And I have a fairly good library on the British royals. But until today's Duchesses, no one had the style that the Princess of Wales had.
So, when we went to Kensington Palace, I was delighted to see the Princess Diana gown and outfit exhibit. (I know. Guys don't get it.)
There were many I remembered from those videos and press clips.
And some I'd never seen.
The museum did a nice job of matching up a photo of Diana wearing the outfit to the outfit itself.
(Rick and I were a little shocked that she wore this to go shopping in Bond Street!) We don't dress that well when we shop.
This was worn at the Christie's gala when many of her gowns were auctioned off.
And here it is.
The Travolta dance dress was on display...
...as was this sweet outfit she wore as a "going away" outfit for her honeymoon...
...and this one worn during an interview at Balmoral when they returned.
I liked the sketches by some of the designers.
This wasn't on display, but I remember the dress.
Neither was this, but I can imagine it on her.
They did a beautiful job with the exhibit, including videos and photos.
And I had to admire every designer who had the privilege for designing for such a terrific model. There were outfits for all occasions, from grand gowns...
...to "work-a-day" suits.
And although many of the gowns were not displayed chronologically (unfortunately) it was still interesting to see how Diana's style changed and evolved over time. From this...
...to this.
All in all, a delightful way to spend a drizzly day in London!
(And above, the "wallpaper" leading down the hall to the exhibit. And yes, available in various forms in the gift shop. And no, I didn't buy it!)
Sharing this week with: Pink Saturday / Let's Add Sprinkles / Timeless Thursdays
Love it! Love her!
ReplyDeleteThe golden yellow shift dress is my personal favorite. She never looked so lovely, in command and so alive. She must have slipped it on and closed her eyes with pure delight. Or at least that’s how I imagine it.
ReplyDeletestill so shocking, her tragic end. Watching her two beloved boys marry and have children, I can't help but think of what she's missing :-(
That wallpaper would have made a great scarf. I can't imagine you passing up buying one if it did come in that form.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite dresses were the John Travolta and the black and white stripe (drawing). I'll bet she was easy to design for because she had a great figure and good height. Glad you got to see these and are sharing them now.
Jeanie, what a beautiful way to spend a drizzly afternoon. I so appreciated and admired her style that so uniquely belonged to her. I loved walking through the exhibit with you!
ReplyDeleteDiana was truly a lady with heart and style. Hugs, Valerie
ReplyDeleteI think her two daughters-in-law actually have better taste than she did, but what do I know? I live only in LLBean.
ReplyDeletebest... mae at maefood.blogspot.com
She had such style and elegance.
ReplyDeleteThat must have been amazing museum.
Well, she was some woman, some tragic woman after all.
ReplyDeleteI´m glad she at least found a love in the end and that one other love was doing good for others.
So sad she had to go so young and for those ugly reasons.
I saw this exhibit quite a few years ago, maybe about 12 years ago. I can't remember now. She was so beautiful. Her style really changed over time. I bought some post cards of her wearing a few of the dresses for the trip scrapbook.
ReplyDeleteSome of these are quite familiar.
ReplyDeleteWhat a cool exhibit to see.
ReplyDeleteBeing a huge Diana fan this would be a highlight for me. She really captured us all with her style. I wish she had lived to see her boys married and having babies.
ReplyDeleteSo lovely Diana was . . .
ReplyDeleteI would spent a rainy day in Lobdon town at the museum as well . . .
I do remember seeing an exhibit of Diana’s wedding dress and other dresses
I think it was in GR . . .
Lovely photographs. Diana was so glamorous, and her whole manner was so appealing. I went to a very interesting exhibition about the princesses who have lived at Kensington Palace, and to be honest their lives were not what I would want for my own - ! but I could have looked at their clothes all day!
ReplyDeleteWhen you have a beautiful face and a tall, slim figure, anything "sits" well on you. Diana had that kind of face and figure.
ReplyDeleteThe wallpaper is lovely!
