She beat Marilyn, Beyoncé and the current Princess of Wales
Princess Diana has been named the greatest female style icon of all time, beating Marilyn Monroe, Kate Middleton and Beyoncé. Almost a third believe Diana remains the ultimate benchmark for timeless fashion.
Marilyn Monroe came second in the style icon rankings followed by Audrey Hepburn and Catherine, Princess of Wales. Beyoncé was fifth, ahead of Rihanna, Madonna, Grace Kelly, Jennifer Aniston and Jennifer Lopez.
The research for British heritage clothing brand Cotton Traders found Diana’s influence spans every age group. David Beckham was crowned the greatest male style icon, with one in five choosing the former England captain.
Elvis Presley followed, ahead of David Bowie, Sean Connery, Freddie Mercury and Brad Pitt. Marilyn Monroe’s white halter neck dress from The Seven-Year Itch was voted the most iconic dress in history, narrowly beating Diana’s famous “revenge dress”.
And the little black dress was named the most iconic fashion item ever by almost a third of Brits. Jeans were second, followed by the miniskirt, denim jacket, Doc Martens and simple white T-shirt.
Jools Dickson, Cotton Traders stylist, said: “Many women dream of being a princess for the day, and what Diana did so effortlessly was make that possible for every woman. She didn’t have a stylist or the luxury of the relaxed protocol that royals enjoy today, but she managed to steal the show wherever she went and her ongoing impact on fashion is as relevant now as it was then.
“From jaw-dropping ballgowns to slick suiting, and from sweats and joggers to country tweeds, she could make any look her own. Her simple styling trick was to add the unexpected. Her trademark frill collars were seen under dungarees or with jeans, while she would throw her favourite tailored blazer over a sweatshirt and cycling shorts.
“These sorts of styling tricks are commonplace now, but fashion in the 1980s was not as individual and free as it is today. She was a style pioneer long before Instagram and online shopping, and her distinct way of dressing was literally all her own work.
“The fact people still look to their favourite stars for inspiration shows just how powerful a genuine style icon can be. The best looks do not simply belong to one moment in time. They continue to influence what people wear for decades, which is why we are seeing women from Gen Alpha to the Baby Boomers loving these looks today.”
Jools has created a guide showing how to put together three of Diana’s iconic, down-to-earth looks for Cotton Traders.
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