The Most Iconic Princess Diana Outfits That The Crown Recreated Perfectly
Princess Diana's timeless style was perfectly encapsulated by Netflix's Emmy and Golden Globe award-winning historical drama show "The Crown." While the show portrays the life of the royal family since the 1940s, we are focusing on the People's Princess — in particular, the iconic Princess Diana fashion moments the show gave us, of which there were many. After all, the late royal was a fashion icon, even kicking off trends that are still relevant in the 2020s, like the popular bike shorts and crew neck combo.
"The Crown's" costume designers meticulously recreated Diana's wardrobe, showcasing some of her most memorable looks that impacted fashion trends across the globe. "Princess Diana's wardrobe often pushed the boundaries of societal norms at the time and had a unique way of transcending her personality through to the public," Sotheby's Global Head of Fashion & Accessories Cynthia Houlton told Town & Country. Regardless of whether it was Emma Corrin or Elizabeth Debicki portraying her, the fashion was always spot-on. "I think despite the obvious changes, there is a real sense, or arc, of the same person throughout all these stages in terms of how she dresses," assistant costume designer Sidonie Roberts revealed to E! News. "There is and always was a sense of playfulness, an openness, and with that a vulnerability that connects her to her image."
From the glamour of glittering gowns to the quirkiness of her everyday wear, "The Crown" tackled plenty of Princess Diana's looks, and we've compared them to the originals to find the ones that are most spot-on.
Princess Diana's show-stopping revenge dress
It's not surprising that Princess Diana's black revenge dress — which was an iconic moment in fashion history created by Christina Stambolian — made an appearance on "The Crown." The show pays tribute to Diana's bold choice worn to the Vanity Fair party at the Serpentine Gallery in 1994 with a design from costume guru Amy Roberts. When talking about the look, Roberts told the New York Times, "It was important to get that right," adding that "it seemed to be impossible to get a hold of the designer. Wherever she is, I hope she is pleased with what we have done."
The classic red dress and golden accessories
Fashion designer Catherine Walker was one of Princess Diana's favorite designers, so it's not surprising that plenty of Walker's looks have made it into "The Crown." A striking moment executed with precision is the ensemble Diana wore to a charity event at Northwick Park Hospital in Harrow, Middlesex, in the month prior to her passing. The show impeccably captured this fashion moment, mirroring every detail from the distinctive belt to the elegant earrings.
The memorable hot-pink knit and gingham combo
Princess Diana's memorable 1986 hot-pink knit paired with stylish gingham pants has become an iconic representation of the royal's fashion flair — and it showcased that gingham isn't just for the farm anymore. "The Crown" paid homage to this legendary look, faithfully embodying Diana's essence as she shows everyone just how fun fashion can be. The meticulous attention to detail in the series is evident, and while there might be a subtle variance in the gingham pattern size on the pants, we can't deny that this look hits it out of the park.
Princess Diana's iconic blue halter dress
The royal's legendary powder blue halter dress, which she wore to the Serpentine Gallery in London in 1995, is another iconic Catherine Walker ensemble brought to life in "The Crown." Though the dress in the series shows slight deviations from the original, its distinctive shape and pairing with statement earrings are unmistakably reminiscent of Diana's timeless look.
Protection while visiting minefields in Angola
A look that isn't necessarily a fashion moment but has been recreated perfectly by the show is the protective gear Princess Diana wore while visiting minefields in Huambo, Angola, in 1997. The series pays meticulous attention to detail in this scene, faithfully portraying the significant and impactful moment in Diana's life. The authenticity in recreating this non-traditional look reflects "The Crown's" commitment to capturing all of Diana's experiences, transcending typical fashion portrayals.
Princess Diana's infamous black sheep sweater
Princess Diana was known for her fearless approach to fashion, something royals traditionally stay away from. One of her most infamous looks was certainly the black sheep sweater by Muir and Osborne she wore to a polo match in 1983. "The second she was captured donning this sweater, it immediately sparked a conversation amongst both the media and the general public, speculating what message she was trying to send to the world," Cynthia Houlton told Town & Country. In the show, they decided to recreate the sweater slightly differently by placing the black sheep higher up.
Princess Diana's floral blue dress with a bow
"The Crown" faithfully brings Princess Diana's fashion legacy to life, and one iconic ensemble is the floral blue dress she wore in Brisbane, Australia, in 1983. While the series slightly amplifies the density of the floral pattern compared to the original, the unmistakable silhouette and the adorable bow in the front ensure that it's a great replica.
Princess Diana's matching blue outfit and hat
During her visit to Australia and New Zealand in the spring of 1983, Princess Diana stunned everyone in a gorgeous blue Catherine Walker suit — one that made an appearance in the Netflix show. Each detail of the suit is true to life, and even the hat is a spot-on replica. The show's dedication to capturing these details allows the audience to transport to the spring of 1983 to experience the elegance that Princess Diana exuded during her memorable tour Down Under.
The royal's flowy yellow dress (featuring lifeguards)
Another famous look from the royal's visit to Australia and New Zealand in 1983 was the gorgeous white and yellow midi dress designed by Paul Costelloe that Diana wore while posing for a photo with a team of lifeguards. Now, while the replica does not mirror every detail, it effortlessly channels the dress's airy charm, showcasing the fashionable magic of Princess Diana.