I am sure that as you say, Jeanie, guys don’t get it, but it is not universal among women either. This would interest my wife about as much as watching paint dry. I think it is somewhat odd that this kind of interest, bordering on obsession, by women about another woman is considered acceptable, commendable even, yet if a guy had this level of sycophantic, cloying interest in another guy, and the clothes he wore, and whether he was stylish, or especially handsome, he would be considered strange indeed.
ReplyDeleteI love the wallpaper. Princess Diana's dresses were very pretty indeed and she was a lovely woman. Thank you for sharing Jeanie!
ReplyDeleteI would love this. Clothes are one of those things I wish I had more money for and I wish (even more so) that I was taller and thinner and could really wear so beautifully. It would be like playing Barbies as a kid if I could have a huge closet full of fabulous clothes. Even though I will say I am very happy with everything I have. ANyhow, this looks like a chance to be a little bit of a clothes dreamer and a bit of a Diana fan too! Hugs-Erika
ReplyDeleteThis is an exhibit I would LOVE! WOW! I remembered many of these outfits you posted, especially the Balmoral tweed.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year!
Ricki Jill
Yes, she was beautiful and young and looked good in everything. Some of the details on the dresses are quite intricate. Without a close-up view, you could miss those details. Thanks for sharing this, Jeanie.
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing exibit - how fortunate for you to have been able to see it! Thank you for shaing it with us all ♥
ReplyDeleteI love your pictures and your comments. Almost like being there with you.
ReplyDeleteThis would be, and will be, one of my first visits when I visit London. It's always so interesting to be able to see the details of the dress or outfit that you don't see in photos. Diana was so, so stylish, and I think MM is as well.
ReplyDeleteHere in Chicago, I went to an exhibit of Jackie Kennedy's outfits. Way before my time, and again, the detail as well as her petite size was astounding.
How interesting and memorable!
Jane x
Even before you compared the styles, I thought how much Diana had changed in her dress over time. There will never be another Diana and I'm so glad they are giving her a spot in Kensington Palace to be honored and remembered. I don't care how you feel about the woman who I was named after, she could be vindictive and showed it when it came to Diana.
ReplyDeleteI loved her and many of the dresses are familiar.I could not have gotten J to visit..But I would have enjoyed it..
ReplyDeleteI still see Charles with Diana..even though he didn't.
She must have been so sad there..and every photo reflects her total adoration of her darling boys.
Wonderful! Diana had impeccable style from her demure entry into royalty in the 80s to her classy chic of the 90s. Beautiful. I really admire Catherine's tastes/style as well. Prince William looks so much like his mother.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this exhibit so much. I remember so many of the dresses. Yes, it is so interesting to see how her taste change over the years, from sweet girlish outfits to the sophisticated. I also find it sad Jeanie, thinking about how it all ended! Thanks for sharing this exhibit. I always found Diana fascinating......
ReplyDeleteGlad that someone else collects Royal clippings. I still do :)
ReplyDeleteI still remember all those dresses, she was so stylish and beautiful.
Love the wallpaper too.
Jeanie, how fun! I'd enjoy that exhibit. I don't understand why they would not display all the items in chronological order, though.
ReplyDeleteJeanie, your post hit home for me toady, as I LOVED Diana.....still do. And I remember many of these outfits. I love the black dress when she danced with Travolta, so stylish and elegant. The outfit that she wore during the interview after she got married was very bland, but it looked so cute on her, and I remember that interview. She was a radiant bride and all throughout her years actually. Oh, I could say so much about this woman with great admiration, but I'll stop now haha. Thanks for sharing the outfits. I not only love fashion, but loved so much about her.
ReplyDelete~Sheri
She dresses beautifully! I have noticed that Kate wears some very similar outfits that are updated to todays style. Thanks for popping into my blog. It gave me a chance to come find you!
ReplyDeleteDelightful. Diane was such an elegant, kind person.
