Princess Diana's 1985 Visit to Italy, Part 2

Now, for part 2!  (See Part 1 from yesterday.)

Date:  April-May, 1985

Place:  Anzio, the Vatican, Rome, Milan, and Venice, Italy

Event:  Prince and Princess of Wales Official Tour of Italy

While on a visit to a military cemetery in Anzio, Diana wore this striking purple striped Catherine Walker suit.

The hat was created by Frederick Fox.

Notice the red hose, which she first wore on this trip with a red suit in Florence.

While in Rome, the Prince and Princess visited the Vatican and met Pope John Paul II.  Diana wore the obligatory black dress and veil.  In this case, they were designed by Catherine Walker.

The detailing shows up much better in this black and white photo.  (I wonder what that sly smile was about.)

Also in Rome, she wore this multi-colored striped Bruce Oldfield suit.

With white hose, this time!

Then, on a visit to the Sistine Chapel, Diana wore this pink and white polka dot dress, designer unknown.

This was probably my favorite outfit of her trip.  (Still white hose!)

Still in Rome, Diana wore this rather bulky and unflattering white and black Bruce Oldfield suit with a hat by Viv Knowland.

Then, in Milan, she wore this blue silk Bruce Oldfield suit. 

The heart-shaped earrings were made for her by Butler and Wilson.

In Milan, Diana again "recycled" an old outfit.  This time, it was a pink Victor Edelstein gown, worn here to Turandot  at La Scala.

She had worn it almost exactly two years previously in Brisbane with different jewelry.

In Venice, she wore this white and blue polka dot suit by Jan van Velden, again with the heart-shaped earrings from Butler and Wilson.

Bruce Oldfield designed this extremely flattering blue dress, which she wore in Venice.

Unfortunately, on her last day in Venice (and Italy), she wore this green suit created by David and Elizabeth Emanuel.  (Not sure who made the hat, but it looks like it may have been by John Boyd.)  The Emanuels also created her wedding gown four years previously.  It and this green suit swallowed her.

Here she is aboard the royal yacht Britannia looking better for the railing obscuring her outfit.  Their children rejoined them there and they set sail for home from Venice.

So, like a little Prince William, we too wave goodbye until next time.  Thanks for reading and stay tuned to Fashionably Royal.

A Very Merry Welcome: Princess Diana's Wedding Day

With just a week until the big day for Kate Middleton and Prince William, I think it's high time I started a blog on a subject that has interested me for years--royal fashion. Love them or hate them, you have to admit that the royal family have an eye for fashion. Sometimes good, sometimes bad. This blog will look back at the fashions of yesteryear (and yesterday). And what better way that to start with one of the most recognizable pieces of clothing ever made . . .

Princess Diana's Wedding Dress

David and Elizabeth Emanuel, a husband and wife team, were chosen to be the designers for that day.

Date: 29 July 1981
Place: St. Paul's Cathedral, London
Event: Wedding between Lady Diana Spencer and Prince Charles

The dress was made with yards of silk taffeta and was brimming with ruffles and lace.

The train on the dress set a record at 25 feet in length!

Her shoes were handcrafted by cobbler Clive Shilton. They were essentially flats--much of a heel would have seen her taller than the groom.

She wore a tiara that belonged to her family called the Spencer tiara. (It was also worn by her sister Jane and her brother's first wife Victoria on their wedding days.)

Don't you just love the early 1980s filter in that photo?

Well, now, most of that you may have already known as, like I said, it is one of the most recognizable pieces of clothing ever created.

Stay tuned to Fashionably Royal for much, much more about royal fashions!