In 1996, Diana, Princess of Walesdazzled the world by first and only attending the Galathe most prominent event of world fashion. His appearance, with a bold and modified dress in secret, became one of the most remembered moments in the history of the event.
The princess reached New York A few hours before the event, traveling in accordance, and monopolized the attention of the media after his recent divorce of the then British heir, Prince Carlosformalized less than four months before.
when climbing the iconic staircases of the Metropolitan Art Museum (MET) with her friend and hostess of the night, Liz worshipeditor of Harper’s BazaarDiana made it clear that she was ready to claim her space in the center of attention.
The choice of his clothing was a statement in itself. Diana wore a night -style -style dress in navy blue with black lace trim, originally designed by John Gallianowho at that time had just assumed the creative direction of Diorafter passing through Givenchy.
That year, the gala celebrated precisely the work of the founder of Dior, Christian Diorand Galliano had been in charge of dressing the most famous guest of the night.
Galliano, in the 2024 Hulu documentary In Vogue: The 90she said that she proposed to Diana a pink dress, but she rejected the idea firmly. After receiving the finished dress, Diana modified him substantially without informing the designer.
“I remember seeing her get out of the car and I couldn’t believe it. He had started the corset,” Galliano said. The princess chose to eliminate the corset to get a much more sensual and released look.
The transformation of the dress was not just aesthetics. According to the real biographer Katie NichollDiana feared that such a daring outfit could embarrass her eldest son, Prince Williamwho was 14 years old at that time. However, the press and attendees praised their appearance.
The journalist Barbara Walters expressed in the program Hard Copy that Diana managed to make any outfit “more glamorous and more beautiful, because she was.”
An opinion article in The New York Times Of that week he pointed out that the princess had demonstrated “the restorative powers of the celebrity”, suggesting that she had found a new public identity after her separation from the real protocol.
When choosing a more revealing dress of what was expected in the real circles, Diana made it clear that she was no longer subject to the clothing codes of the monarchy, which would probably have demanded a much more demure gala dress. Galliano commented that she “felt so freed” and described the final result as “much more sensual” than its original design.
Every detail of his outfit transmitted a message. Diana used her sapphire commitment, deliberately placed on the ring finger of her left hand. Although the ring had been a symbol of his marriage to Carlos, in this new context he represented family independence and continuity.
The ring, which had belonged to his mother, was subsequently inherited by Prince William, who used him to propose marriage to Kate Middleton in 2010.
Diana also wore a striking necklace of sapphire and pearls, a piece that had taken on other emblematic occasions, including her famous “dress of revenge” – the black satin dress with a deep neckline he used after knowing the infidelity of Carlos – and the so -called “travolta dress”, which he dressed when he danced with John Travolta A decade before.
The bag chosen for the occasion had its own story. It was a mini version of one that had given him the then first lady of France, Bernadette Chiracthe previous year.
Designed by Gianfranco Ferréthe ball known informally as Pet – “Favorite” in French – became a recurring accessory in the princess’s public appearances. Such was its impact that in 1996 Dior renamed the bag like Lady Diorin honor of Diana.
Diana’s debut in the Met Gala was much more than a fashion moment. His choice of costumes and accessories was a public statement of personal autonomy and transformation. On a night dedicated to haute couture and self -expression, the princess not only fulfilled expectations, but redefined them.
Today, while fashion and entertainment celebrities prepare to parade through the same MET stairs in the 2025 edition of the event, Diana’s memory remains an insurmountable reference. Few arrivals have generated both enthusiasm and meaning and that of that night of 1996.