ReplyDeleteI very much enjoyed seeing this. I was so wrapped up with them back in the day and I am still sickened by the fact that she died so tragically. I’m so very glad that today the royals are more open to embracing change and doing things differently. She went from being dressed in a dowdy manner to glamorous. She definitely raised the bar! I remember a lot of those dresses. She had a good figure and wore them well!
ReplyDeleteShe was definitely a fashion icon for her time and her sense of style improved through the years, which makes sense as that tends to happen as we age and get to know ourselves and what we like. I loved seeing her dresses at Kensington Palace. I was a huge Diana fan and was so sad when she passed. I watched hours upon hours of coverage of her funeral. I was so young when she died - only 16! But even at my young age she left a mark. I wish she had a chance to watch her sons become the men they are! And to meet her daughters-in-law and grandchildren. :(
ReplyDeleteSo pretty Jeanie. She was certainly a beautiful woman. I wish she could have been around to see her pretty DIL's and grands..Happy Thursday..Judy
ReplyDeleteI loved Diana... still do! They do a great job at Kensington keeping Diana alive. When last we were in London we got to see Diana's Dresses at Kensington Palace--what fun it was to see them up close! (I'm short, so it was amazing to see how tall she really was, when you see the gowns...) Just loved her sense of style, and how it grew and became so confident over the years. That Travolta is still stunning to see, as are so many of the others. I think as fans we still miss seeing what she's wearing! Not sure, but I think they "rotate the stock," so if one gets back to London again, there may be other dresses to view! LOVE the Diana wallpaper! :) ((HUGS))
ReplyDeleteI've never been a royal watcher, and can't imagine spending one hour in this exhibit, but since you've had such a long-standing interest and appreciation for her, I'm glad you got to see the exhibit.
ReplyDeleteI had to laugh at the red "work-a-day" suit with the three button jacket. I had one almost identical to that in .... well... maybe 1969. It's amazing to see its twin here.
She came into her own fashion wise as she grew older. I still remember the night they announced she had died. As a young 17 year old I got up early to watch the wedding.
ReplyDeleteThe red dress is amazing!! <3
ReplyDeleteAmazing post!Thanks for sharing!Hugs!
ReplyDeleteWhat fun, and ohhhh the drawings!
ReplyDeleteJenna
Jeanie I remember that check outfit that Diana wore when she came back from her honeymoon. She looked so sweet and demure back then. It certainly is interesting to see how she grew in her role as a princess and how her style evolved. I have to say my favorite is the sheath with the light embroidery.
ReplyDeleteOh, Jeanie. I would have loved this, too. She had exquisite style.
ReplyDeleteHappy Pink Saturday. This post is being featured on my Pink Saturday post this week as "the one that caught my eye". Thank you for sharing.♥
Delighted to read your post. I was at my grandmother's house watching the royal wedding all excited. Loved everything about Diana and then I remember the moment of hearing of your passing...I still cannot believe she is gone. What a tragic loss. She would be so happy with her grandchildren. Have a wonderful weekend, Kippi #kippiathome
ReplyDeleteI thoroughly enjoyed your post and photographs. What a beautiful adventure to see all her dresses! Thank you for sharing this with us!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful exhibition. When we were there, there was an exhibition featuring not only Diana's dresses (but not as many as you've shown), but also some from the Queen and Princess Margaret. I was surprised at how tall Diana was, from the length of her dresses.
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ReplyDeleteI seen all her dresses and wedding dress a few years ago when it was in Kansas City Missouri
It was so entertaining and so sad also
What a loss to this world
I'm also a royal fan and have a few folders with magazine cuttings of Princess Di.
ReplyDeleteI would have loved to see that exhibition :)
I thought these looked familiar. You must be watching the crown Jeanie. Smile. I am enjoying it and wish it was more than 10 episodes. I really enjoyed seeing these again. Hugs-Erika
ReplyDeleteI was just 8 when Diana passed away but still I can remember some of these dresses dear Jeanie! I would love to get to know more about her and these dresses surely were a beautiful reminder of her life, I am sure you had an amazing time visiting! I HAVE to see the Crown as my friends keep telling me and there too, on Erika's comment :)
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