Hofdame Note: Thank you to Luckey Girl and Mitten Mary for reminding all of us about this suit!
I debated whether to feature this eye-popping outfit in a Defense of the Dress or a Rewear. Eventually, I decided that the re-wear category was the way to go because only Diana, Princess of Wales, could take a statement ensemble and wear it on such different occasions – all with her usual soigne charm.
The Moschino suit featured a red houndstooth jacket with a white and black stripe scarf threaded through the neckline and open front. Although it was sold with a matching skirt, Diana was apparently bored with that predictable approach and instead paired it with a contrasting black and white houndstooth skirt.
She wore this unforgettable ensemble at least three times. It could have been more, but I just got tired of counting. It debuted at Princess Eugenie’s 1990 Sandringham christening where Diana wore a high-neck (or turtleneck) black sweater underneath. She accessorized (boy did she accessorize!) with a wide-brimmed netted hat, black gloves, black clutch, and two-tone shoes.
She also famously wore the suit during the Wales 1991 tour of Canada, when the well-known photo of her greeting the boys on the royal yacht Britannia was snapped. Earlier in the day, she wore the hat, but this time paired the ensemble with a light shell blouse, black nylons, and black shoes. Oh, and big, bold belt that Queen Maxima is eating her heart out over.
She wore the Moschino suit sans hat for a 1992 hospital visit. She did, however, don a very large pair of vintage 1992 earrings. She changed up the striped scarf and replaced it with a solid black number, and wore a round-neck black shell under the jacket for a more streamlined effect.
If your eyes need a break, as they very well might, feast them on this lovely black and white photo that was snapped during the Canadian tour.