After separating from Charles, Princess Diana wanted to celebrate her independence day. The summer of 1994 was when her new life began
On the evening of June 29, 1994, amid a scorching heatwave, about 100 cameramen crowded onto the sidewalk outside the Serpentine Gallery in London, where a gala dinner was held. Vanity fairAt that time he was the editor-in-chief Graydon Carter just getting started. And suddenly, there she was—Princess Diana, woman of the hour, stepping out of her chauffeured Rolls Royce and kissing her host on the cheek.
“When she got out of the car, it was impossible not to gasp,” said gallery owner Dame Julia Peyton-Jones has been withdrawn. “Diana was one of the most famous and beautiful women in the world…it was as if she were from another planet. She looked so sexy in her low-cut, off-the-shoulder outfit, and we all felt dull and outdated in comparison.”
Created by Greek designers Christina Stambolian, Diana’s little black dress with its pretty neckline and sexy above-the-knee asymmetrical hem was an instant fashion sensation, a coming-out party after years of following the strict rules of royalty in terms of wardrobe and etiquette. Even head-to-toe black clothing is taboo for royal members, only worn during periods of mourning.
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“Her head was held high and her face broke into a big grin,” Eloise Moran written on Lady Di Look book. “No more shoulder pads, just bare shoulders, strong and resilient. Around her neck is a pearl and sapphire necklace that she wore to many official royal engagements in the 1980s – surely a nod to her ill-fated marriage and past life, worn like a badge of honour, contrasting with a bold and powerful ensemble that signals a sense of awakening and a new dawn.”
When she arrived in what was immediately dubbed the “revenge dress”, ITV was broadcasting a TV show. long awaited interview with her estranged husband, Prince Charles, where he shamelessly admits that he actually was faithful… until his marriage “fell apart beyond repair, we both tried.”
Suddenly, news of the Prince of Wales’ crime spree is overshadowed by that of his soon-to-be wife. “It was the final power move and the first step in a confident final chapter of her story,” Moran writes. “That evening marked a turning point in Diana’s personal story.”
Throughout the summer of 1994, Diana continued to declare her independence, becoming the new woman she wanted to be.
The year has begun full of uncertainty and change for the Princess of Wales. In December 1993, she officially retired from royal duties, telling the press that she hoped to have “a meaningful public role with a more private life.”
No longer subject to the royal calendar, Diana was free for the first time since stepping onto the world stage in 1981. “After dismissing her bodyguards, she could pursue the life of a private citizen.” private, despite enjoying many privileges,” Michael Posner wrote that year Chatelaine. “She often drives her own sporty green Audi 2.3SE around West London, lunches at posh San Lorenzo or Launceston Place, plays tennis at the exclusive Vanderbilt Tennis Club and attends Weekly massage and therapy at a Chinese clinic.”
