In 1996, Princess Diana made her sole appearance at the Met Gala, an event that would become one of her most memorable fashion moments. Behind the iconic look, however, was a quiet act of defiance that perfectly captured her independent spirit.
The navy blue silk slip dress, delicately edged with black lace, was created by designer John Galliano for his debut Dior couture collection. Originally, the ensemble included a structured corset. But as Galliano recently recalled, the Princess had other plans.
Arriving at the event, the designer watched in surprise as Diana stepped out of her car. She had removed the corset entirely. “She’d ripped the corset out,” Galliano noted, explaining that she simply did not want to wear it. The result, he observed, was a more liberated and sensuous silhouette, with the dress flowing freely.
This choice reflected Diana’s well-documented approach to style. During fittings at Kensington Palace, she was actively involved, even vetoing the designer’s suggestion of a pink hue with a firm, “No, not the pink!” Her confidence in her own taste was clear.
The 1996 Gala look followed another legendary fashion statement made two years prior: the so-called “Revenge Dress.” That off-the-shoulder black gown, worn to a high-profile event shortly after her separation from Prince Charles, signaled her refusal to be defined by palace conventions. She had owned the daring dress for three years before finally wearing it, a testament to her careful timing and understanding of fashion’s power.
Commentators have often noted that Diana’s style was distinctly her own. She was not a follower of trends but a creator of them, blending high fashion with accessible elegance. Her decisions, whether rejecting a corset or choosing a bold color, were authentic expressions of her evolving identity.
That night at the Gala, by shedding the restrictive undergarment, Princess Diana did more than alter a dress. She embodied a moment of personal and sartorial freedom, cementing her legacy as a figure who wore clothes on her own terms.
