How Princess Diana Influences Gen Z Fashion

Twenty-five years after his death, the wardrobe of the Princess Diana continues to inspire new generations.

From TikTok users painstakingly recreating her gym outfits to fashion fans shopping for cult items worn by her, her style remains as influential as ever, sparking magazine photo shoots, runway collections and reissues of her beloved pieces.

Recent movies and TV shows like “Spencer,” “The Crown” and the HBO Max documentary “The Princess” have reignited interest in Diana, introducing her – and her story – to both millennials, some of whom may be young. too many to remember her, as well as Generation Z, who were born after her death in 1997.

With “The Crown” in particular, costume designer Amy Roberts’ meticulous attention to detail even went as far as consulting with David and Elizabeth Emanuel, the original designers of her iconic wedding dress.

However, as well as the Netflix series’ reinterpretation of this bridal look — which saw actress Emma Corrin swamped by the gown’s heavy 25-foot train, amid ominous music and spooky snippets of British media coverage of the wedding — there were a shift in how we perceive Diana’s wardrobe today.

While the fascination with iconic outfits such as her famous Christina Stambolian “revenge dress” (pictured above) or the blue velvet dress she wore to the White House in 1985 remain utterly timeless, younger generations are absorbing her looks in search of aesthetics.

Scroll through Pinterest, Instagram or TikTok and you’ll notice that one particular part of Diana’s wardrobe has established new popularity among Gen Z: casual, 1980s and 90s sportswear – the kind she used to be photographed in while visiting the city. gym or when watching polo matches.

The quintessential ensemble includes an oversized hoodie, cycling shorts, chunky sneakers, sunglasses, vintage earrings and a designer bag, an effortless juxtaposition of streetwear, athleisure and glamor in one look.

“My strongest impression of her style was bumping into her at the Harbor Club,” recalled British designer Amanda Wakeley in a 2020 British “Vogue” retrospective of Diana’s style.

“She had her exercise kit and she was wearing one of my cashmere sweatshirts with satin cuffs. To me, it was such a perfect image of her.”

In a 2019 fashion reference for Vogue Paris, Hailey Bieber paid homage to the trend in logo-patterned caps, college sweaters and oversized pearl and gold earrings.

“All credit and inspiration to the incredibly beautiful and iconic Princess Diana, who I’ve looked to for style inspiration for as long as I can remember,” Bieber wrote on Instagram alongside a selection of images from the shoot. “Thank you for leaving behind such an iconic legacy of fashion and style.”

On Instagram, popular figures like Stephanie Yeboah, Melissa Soldera and Liv Phyland, among others, have also followed suit by recreating Diana’s style.

“We love clothing that promotes style and comfort,” Yeboah told CNN about Diana’s workout clothes, noting that the changes in her fashion choices seemed to reflect her growing sense of self-worth.

“That confidence growth reflected in her wardrobe is something I resonate with immensely, being a plus size person and slowly seeing a change in my (own) wardrobe after getting the confidence boost I needed,” she said. Yeboah in an email.

And on TikTok, users like Taylor Hage have shared tutorials on how to recreate specific outfits. A recent video by Hage focuses on a much-referenced outfit worn by Diana at the Guards Polo Club in Windsor in 1988.

“We’ve all seen this Princess Diana look,” Hage tells his audience of 1.6 million followers, before offering his interpretation – straight-leg jeans, a neutral crew-neck sweater, blazer and boots.

Others went even further, with TikTok user @simplesmurf setting up a self-proclaimed “Princess Diana Stan acc” – in other words, a fan account dedicated to her.

Along with a plethora of vintage-inspired videos, the user reveals a portion of sweaters and other pieces worn or inspired by Diana, while sharing periodic updates on recent finds from thrift stores and vintage clothing sellers as they build their collection.

Amid this growing nostalgia for 1980s fashion and pop culture, thanks in part to shows like “Stranger Things” and designs from luxury brands like Chanel, it’s no surprise that Diana’s wardrobe has garnered new interest. .

For fans of the era, like @simplesmurf from TikTok, the princess’ clothes are a form of fashion history. “What an icon,” the user wrote in a recent post.

Elements of Princess Diana’s wardrobe have also been absorbed into what TikTokers call an “Old Money” aesthetic — an ironic, aspirational style that mixes vintage and preppy pieces that seek to mimic the wardrobes of those born into wealth and privilege.

Princess Diana was perhaps the best “Sloane Ranger” (a British term referring to London’s Sloane Square neighborhood and the stereotypical upper-middle-class women who typically live there), making her a natural fit for “Old” Pinterest boards. ” and style inspiration videos.

a powerful inspiration

Pieces that exemplify how Diana challenged the traditional mold of the British royal family – in particular, during the years following her divorce from Prince Charles – are also resonating with stylish young people looking to assert their individuality.

Speaking to CNN last year, the fashion researcher Eloise Moran explained the power of Diana’s “revenge dress”, which she wore the same day Prince Charles admitted to adultery.

“I think that was the line drawn where she was in control, and she was showing that to everyone,” Moran said. “You can really make people afraid of you – or intimidated by you, or respect for you, or whatever – through clothing.”

Another outfit that has renewed the waves in recent years is a red fire truck knit sweater with a white and black sheep pattern that Diana wore to a polo match in 1980.

Widely interpreted as a subtle message that she felt like an outsider – or the “black sheep” – the sweater took on new life when clothing brand Rowing Blazers approached its original designers, heritage brand Warm & Wonderful, to relaunch. the piece in 2020.

At the time, Rowing Blazers creative director Jack L. Carson told CNN that sales translated to “three months worth of sweaters in an hour and a half” after the item went viral online. (The original sweater is in the permanent collection of the Victoria & Albert Museum in London.)

The pattern also appeared on dish towels, suitcases and vests.

The enduring fascination with Diana’s wardrobe was also seen on the runway. The late fashion designer Virgil Abloh, for example, cited the late Princess as his muse for Off-White’s Spring-Summer 2018 collection.

Staged in 2017 to mark the 20th anniversary of his death, the show featured versions of Abloh in some of his most signature off-duty looks, including references to specific outfits such as a denim jumpsuit and white cowboy boots, your basic cycling shorts and oversized blazers.

“She was a strong person who, despite her position, had her own personal taste,” Abloh told British Vogue in a 2017 interview, “and that came out through the clothes.”

That same year, fashion research platform Lyst wrote in its annual trends report that “Diana’s style choices have influenced us again,” reporting spikes in searches for her wardrobe staples.

“Her personal taste was way outside of what she should wear. It’s an inspiration,” he said.