A new documentary has revealed a telling detail from one of Princess Diana’s most memorable fashion moments. On the night of the 1996 Met Gala, the Princess of Wales made a last-minute alteration to her ensemble that perfectly encapsulated her independent spirit.
For the event, her first and only appearance at the prestigious gala, Diana chose a navy blue silk slip dress with black lace detailing. The gown was part of John Galliano’s debut couture collection for the House of Dior. Initial designs for the outfit included a structured corset, intended to shape the silhouette of the lingerie-inspired dress.
However, as Galliano recounts, Diana had other plans. Upon her arrival, the designer was taken aback to see that the princess had removed the corset entirely from the garment before stepping out.
“She’d ripped the corset out,” Galliano recalled, describing the moment he saw her emerge. He noted that her decision transformed the dress, making it appear more fluid and sensuous, and that Diana herself seemed to feel a sense of liberation without the restrictive undergarment.
The fitting process beforehand had also hinted at her decisive taste. Galliano mentioned proposing the design in a pink hue, an idea the princess firmly dismissed with a playful but definitive, “No, not the pink!” Her preference for the deep blue was unwavering.
This instance was characteristic of Diana’s approach to style, which consistently defied royal convention and set trends rather than followed them. Her fashion choices often carried deeper personal significance, a fact exemplified by another famous ensemble from just two years prior: the so-called “Revenge Dress.” That off-the-shoulder black cocktail dress, worn the same night a televised interview about her marital separation aired, signaled a confident step into a new chapter of her public life.
Commentators have long noted that Diana’s enduring fashion legacy lies in this very autonomy. She cultivated a distinctive personal style that felt authentic and self-assured, making bold choices that resonated because they appeared to be true expressions of her character, rather than adherence to any prescribed template. The simple act of forgoing a corset on a major red carpet was a subtle but powerful testament to that defining trait.