The pearlescent gown and matching bolero jacket
Princess Diana's enchanting appearance at a dinner at the Élysée Palace in Paris in 1988 is also immortalized in "The Crown." The costume designers impeccably recreated the iconic gown by Victor Edelstein, pairing it flawlessly with a matching beaded bolero jacket. This look embodies Diana's grace and sophistication, and the show undoubtedly does it justice.
The royal's gorgeous blue dress with ruffles
Princess Diana's mesmerizing ruffled-sleeve dress with a silver belt, which she wore to a formal dinner in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada, in 1983, can be observed in "The Crown." The show captures every detail of this iconic look, from the intricate ruffled sleeves to the elegant silver belt, while still allowing the designers to have some creative freedom.
Princess Diana's unforgettable blue engagement look
In an unforgettable moment on February 24, 1981, Lady Diana Spencer proudly displayed her sapphire and diamond engagement ring while posing for engagement photos with King Charles III, who was the Prince of Wales at the time. "Diana didn't know what she wanted," author Claudia Joseph revealed (via Express). "And I think the [shop] assistant ... basically said, 'Why don't you go to Harrods dear, you'll find what you're looking for there.'" The stunning cobalt skirt and suit appeared in "The Crown," as the show paid homage to this pivotal moment in royal history.
The royal's fun yellow overalls and floral top combo
Princess Diana's playful yellow overalls, which she wore to a polo match in 1981, became a delightful fashion moment for the royal. The vibrant ensemble, featuring yellow overalls paired with a floral blouse, once again showed Diana's flair for incorporating fun colors into her wardrobe. "The Crown" captures this lighthearted fashion choice perfectly, and the addition of the floral cardigan on top adds even more playfulness to the look.
Funky sweaters looked stunning on Princess Diana
While visiting Scotland in 1981, Princess Diana once again showcased her affinity for fun and colorful looks as the royal wore a stunning Inca jersey jumper. "The Crown" features this iconic outfit, ensuring that every detail from the pattern of the jumper remains true to the original.
Princess Diana's simple everyday blue dress
Princess Diana's choice of a light blue printed midi dress for the royal wedding rehearsal in July 1981 clearly showcased her preference for a simple and classic style before the big day. The Netflix show recreated this look by staying true to the overall style while adding a subtle variation in the pattern.
The royal's monochromatic white Uluru look
Another famous royal moment that was perfectly executed by the costume designers on "The Crown" is Prince Charles and Princess Diana's visit to Uluru in Australia in 1983. The simple yet classy white dress was perfectly replicated on the show, with the costume designer also ensuring the white belt and bag were spot-on.
Princess Diana's bold hot pink outfit — hat included
In a vibrant tribute to Princess Diana's fashion legacy, "The Crown" flawlessly copied the bold hot-pink ensemble she wore during her visit to Perth, Australia, in 1983. The striking pink suit designed by Donald Campbell was resurrected on screen with plenty of attention to detail — right down to the hat adorned with a charming bow. And while the white dots are missing, any Lady Di fan out there will immediately recognize this look regardless.
Princess Diana was a huge fan of collared dresses
The royal was a huge fan of collared dresses — and one of her most famous pieces was a Jan Van Velden turquoise silk button-down dress with a bold frill collar that she wore during her 1983 visit to Australia. In the Netflix show, they decided to go with a slightly different shade of green, but nevertheless, the essence of the dress remains unmistakable.
This might just be Princess Diana's most famous collared dress
While visiting Government House in Auckland, New Zealand, in 1983, Princess Diana decided to stun everyone in a green polka-dotted dress with a bold white collar. To no one's surprise, "The Crown" decided that this look needed to make it in the show, and they recreated it perfectly, making sure they paid homage to the magic of Diana's fashion statements.
Princess Diana's blue blazer moment for Prince Harry's first day at school
In September 1995, Prince Harry joined Eton Collage, the secondary school in Berkshire, England. To mark the occasion, Princess Diana decided to wear a classic little black dress, which she paired with a stunning blue blazer, showing us that you can easily style a LBD in a more casual way. The timeless look was impeccably emulated by the Netflix show, proving that Diana's fashion is still stylish — even in the 2020s.
The royal's purple blazer and pearl necklace look
Princess Diana's affinity for bright colors was always evident, and even as a royal, she remained true to herself. For a visit to the Red Cross headquarters in Washington, DC, in 1997, Diana decided to go with a beautiful lilac suit, which she paired with a pearl chocker for that extra glam, showcasing just how easy it is to style a chic blazer. On "The Crown," the look is spot-on — earrings included.
Princess Diana's unforgettable wedding gown
Of course, we absolutely had to include Princess Diana's breathtaking wedding gown designed by David and Elizabeth Emanuel. In the show, costume designer Amy Roberts did an incredible job. "What do I remember? What do you think about? The sleeves, the bigness of that, and that huge, long, great train. That's what I have to achieve," Roberts told Elle about the wedding dress replica, which took 14 weeks to create.