There’s a new chair and this one’s for Diana!

“What message will I be giving out if I wear this?”

The nylon net lace & velvet ribbon debutante dress (with matching scarf) by Regamus, a popular brand for young aristocratic women and their mothers. This was worn at a ball in Althorp House in the Autumn of 1979. It was apparently one of 3 clothes Diana owned as she borrowed most of her clothes from her friends and flatmates. The dress now belongs to the Fundacion Museo de la Moda in Santiago, Chile.

Bruce Oldfield dress, 1990. See more photos from Fashion Rules in another post.

What I call the ‘Princess Aurora’ dress. This pink satin evening gown with white raw silk collar and cuffs was designed by Catherine Walker in 1987. This was worn for the official portrait in 1987, an official visit to [West?] Germany in 1987, and to Turkey in 1988, and a formal banquet for the President of India in 1990. This dress now belongs to Melissa Downey Scripps.

This blue silk chiffon evening gown with matching scarf was worn to the Cannes Film Festival in 1987 and the Theatre Royal in 1989. Catherine Walker took inspiration from Grace Kelly’s gown(s) in ‘To Catch A Thief’ (1955) as Diana sometimes adopted styles from film stars. This dress now belongs to the Fundacion Museo de la Moda in Santiago, Chile.

This sari-inspired one-shoulder silk chiffon gown with sequins and beads was worn to the ballet in Rio de Janeiro in 1991, and for an official portrait in 1990. This was designed by Gina Fratini for Hartnell. It now belongs to a private member. It was during the Rio trip when Diana purposely removed her gloves to shake hands with an AIDS patient.

This Honeymoon day suit is the larger version of the two tweed wool day suits designed by Bill Pashley. It is now part of the HRP’s collection.

The Diana effect This pale pink chiffon blouse with a satin neck-ribbon is by Emanuel. Diana wore it for Vogue in 1981 which coincided with her engagement announcement. And since she loved it so much, she asked the Emanuel’s to design her wedding dress. The blouse is from the Museum of Style Icons in County Kildare, Ireland.

The boxy 1920’s-inspired green-and-black tartan wool day suit by Emanuel was worn on an official visit to Italy in 1985. This day suit is part of the HRP’s collection.

This elegant black lace and magenta silk evening dress by Victor Edelstein was worn on an official visit to Hamburg, West Germany in 1987. Guess what? The long necklace as faux pearls! This dress now belongs to Pat Kerr Tigrett.

This ‘flamenco’ black velvet bodice and red silk taffeta skirt by Murray Arbeid was worn to Grosvenor House Hotel in 1986 and on an official visit to Spain in 1987. Diana chose to wear one red glove and one black glove with this dress. This dress – apparently another version – was given by the designer to the V&A Museum.

This black and white silk satin dress with glass beading by Bellville Sassoon was worn to a concert at the Barbican Centre in 1989. It now belongs to the Fundacion Museo de la Moda in Santiago, Chile.

The BEST dress of them all! The press called it the ‘Elvis [Presley] dress’ but I call it the pearl dress. This Catherine Walker strapless white silk crepe dress with jacket are embroidered with sequins and pearls! It was worn on an official visit to [British] Hong Kong in 1989 and to the Royal Albert Hall in 1989. Catherine Walker took inspiration from Elizabethan necklines. Regal power. This dress was given by the Franklin Mint to the V&A Museum.

This green silk velvet evening dress by Victor Edelstein was worn for a private entertaining event in 1985. It now belongs to E. I. and Group. Fashion historians have speculated that the fingerprints at the bottom of the dress are those of the young Princes. I wonder, however, how no one had smoothed or dry cleaned the dress over time?

The ‘Travolta dress’ by Victor Edelstein, 1985. This midnight blue silk velvet dress was unfortunately in the wrong part of the glass box so no one could get a good photo of it. Diana wore this dress to a White House dinner in 1985 and danced with John Travolta! This dress belongs to a private member.

This burgundy silk velvet dress with embroidered tail-coat by Catherine Walker was worn to Leicester Square in 1990 and on an official visit to South Korea in 1992. It now belongs to E.I. and Group.

This cream silk crepe dress embroidered with sequins of falcons, the national bird of Saudi Arabia, is by Catherine Walker. It was worn on an official visit to Saudi Arabia in 1986 but I can’t seem to find a photo of Diana wearing it. It now belongs to Pat Kerr Tigrett.

