Princess Diana's Timeless Style Had One Big Exception

From the moment she married into the British royal family in 1981, Princess Diana became a style icon. Women all over the world took note of her wardrobe choices and hoped to emulate her style themselves. Diana dressed in ways that looked graceful and elegant, although she was somewhat of a rule-breaker because she often opted for more modern wardrobe choices, including casual clothing that other royals didn't wear. Who could forget Princess Diana's iconic bike shorts and crew neck combo that still inspires our spring looks? She embraced the trends of the times, including athleisure wear, but one tradition that Diana kept intact had to do with footwear. The royal followed protocol by always wearing close-toed shoes in public. 

Diana was never seen in sandals or any type of peep-toed heel or flat. This was in line with the reserved nature of the royal dress code, which deemed open-toed shoes to be too relaxed. Closed-toed shoes gave the impression that members of the monarchy were always working and maintaining a professional demeanor. Diana followed this instruction, whether she was wearing comfy loafers around the palace or attending black-tie events in stylish pumps. 

The royal family's wardrobe rules and choices have long been strict and strategic. Opulent, formal attire is the standard, with women typically wearing gowns and long skirts. Princess Diana broke the mold by establishing her own unique sense of style and unapologetically wearing pieces that could be considered flashy or simple. But even when she strayed from the modesty of the royal dress code, she always followed the rule of wearing shoes that kept her toes enclosed. The conservative shoe structure was a way for her to maintain respect for royal formality and balance it with contemporary fashions. This could have been in the form of understated heels with a slingback feature or leather boots that rose to her mid-calf. The best example of this was Princess Diana's revenge dress, one of the most iconic looks in fashion history. Her noir, off-the-shoulder gown was bold but dialed back with stockings and classic black stiletto heels. 

Princess Diana's rejection of open-toed footwear was a bit surprising since she pioneered innovation and progression in many departments, fashion being just one of them. She was one of the first examples of a royal family member wearing outfits that showed off much of their legs. This was considered controversial by many who favored modesty at the time. Still, the practice of wearing close-toed shoes continued even as Princess Diana's wardrobe changed after leaving the royal family.