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The Gist
Various celebrities have paid tribute to Princess Diana’s iconic outfits by referencing or recreating them.
Both Lily-Rose Depp and Elle Fanning put modern twists on Diana’s famous ice-blue Cannes dress from 1987.
Harry Styles and Emma Corrin have made more direct references to the late royal’s memorable looks.
Princess Diana is an enduring style icon, and the A-list crowd is under her spell. Countless celebrities have cited the late royal as a fashion muse in interviews, and some have even paid homage to her famous looks by recreating them—with a modern spin, of course.
Her royal tour skirt suits pop up on red carpets. Her off-duty uniforms, like the effortless bike-shorts-and-sweater combo, are forever being papped on the streets of L.A. and NYC. Virgil Abloh took Diana as his main muse for his Spring 2018 Off-White collection, Vogue reported in 2017, referencing everything from her love of boisterous patterns to her affinity for denim-on-denim.
Diana’s 1981 wedding dress also set bridal trends throughout the decade, with her royal reach extending to Seinfeld star Julia Louis-Dreyfus. The actress joked about the uncanny resemblance between their two puff-sleeved gowns in a 2023 appearance on Live with Kelly and Mark (via People). “I got married in 1987 and my wedding dress was very lady-Di inspired. I wasn’t a big Lady Di person or anything, but her wedding dress kicked ass,” she said.
Ahead, revisit some of the other times stars took style cues from Princess Diana and copied or took inspiration from her lifetime of elegant looks.
01 of 10
Angelina Jolie
Angelina Jolie at the 2018 BAFTAs.
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The ‘Travolta Dress’ vibes were undeniable when Angelina Jolie stepped out on the 2018 BAFTAs red carpet in a black, off-shoulder velvet gown from Ralph & Russo. Diana wore a similar midnight-blue Victor Edelstein frock on a 1985 visit to the White House, where she danced with actor John Travolta—giving the dress its starry nickname.
Princess Diana dancing with John Travolta at The White House in 1985.
Credit: Pete Souza/The White House via Getty Images
02 of 10
Hudson Williams
Hudson Williams at the Balenciaga show at Paris Fashion Week on March 07, 2026.
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Heated Rivalry star Hudson Wililams is aware of the frequent Princess Diana comparisons. He revealed in a January 2026 appearance on the Shut Up Evan podcast that a friend sent him one of those ‘People’s Princess’ memes—such as this viral Thread post comparing the actor’s Balenciaga leather jacket look to Diana’s 1993 Thorpe Park ensemble. Williams said he’s “loved (Diana) my whole life, and her whole aura—everything about her history, who she was, her sort of irreverence, is really sick,” and added that it’s “one of the best compliments I’ve ever heard.”
Princess Diana at Thorpe Park in 1993.
Credit: Julian Parker/UK Press via Getty Images
03 of 10
Lily-Rose Depp
Lily-Rose Depp attends “The King” red carpet during the 76th Venice Film Festival in 2019.
Credit: Franco Origlia/Getty Images
A tale of two film festivals: the first, Cannes, 1987; the second, Venice, 2019. Diana showed up to the former wearing a goddess-like ice-blue Catherine Walker gown. A little over 30 years later, Lily-Rose Depp shut down the Venice International Film Festival red carpet wearing a similar silhouette—complete with the matching neck scarf—although her Chanel dress was lilac.
Prince Charles and Princess Diana arrive at Cannes in 1987.
Credit: Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images
04 of 10
Emily Ratajkowski
Emily Ratajkowski is seen in the West Village on July 21, 2023.
Credit: Gotham/GC Images
Diana’s bike shorts and sweaters are so ubiquitous among the celebrity set that they could fill a list of their own. One example out of dozens? Emily Ratajkowski’s July 2023 street style moment featuring a blue Reebok sweatshirt, black shorts, and white trainers. The outfit may have been a recreation of Diana’s Virgin Atlantic sweater look, down to the ‘90s-era sunnies.
