Fashion

12 Looks From The AW20 Shows that nod to Diana, Princess Of Wales

6 November 2020

From polka dots to blazers, the enduring style icon would have loved these runway looks

The many effortless ensembles worn by Diana, Princess of Wales fit perfectly onto a fashion moodboard. Be it her school-run mum uniform of jeans, graphic sweater, blazer and baseball cap; or her infamous Christina Stambolian “revenge” dress, chosen at the last minute for the Serpentine Gallery’s 1994 summer party; the 2020 Insta crowd can’t get enough of the late royal’s nostalgic looks.

Her ability to master any dress code–off-duty errand run, the dash to the school gate, state occasion, sporting event or gym trip–remains as impressive now as it was then. She made an impact. Case in point: there are few who couldn’t reference at least one look from her wardrobe (her iconic wedding dress by the Emanuels, for example).

Decades after she died, Diana’s inimitable style seemed to inspire a new generation of designers ahead of the autumn/winter 2020 collections. Take the checked blazer worn by Adut Akech at Saint Laurent: it is almost identical to an Alistair Blair jacket Diana wore in 1987. The black upper lapels and ’80s power shoulders seen on hers also featured on Anthony Vaccarello’s iteration 33 years later. Then there’s the pastel suiting seen at Chanel last season – fans will know Di was fond of sprightly spring palettes.

Below, British Vogue highlights 12 autumn/winter 2020 catwalk outfits that nod to the People’s Princess.

This story originally appeared on Vogue.co.uk.

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A winning LBD
Versace showcased a number of party-ready dresses last season – including one that looked strikingly similar to a Catherine Walker LBD Diana wore for a charity dinner at the Palace of Versailles in 1994.
(Above: Versace autumn/winter 2020; Diana attending a charity dinner held at the Palace of Versailles in November 1994).
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A tailored trench
Come autumn, Diana would turn to her expansive collection of stylish outerwear. She’d have surely loved this chic belted Bottega style.
(Above: Bottega Veneta autumn/winter 2020, Diana visiting Carmarthen, Wales in October 1987).
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Off-duty days
The styling at Balmain’s autumn/winter 2020 show was akin to Diana’s ’90s power combo of jeans and a blazer.
(Above: Balmain autumn/winter 2020; Lady Di arriving in Angola in January 1997).
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Heritage checks
Checks were big back in the ’80s, and Diana wore them with aplomb. Would she have dared to double-up like the models at Burberry?
(Above: Burberry autumn/winter 2020; Diana at the Burghley Horse Trials in September 1989).

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Lace details
Diana’s silky black Dior slip dress, which was one of John Galliano’s first creations for the house, is one of her all-time most memorable looks. And to think she nearly didn’t wear it!
(Above: Alberta Ferretti autumn/winter 2020; Diana at the Met Gala in 1996).
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Pretty in polka dots
It’s no secret that Diana loved polka dots. Several of her sunny dresses featured the pattern, including this Rodarte-esque puff shoulder Tatters dress she wore on a visit to Japan.
(Above: Rodarte autumn/winter 2020; Diana attending a traditional tea ceremony at Nijo Castle, Kyoto during an official visit to Japan in May 1986).
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A statement blazer
It’s like a game of spot the difference: compare Diana’s Alistair Blair jacket with the blazer seen at Saint Laurent’s autumn/winter 2020 show.
(Above: Saint Laurent autumn/winter 2020; Diana in Munich in November 1987).
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Pastel suiting
Spring suiting was Diana’s signature. A baby-blue Chanel bouclé suit, a mint-hue Catherine Walker style and a cream iteration from Versace were some of her stand-outs.
(Above: Chanel autumn/winter 2020; Princess Diana opening the new renal unit at Great Ormond Street Hospital in February 1997).