Highlights of the exhibition include the pale pink Emanuel blouse worn for Diana’s engagement portrait shot by Lord Snowdon, by the designer who would go on to create for Diana the most iconic royal wedding dress of all time.
Who can forget the dazzling ink blue velvet gown the Princess wore to dance with John Travolta at the White House? The timeless design by Victor Edelstein will also displayed at the exhibition.
A blue tartan Emanuel suit, worn for an official visit to Venice in the 1980s, will go on display in public for the first time.
The suit, a rare survival of the Princess’s daywear, was only recently rediscovered and acquired by Historic Royal Palaces – the charity responsible for Kensington Palace - at auction.
The clothes will be displayed in the White Garden, a garden designed by the Princess herself and specially curated to complement the exhibition.
The Princess became a style icon for women world wide after her first public appearances in 1981.
The exhibition will trace the evolution of the Princess’s style, from the demure, romantic outfits of her first public appearances, to the glamour, elegance and confidence that accompanied the scandal of her later life.
From her earliest royal engagements, everything Diana wore was closely scrutinised, and the exhibition will explore how she navigated her unique position in the public eye: learning to use her image to engage and inspire people, and to champion the causes she cared about.
An extraordinary collection of garments will be displayed, ranging from the glamorous evening gowns worn on engagements in the 1980s, to the chic Catherine Walker suits that made up Diana’s ‘working wardrobe’ in the 1990s.
The Princess’s relationship with her favourite designers will be explored through a display of some of their original fashion sketches, created for her during the design process.
“Diana, Princess of Wales, was one of the most photographed women in the world, and every fashion choice she made was closely scrutinised,” said Eleri Lynn, curator of the exhibition.
“Our exhibition explores the story of a young woman who had to quickly learn the rules of royal and diplomatic dressing, who in the process put the spotlight on the British fashion industry and designers.”
“We see her growing in confidence throughout her life, increasingly taking control of how she was represented, and intelligently communicating through her clothes.”
Diana: Her Fashion Story opens 24 February 2017 at The White Garden at Kensington Palace.
The Duchess of Cambridge, popularly known as Kate Middleton, has been credited with incorporating Princess Diana’s impeccable style into her own wardrobe on official outings.