EmRata had previously cited the princess as one of her style icons. “I’m trying to go ‘80s and have been thinking about Princess Diana’s street and ready-to-wear moments like a blazer and a bike short and a big sneaker,” the model told Us Weekly in April 2019.
Princess Diana leaves Chelsea Harbour Club, London in November, 1995.
Credit: Anwar Hussein/WireImage
05 of 10
Mandy Moore
Mandy Moore at the 2019 Emmy Awards.
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Princess Diana may have been on several stylist’s mood boards ahead of the 2019 Emmys, because her pink-and-red Catherine Walker coat dress from a 1989 Royal Tour of the Gulf was reinterpreted time and again at the event. Attendees who donned the bold color-blocking combo included Taraji P. Henson, Marisa Tomei, and Susan Kelechi Watson, but it was Mandy Moore’s Brandon Maxwell gown that bore the closest resemblance to Diana’s look.
Princess Diana at the airport in Abu Dhabi in March 1989.
Credit: Jayne Fincher/Princess Diana Archive/Getty Images
06 of 10
Gigi Hadid
Gigi Hadid is seen in NoHo on December 16, 2019 in New York City.
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Before athleisure even entered the mainstream vocabulary, the Princess of Wales proved a tracksuit can be comfy-chic as she donned one to drive a military tank in 1985. Model Gigi Hadid’s Polo Ralph Lauren Polo Sport co-ords—which she wore on a casual dinner outing in December 2019—served up the same too-cool-for-the-gym energy decades later.
Princess Diana in West Berlin in October 1985.
Credit: Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images
07 of 10
Harry Styles
Harry Styles seen out and about in Manhattan on November 12, 2019.
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Brit It Boy Harry Styles’s sheep-print vest from Lanvin, worn during a 2019 appearance in NYC, referenced one of Princess Diana’s coziest looks. The navy top is reminiscent of the royal’s famous “Black Sheep” jumper from Warm & Wonderful. She wore it to one of Prince Charles’s polo matches ahead of their 1981 wedding.
Princess Diana wearing the ‘black sheep’ jumper in 1981.
Credit: Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images
08 of 10
Emma Corrin
Emma Corrin attends “The Crown” Finale Celebration on December 05, 2023.
Credit: Mike Marsland/WireImage
Emma Corrin played Princess Diana in Season 4 of The Crown, so of course they had to have a method-dressing moment at the final season’s premiere event. The actor chose a Miu Miu skirt and tuxedo jacket that put a sheer twist on Diana’s white Jasper Conran skirt suit from a 1985 visit to Italy. Corrin swapped the tights for knee-high black socks and added further intrigue by accessorizing with black leather gloves.
Princess Diana and Prince Charles on a 1985 trip to Florence, Italy.
Credit: Tim Graham Photo Library/Getty Images
09 of 10
Elle Fanning
Elle Fanning at the 2017 Met Gala.
Credit: Getty Images
Exactly 30 years after Diana debuted a blue Catherine Walker dress at Cannes, Elle Fanning had a similar Cinderella moment in a chiffon plissé Miu Miu dress at the 2017 Met Gala. Adding to the princess vibes of it all, Fanning paired her delicate gown with a silver tiara-like headband.
Princess Diana at The Cannes Film Festival, France, 1987.
Credit: Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images
10 of 10
Rihanna
Rihanna at the album artwork reveal for “ANTI” at MAMA Gallery on October 7, 2015.
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Speaking of Met Galas, the late princess attended just one in her lifetime, in 1996. She wore a navy blue slip dress by John Galliano for Dior, pairing it with a chunky pearl and sapphire choker and a silky dressing robe-esque coat. Rihanna seemingly channeled the same look at her ANTI album artwork reveal party in October 2015. Flowy coat, slip dress, and choker? Check. Her look was a Chrome Hearts creation, while the singer’s choker came from Neil Lane.
Princess Diana and Liz Tilberis at the Met Gala in December 1996.
Credit: Anwar Hussein/WireImage
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