Mandatory Credit: Photo by Steve Wood/Shutterstock (134403h)
Mayor of Cannes, Anne Marie Dupuy with Prince Charles and Princess Diana arriving at a film premiere
Cannes Film Festival, France - May 1987
I think this photo is extremely striking. Diana, dead center, standing out in her powder blue, flanked in her fishbowl by fans and flashbulbs and her protection officers -- and yet seeming totally alone. Charles is hob-nobbing on the left, and Diana is set apart, drinking it in from a step behind (protocol usually dictates that Charles would be slightly ahead of her, I believe), doing it all herself with mild trepidation on her face. It shows off how well the dress moves, and how she stood out in it, but this also REALLY captues QUITE A MOOD.
Chuck and Di
CANNES - MAY: Princess Diana, Princess of Wales and Prince Charles, Prince of Wales a Cannes film festival. Diana wore a pale blue chiffon dress and stole at the Cannes film festival in 1987. This Catherine Walker dress was a movie buff's reference to the one Grace Kelly had worn in Hitchcock's "To Catch a Thief". (Photo by Anwar Hussein/WireImage)
We obviously know the name Catherine Walker still today, as Kate has worn her clothes many times. The understated glam really works on Diana. My eyes go to her face.
Diana And Charles In Cannes
CANNES, FRANCE - MAY 15: Prince Charles And Princess Diana Arriving At The Cannes Film Festival For A Gala Night In Honour Of Actor Sir Alec Guinness. The Princess Is Wearing A Pale Blue Silk Chiffon Strapless Dress With A Matching Chiffon Stole Designed By Fashion Designer Catherine Walker. They Are Greeted By The Lady Mayor Of Cannes. (Photo by Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images)
Here is a better look at the design (and also, as nervous as she seemed in that first photo, she DID smile). So many of Diana's outfits were not timeless; this is one of the few that could be worn anytime, anywhere, and on such a big stage that's a smart choice. She also must have loved it: She wore it a mere four months later to a Miss Saigon performance, and also to sit for a Terance Donovan portrait photo.
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Shutterstock (134403k)
Anne Marie Dupuy, Princess Diana and Prince Charles
Cannes Film Festival, France - May 1987
I cannot imagine sitting on that knot all night?
Lady Diana au Festival de Cannes le 15 mai 1987 à Cannes, France. (Photo by Pool APESTEGUY/DUCLOS/PELLETIER/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)
We saw Diana's aquamarine cocktail ring on Meghan on her wedding day, but I don't believe we've seen these earrings on either duchess. I hope someone busts them out. Maybe they'd clash with the sapphire. Oh, what a problem to have.
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Steve Wood/Shutterstock (134403a)
PRINCESS DIANA
Cannes Film Festival, France - May 1987
What was I just saying about timelessness? Earlier in the day, Diana went OH SO 1987 on us. The tiny bubble skirt poking out of the long blazer. At first I thought the skirt was sewn to the blazer, like a dress, but it does actually seem to be a dress under a superlong blazer? It is not the worst of the '80s, and Diana does carry this, but it is dated as heck. (Interestingly, in 1991 Madonna whipped out her own faintly punked-up version of this. I'm sure it was not connected, but since we just looked at it, I thought I'd note it.)
Julien's Auction Hollywood Legends Memorabilia auction preview, Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, America - 25 Apr 2011
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Peter Brooker/Shutterstock (1310004b)
Catherine Walker gowns worn by Princess Diana. Estimate: $40,000-$60,000 each. (Left) black embroidered gown created for India state visit in 1992. (Right) blue chiffon gown worn to the Cannes Film Festival in 1987
Julien's Auction Hollywood Legends Memorabilia auction preview, Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, America - 25 Apr 2011
Two dresses worn by Princess Diana are expected to sell for $60,000 each when they go up for sale at an auction in Los Angeles. The Hollywood Legends Memorabilia sale by Julien's Auctions will also include items belonging to some of Hollywood's most legendary leading ladies. The two Diana dresses offered for sale, each with an estimate of $40,000-$60,000, were both designed by Catherine Walker but were worn for very different purposes. The first was created for a 1992 state visit to India with the intricate embroidered detail on the top half of the black gown getting its inspiration from Indian art. Other items being sold include Lucille Ball memorabilia, props from the Elizabeth taylor film Cleopatra, hair belonging to President John F. Kennedy, Marilyn Monroe's false eyelashes and props from Terminator 2: Judgment Day and Batman & Robin. Full story and images: https://www.rexfeatures.com/nanolink/b3sd
The gown was put up for auction at some point -- 2011, I think -- and expected to sell for $60,000, but I don't actually know what it raised.
Press Preview Of Diana: Her Fashion Story
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 22: A 1987 Catherine Walker blue silk chiffon evening gown (C) worn by Princess Diana at the 1987 Cannes Film Festival on display at a press preview at Kensington Palace on February 22, 2017 in London, England. The exhibition 'Diana: Her Fashion Story', which showcases a number of the Princess' dresses and outfits, opens to the public on February 24 as part of events commemorating the life of Princess Diana to mark the 20th anniversary of her death in Paris on August 31st, 1997. (Photo by Jack Taylor/Getty Images)
But then, here it is in 2017 at Kensington Palace, so I guess whoever bought it donated it -- or Historic Royal Palaces ponied up? It's so fascinating to see how it's displayed with the neck piece. I can't remember if we saw this one -- we went to an earlier Diana exhibit. But this is a prime example of how th right wearer can give a gown life. Here, it's just... a dress. A bit cold, a bit plain. On Diana, in that moment, it did have a little warmth and magic.
