Princess Diana insisted on crucial fashion detail at Met Gala, designer reveals

When it comes to Princess Diana’s sense of style, it’s safe to say the late Princess of Wales was nothing short of iconic. Whether it was stepping out in statement sweatshirts or turning heads in her legendary revenge dress, every aspect of the Princess’ look was an ode to her personality - and that meant sticking to her guns when it came to dressing for the spotlight.

Recalling one moment when the Princess did exactly that ahead of the 1996 Met Gala, fashion designer John Galliano told docuseries In Vogue: The 90s: "I remember one day we all jumped into this old van, and we went to London, where we met Princess Diana. She'd been invited to the Met, and she would wear one of my dresses.”

For the event, which raises money for the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Diana opted for a sleek and slinky navy blue dress complete with lace trim - but the final look wasn’t entirely what Galliano had first envisioned for his famous client.

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"It was like a blessing. I mean like, wow," he said in the series. "We went to Kensington Palace and discussed drawings. I was trying to push for pink, but she was not having it. 'No, not the pink!' That was real, real fun."

"So we did the dress and subsequent fittings, and it was beautifully done," he said, describing the "correct" construction of the garment that he had crafted for her. "Fast-forward to the event, and I just remember her getting out of the car," Galliano said — before letting loose a gasp. ”I couldn't believe it. She'd ripped the corset out."

"She didn't want to wear the corset," he admitted, in a true nod to Diana’s rebellious streak. ”She felt so liberated. She'd torn the corset out. The dress was much more… sensuous. I mean, wow! Diana was my first couture client," Galliano said.

The outfit which was worn by the Princess just months after her divorce from then-Prince Charles, rapidly went on to become one of her most iconic looks to date, and set a high standard for designer John Galliano’s collections going forwards with fashion houses Dior and Maison Margiela.

In addition to her navy slip-like dress, Diana also channelled a hint of sultry charm with a corresponding silk robe-like topper, before completing her look with a pearl and sapphire choker necklace and a quilted Lady Dior bag, that was named in her honour.

Throughout her time in the royal spotlight, Diana had always been a pioneer for bold looks, but it was only during the 1990’s following her separation from her husband that she began to truly experiment with her style by opting for shorter hemlines and sexier silhouettes than were deemed appropriate royal attire.

Although the Princess sadly went on to die just one year after her Met Gala debut in 1997, both of her daughters-in-law Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle have continued to uphold her legacy with both women having become style icons in their own right since marrying into the family.