How did this fashion hack come about?
What went down in history as one of Diana’s most creative and iconic looks now appears to have been a last-minute decision. Finally, Diana’s personal hairstylist has revealed: why did the princess ever wear her necklace around her head?
Iconic look
In 1985, the Princess of Wales appeared at a gala at the Southern Cross Hotel in Melbourne, wearing a sea-green satin dress and a royal heirloom: an art-deco choker with emeralds that had belonged to Queen Mary and that Diana had given from the late Queen after her wedding. Queen Elizabeth had received. The queen may have regretted this when she saw how her daughter-in-law showed herself in public with the precious piece of jewelry. She did not wear it ‘as she should’ around her neck, but let it hang on her forehead.
View this post on Instagram
The reason
Although the headband has subsequently become an iconic look for Diana, it was not predetermined. During a special panel celebrating People’s 50th anniversary, Diana’s then-hairstylist, Richard Dalton, finally revealed how this fashion hack came about: “I think she got a little bit of a sunburn on her neck, and so we said: ‘Let’s make it a headband’.” He added with a laugh, “I asked Evelyn, her stylist, for six inches of underwear elastic (the kind grandmas use) and transformed the accessory into a headband.” Now that’s thinking in terms of solutions!
Richard Dalton met Princess Diana, then Lady Diana Spencer, when she was just 17 years old. He was then her hairstylist for more than 10 years, traveling all over the world.
Emerald green choker
The 1985 gala was not the only time Diana wore the choker. At several other moments, Lady Di showed that she also knew exactly how to wear it. She wore the necklace to several dinners and occasions, the last time being on her 36th birthday. Tragically, this would also be her last birthday ever.
What happened to the necklace after her death? Well, it just stayed in the family. In 2022, her daughter-in-law, Princess Kate, decided that it was high time to let him see the light of day again. The necklace adorned her neck during the second edition of the annual Earthshot Prize Awards.
This is not the only piece of jewelry that one of Diana’s daughters-in-law has been spotted with. Both Kate and Megan Markle are regularly spotted with a gem from the princess’s extensive jewelry collection. In fact, William gave his Kate the same engagement ring as Diana’s, and Megan’s ring featured two diamonds from Diana’s collection. Like mother, like daughter-in-law!
Source: People, Elle, Glamial archive | Image: NL Image