This green (it looks teal to me) sequinned dress by Catherine Walker was worn on an official visit to Austria in 1986, a charity ball at Osterley House in 1989, and to a Diamond Charity Ball at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in 1990. It is part of the HRP collection.

This pale pink day suit by Catherine Walker was worn to the Daily Star Gold Awards for Courage and Bravery at the Savoy Hotel in 1997.

This ‘informal’ and versatile blue shift dress by Catherine Walker was worn for a shopping trip on Bond Street in 1997. It is part of the Catherine Walker & Co collection.

This red day suit by Catherine Walker was worn to the launch of HIV/AIDS charity in 1996. Red, as you know, is the universal colour of support and awareness for those living with HIV. The day suit is part of the Catherine Walker & Co collection.

This ice-blue silk gown with beads by Atelier Versace was worn for a Harper’s Bazaar photoshoot in 1991. It now belongs to the Stuyck-Plant Family.

This ‘sexy’ black silk velvet and beaded evening dress by Catherine Walker was worn for a UNESCO charity event at Versailles (the palace) in 1994, and a Vanity Fair photoshoot in 1997. It now belongs to Donna and T Michael Glenn from Memphis, Tennessee.

This green silk velvet dress with diamante buttons by Catherine Walker (1992) was previously on display for Fashion Rules. See the other post for more photos.

This grey silk satin with pearl embroidery by Catherine Walker (1990) was worn for private events and for the photoshoot with Mario Testing in 1997. It now belongs to the Fundacion Museo de la Moda in Santiago, Chile.

This cream printed silk with glass-beaded embroider floral shift dress by Catherine Walker was worn to the Christie’s gala in New York in 1997. It is now part of the Catherine Walker & Co collection.

Black silk crepe dress with diamante bodice by Catherine Walker, 1992. Worn to a state dinner for India in February 1992 and for the premiere of ‘Hear My Song’ in London in March 1992. On loan from Fundacion Museo de la Moda in Santiago, Chile.

Red silk evening dress with beaded embroidery by Bruce Oldfield, 1986. Worn to state visit in Saudi Arabia in 1986. On loan from Linda Sarna and Roberta Hurtig.

Icy blue silk chiffon with hand beaded embroidery by Jacques Azagury in 1997. Worn to ENB’s Swan Lake at the Royal Albert Hall in June 1997. On loan from Jacques Azagury.

Victorian-inspired teal/emerald silk satin evening gown with bustle by Victor Edelstein, 1986. Worn for the official portrait by Terence Donovan in ’86 and for the Anglo-Spanish Ball in 1987. On loan from Mejiro Fashion and Art College in Tokyo, Japan.

The dress suit Diana wore to board the train on her way to her honeymoon in July 1981! Designed by Bellville Sassoon, this salmon pink silk dress with white collar and bow has a matching bolero jacket. Diana had ordered the bolero with short and long sleeves so she would be prepared for the weather. It was also worn to Australia in 1982 and Grimsby, England in 1983. The dress suit belongs to Princes William and Harry.

Turquoise silk maternity dress by Catherine Walker, 1983. Worn during the official tour to New Zealand in April 1983 when Diana was pregnant with Prince Harry. On display without the matching jacket.

Green plaid dress with white Peter Pan collar by Caroline Charles, 1982. Worn to the Braemar Gathering in September 1982. Part of the HRP collection. This dress replaced the engagement blouse that was previously on display.

This blue pleated silk evening gown with black beaded collar and waist embellishment was designed by Yuki in 1986. Interesting fact: Yuki only had two weeks to design a dress for Diana’s tour of Japan! She wore the dress to a state dinner with Emperor Hirohito in May 1986 and wore the dress again to the English National Ballet at the London Coliseum in July 1990. The dress belongs to the Meijiro Fashion and Art College in Tokyo.

Two-tone dress with black top and red skirt by Catherine Walker, 1995. The braided belt is inspired by military embroidery and the colours represent the British Red Cross. Diana wore this dress to the Pavarotti concert for the 125th anniversary of the British Red Cross at the Royal Albert Hall in May 1995. The dress belongs to the Meijiro Fashion and Art College in Tokyo.

Purple silk evening dress by Gianni Versace in 1996. Diana wore this dress to a fundraising dinner at the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago in June 1996. The dress belongs to Princes William and Harry.

The famous Angola Halo Trust outfit worn by Diana in January 1997. Diana wore this shirt when she spoke with and held Sandra, a landmine victim. The ensemble, including the chinos and flak-jacket, belong to Princes William and Harry.

The Sunken Garden in July 2016