16 Princess Diana Fashion Trends That Are Still Cool in 2022

Princess Diana Fashion
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There are plenty of looks that were once covetable in the '80s and '90s that are slightly less-so today. Sure, we can appreciate the casual nature of high-waisted culottes, or get a kick out of structured, shoulder-padded skirt suits, but they're not quite what we're looking to stock our closets with these days.

However, Princess Diana — who, yes, did wear those very same pieces on occasion — is still considered a fashion icon. Decades later, her enviable outfits stay on our mind, and what's more, her wardrobe was full of trends that have managed to make a comeback.

From her sexier "revenge" looks to her effortless ability to match tailored blazers with athleisure, there are at least 15 Princess Diana-inspired trends that we're still wearing today. Gather a few tips on how to make them work for 2022, ahead.

01 of 16

Whimsical Knits

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Diana made headlines in 1981 with this Warm & Wonderful "Black Sheep" sweater, and many continued to refer to her as such when it came to her position in the Royal Family. Intentional or not, her ability to send messages or command attention through her wardrobe was largely unmatched — and we can't argue that this knit is super quirky and cute. The brand Rowing Blazers has brought back the exact design so that all of us could copy Diana's iconic look — which Harry Styles is a fan of, too.

02 of 16

Elevated-Casual

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Princess Diana was a champion of high-low dressing, which is still so popular today. Her effortless ability to pair casual jeans with a relaxed, oversized sweatshirt, then pull the look together with a tailored blazer and high leather boots is what continues to make her outfits so relatable.

03 of 16

Sweater Vests

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Sweater vests were a huge trend in the '70s and '80s, and Diana wore them on the regular. In recent years, they've come back into rotation, with models like Kendall Jenner and Bella Hadid working the layer into their looks, and even styling them as shests from time to time.

04 of 16

Trousers

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Today, we view wide-leg trousers just as versatile and comfy as our favorite pair of jeans, and Diana had plenty of pairs in her closet. Whether they were solid, striped, gingham, or otherwise, the royal broke them out for every occasion, dressing them up with blazers and button-downs for events, and pairing them with sweaters while attending polo matches.

05 of 16

Little Black Dresses

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Diana knew the power of an LBD, but aside from tight strappy numbers, she once wore this black, off-the-shoulder mini dress to an event — at the very same time Prince Charles was confessing his longtime affair with Camilla Parker-Bowles to the world. Diana's "revenge" fashion choice still works the same wonders today as it did back then. Even if your particular version is on the simpler side, this piece can be styled with almost any shoe or accessory combination for both fancy and casual occasions.

06 of 16

Bike Shorts

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A few years ago, we might have filed bike shorts under the '90s trend we were sure would never return — but that would have been the wrong call. Diana was one of the OG fans of this comfy staple, pairing brightly colored shorts with a slew of graphic oversized sweatshirts, which is exactly how we love to wear them today.

07 of 16

Overalls

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Princess Diana's affinity for wearing silhouettes, colors, and patters that weren't often seen in a royal's wardrobe gained her a great deal of criticism. Yet, moments like this one, where she paired pale yellow overalls with a floral button-down, were easy, playful, and chic, all at the same time.

08 of 16

Mom Jeans

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The fashion world has a love-hate relationship with high-waisted denim; one second 'mom jeans' are in, and the next, it's all about the low-rise. But, as the world embraces non-skinny styles, we'll use Diana's slightly-baggy denim moment as a source of inspiration, right down to the cap-toe flats.

09 of 16

Puffy Sleeves

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Whether we're talking about the hair or the fashion, we tend to associate the '80s with a whole lot of volume. But the puffy, balloon sleeve trend is still going strong, and Diana would no doubt be thrilled. The royal was a pro at finding balance with this look, often styling oversized tops with slimmer bottoms.

10 of 16

Graphic Sweatshirts

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While graphic sweatshirts have had a reputation of being either juvenile or casual, the piece has been since revamped. From designer to vintage versions, we've started pairing them with just about everything, from structured trousers, plaid skirts, and biker shorts, just like Diana.

11 of 16

Pearls

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We have no issue with silver and gold, but this princess was definitely partial to pearls — and wow, she knew how to make them look extremely elegant. So many brands these days are releasing their own, updated pearl designs, and if Diana taught us anything, it's that it's perfectly fine to layer them and wear multiple pieces at the same time.

12 of 16

Halternecks

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Like so many '90s trends, halternecks are suddenly everywhere, but we don't really mind re-embracing this fancy-meets-sexy style. It's best to keep any halter look simple, so take a note from this fabulous outfit and skip the necklace, adding a pair of drop earrings and strappy shoes instead.

13 of 16

Ankle Socks

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A simple styling trick Diana was a fan of? Adding fun socks to her outfit. The time she matched her polka-dot pair to her skirt will forever go down in royal fashion history, but for us normals, letting longer lengths peek out at the top of our sneakers can quickly amp up a basic ensemble.

14 of 16

Ballet Flats

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We love our loafers, but the return of ballet flats have reminded us how fancy and elevated this sweet shoe can be. Diana styled them with jeans, but proved they also pair well with structured pieces, such as this knee-length dress.

15 of 16

Statement Coats

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Puffers, fuzzy details — we're into it all, especially as things start to get chilly. Rihanna essentially copied this look in early 2022, making it clear that this combination of a bright red coat and a casual cap is still cool as hell.

16 of 16

Western Boots

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If you're looking to quickly add some flair to a simple outfit, follow Diana's lead and wear a western style boots. Not only is this model-approved shoe trending all over again, Diana demonstrated that it can quite literally amp up anything in your wardrobe, including sweats.

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