several other occasions, eliciting a great deal of press commentary and making the design incredibly popular, not only here in the UK, but around the world.” Throwback images of the young princess in her adorable knit have become catnip for Instagram nostalgia accounts, and Harry Styles’s outing in a Marni homage only fuelled interest in the look.
Rowing Blazers’ second reissued style reflects Diana’s wicked sense of humour. Her pink Gyles & George sweater featured the words “I’m a luxury” on the front, and “few can afford” on the back. In 1986, it was a thrillingly sassy choice for a royal.
Rowing Blazers’ creative director Jack Carlson said: “Collaborating with the original designers is exactly what makes this so special to me. I can just picture Joanna (Osborne) and Sally (Muir) in their twenties, selling their jumpers to Sloane Rangers, pop stars, and royalty. I think there’s a lot of nostalgia in the air right now, and a great renewed interest in Diana’s style in particular.”
There’s only one way to wear these sweaters: exactly as Diana did in the ’80s. Pair with white jeans, sleek loafers, and pat a collar over the crewneck.
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