From mini to macro, the royal was dotty for spotted looks in fuchsia, turquoise, red, lilac and navy. No silhouette was off the cards, nor any accessory (she once matched her ankle socks to her pleated white and red polka dot skirt). Such was the princess’s enthusiasm for the cheering print, that every time her daughter-in-law, the Duchess of Cambridge, has worn old-school dotted looks, she has been compared to the original polka dot fan: Diana, Princess of Wales.
The President of the Republic of Turkey, Kenan Evren, met a dotty princess in 1988
A day at the polo called for Roy Lichtenstein-style spots
Wearing a polka dot Catherine Walker gown and the Spencer family tiara at a state banquet in Auckland
A tomato-red suit would not have been complete without a signature dotty flourish via a pussy-bow blouse in ’83
Matching her socks to her dots at the polo in Windsor
There are certain prints that follow a seasonal pattern — floral with spring, plaid with autumn, nautical stripes with summer — and then there are prints that follow a longer trend cycle, becoming seemingly retro before coming back in again. Polka dots are one such trend — they feel distinctly reflective of the past, but are reappearing in modern ways. While you may have once ascribed spots to retro bikinis and ’50s-era cocktail dresses, there’s something cool about the ways in which brands are approaching the print.
The Queen and Diana, Princess of Wales awaiting the arrival of West German President Richard von Weizsäcker at Victoria Station
Having an Annie Hall moment in a fabulous polka dot tie in ’94
Diana’s neat black polka dot shift dress and ballet pumps would stand the test of time now
Lady Di wore dots for her first royal walkabout with her then-fiancé, Prince Charles
Pretty in pink polkas in Italy
Now, polka dots are getting a modern makeover, with a new wave of designers choosing to showcase spots in their SS20 shows. From statement sleeves to standout dresses, spotty prints are here to well and truly take over your wardrobe in 2020.The interesting thing is, that princess Diana’s looks are so fresh and easy also today; I could easily stole a couple of items from her wardrobe and wear them for a special dinner or on my way to work. It’s clear: the polka dot print will never go out of style.
Looking every inch the epitome of ’80s glamour at the London premiere of Othello
Kapow! Lady Di made a splash in red and white polka dots on the royal tour of Japan
The princess leaving St Mary’s Hospital after the birth of her first son, Prince William
The royal family’s public-facing looks are meticulously curated to take into account diplomacy, sustainability and history. During a turbulent time, when the Cambridge family’s mission has been to buoy the nation, a joyful print – which reminds Britain of good times gone by – is not to be underestimated. Here, four times the Duchess of Cambridge has honoured Diana, Princess of Wales’s zest for vivacious prints with her own signature flair.
Diana, Princess of Wales photographed at home in 1985; the Duchess of Cambridge wearing Prada in Prince Charles’s 70th birthday portraits in 2018
Diana, Princess of Wales, wearing Victor Edelstein at the polo in 1987; the Duchess of Cambridge wearing Topshop during a Warner Bros tour in 2013
Diana, Princess of Wales presenting Prince William to the world in 1982; the Duchess of Cambridge wearing Jenny Packham while carrying her new son, Prince George, in 2013
Diana, Princess of Wales wearing a dotty dress and hat at Ascot in 1988; Kate in Jenny Packham spots at Wimbledon in 2018
Dear reader, you may like also this:
