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Diana Style: Foreword by Manolo Blahnik
Diana, Princess of Wales was the world's most photographed woman during the 1980s and 90s. Her every outfit was scrutinized, criticized, admired and endlessly copied, her every fashion choice proved enormously influential. But it was only towards the end of her life that she found her own true style and the panache and confidence to flaunt it. The shy, aristocratic nanny made some notorious early fashion faux pas. But with expert guidance from Vogue and using her own sure instincts, she developed into a demure style icon who understood the subtle power of dress. Gathering together a stable of trusted designers and photographers--Catherine Walker, Gianni Versace, Jimmy Choo, Manolo Blahnik and Mario Testino--Diana learned to use her appearance to communicate with the public, and she succeeded in winning them over utterly. Eminent fashion authority Colin McDowell has written an engaging and sometimes moving celebration of Diana's fashion journey, drawing on exclusive interviews with her designers, advisers and confidantes. Exquisitely designed and lavishly illustrated throughout with rare and striking images, Diana Style is an intimate, evocative portrait of one of the most admired women of our times.
240 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2007
34 people want to read
About the author
Colin McDowell
49 books20 followersColin McDowell is one of the world's top fashion commentators. He is known particularly for his many years as the Sunday Times' chief fashion writer and for his role as the founder of the influential Fashion Fringe, a major initiative supporting young designers. He is one of the fashion elite—an insider renowned for his insightful judgement, his deep knowledge of the arts and humanities and his commitment to the fashion industry.
Colin McDowell is the only senior commentator who knows the fashion business from both sides of the catwalk. He spent 10 years as a designer, illustrator and publicist in the Italian fashion business, where he worked with the late Pino Lancetti, generally considered one of the most creative forces in Italian fashion, and with Laura Biagotti. The experience helped Colin to understand designers in general and young, inexperienced designers in particular.
Colin has been a journalist for over 20 years and has at one time or another written for every quality newspaper and magazine in Britain. For the last 15 years he has been fashion writer for The Sunday Times Style, for which he has reported each season from the international fashion weeks, covering couture, women's ready-to-wear and menswear. During that time Colin has interviewed just about all of the great designers and many key figures in the fashion world. He has also held a highly regarded and popular series of public conversations with outstanding individuals such as John Galliano, Alexander McQueen, Marc Jacobs, Miuccia Prada, Anna Wintour and Mario Testino, to mention only a few.
Having seen so many young talents disappear before finding their feet, in 2004 Colin set up with IMG an initiative to address a number of problems he identified in the London fashion scene. The result was Fashion Fringe, a platform for young designer talent open to anyone who is capable of starting a business based in London. Fashion Fringe helps its selected designers nurture their business both creatively and commercially. Past winners who have gone on to notable success include Basso and Brooke, Erdem, Aminaka Wilmont and Eun Jeong.
Colin has written 22 books on fashion and related subjects, including the seminal McDowell's Directory of Twentieth Century Fashion; Shoes: Fashion and Fantasy; Hats: Status, Style and Glamour; and Fashion Today. He has also written biographies of, among others, Ralph Lauren, John Galliano and Manolo Blahnik. Among his most recent subjects are Matthew Williamson and Roberto Cavalli. Colin's latest book is Drawing Fashion in conjunction with an exhibition of the same name that he curated for the Design Museum. He is currently finishing the Anatomy of Fashion -- to be published in 2012 by Phaidon. He is also working on an exhibition of Italian Fashion to mark the 150th anniversary of the unification of Italy.
Colin McDowell is the only senior commentator who knows the fashion business from both sides of the catwalk. He spent 10 years as a designer, illustrator and publicist in the Italian fashion business, where he worked with the late Pino Lancetti, generally considered one of the most creative forces in Italian fashion, and with Laura Biagotti. The experience helped Colin to understand designers in general and young, inexperienced designers in particular.
Colin has been a journalist for over 20 years and has at one time or another written for every quality newspaper and magazine in Britain. For the last 15 years he has been fashion writer for The Sunday Times Style, for which he has reported each season from the international fashion weeks, covering couture, women's ready-to-wear and menswear. During that time Colin has interviewed just about all of the great designers and many key figures in the fashion world. He has also held a highly regarded and popular series of public conversations with outstanding individuals such as John Galliano, Alexander McQueen, Marc Jacobs, Miuccia Prada, Anna Wintour and Mario Testino, to mention only a few.
Having seen so many young talents disappear before finding their feet, in 2004 Colin set up with IMG an initiative to address a number of problems he identified in the London fashion scene. The result was Fashion Fringe, a platform for young designer talent open to anyone who is capable of starting a business based in London. Fashion Fringe helps its selected designers nurture their business both creatively and commercially. Past winners who have gone on to notable success include Basso and Brooke, Erdem, Aminaka Wilmont and Eun Jeong.
Colin has written 22 books on fashion and related subjects, including the seminal McDowell's Directory of Twentieth Century Fashion; Shoes: Fashion and Fantasy; Hats: Status, Style and Glamour; and Fashion Today. He has also written biographies of, among others, Ralph Lauren, John Galliano and Manolo Blahnik. Among his most recent subjects are Matthew Williamson and Roberto Cavalli. Colin's latest book is Drawing Fashion in conjunction with an exhibition of the same name that he curated for the Design Museum. He is currently finishing the Anatomy of Fashion -- to be published in 2012 by Phaidon. He is also working on an exhibition of Italian Fashion to mark the 150th anniversary of the unification of Italy.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
July 25, 2020
This book details the emergence of Diana, Princess of Wales, as a fashion icon. From her early, naive choices, to her later trendsetting appearance, to her even later attempt to downplay her role as a fashion star, in favour of redirecting attention to her charitable causes, Diana Style has it all.
Diana was blessed with height and a good figure, which she enhanced with regular workouts. We all know about her battle with eating disorders, but the ugly side of the pressure that she endured is not discussed. Rather, McDowell chooses to celebrate what was beautiful about Diana's time in the limelight, and what her audiences got out of seeing her well-dressed self in the news. And there is a lot to celebrate. Much has been written about Diana, good, bad, scandalous and fun, but in the end, what endures is the clean image of a beautiful woman, setting standards for grace and beauty and femininity, in an age where such ideas were being exploded by our changing mores. She walked through literal and figurative minefields, but the iconic Diana remains intact.
Diana was blessed with height and a good figure, which she enhanced with regular workouts. We all know about her battle with eating disorders, but the ugly side of the pressure that she endured is not discussed. Rather, McDowell chooses to celebrate what was beautiful about Diana's time in the limelight, and what her audiences got out of seeing her well-dressed self in the news. And there is a lot to celebrate. Much has been written about Diana, good, bad, scandalous and fun, but in the end, what endures is the clean image of a beautiful woman, setting standards for grace and beauty and femininity, in an age where such ideas were being exploded by our changing mores. She walked through literal and figurative minefields, but the iconic Diana remains intact.
September 28, 2024
i love princess diana till the day i die! i loved what this bookn had to offer about her fashion up until she died and even after that ! amazing read
April 3, 2008
LOVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I got this for my birthday, and it just adds to my collection of Princess Diana:).
July 9, 2013
A few interesting things from some designers, not nearly enough about jewelry, and a couple glaring factual errors.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews