Marie Claire UK Marie Claire UK
  • Fashion Fashion
      • Fashion
        • View all Fashion
        • Fashion Trends
        • Shopping
        • Watches and Jewellery
        • Fashion News
  • Beauty Beauty
      • Beauty
        • View all Beauty
        • Fragrance
        • Hair
        • Make Up
        • Skincare
        • Nails
        • Marie Claire Beauty Awards
  • Health Health
      • Health
        • View all Health
        • Fitness
        • Nutrition
        • Female Health
        • Wellbeing
  • Life Life
      • Life
        • View all Life
        • Opinions
        • Travel
        • Sustainability
        • Weddings
        • Money & Work
        • Competitions
  • Culture Culture
      • Culture
        • View all Culture
        • TV and Film
        • Celebrity News
        • Books
        • Royal News
  • Vouchers Vouchers
      • Clothing
        • View all Vouchers
        • Mint Velvet
        • Karen Millen
        • H&M
        • nobody's child
        • ASOS
        • ARKET
        • MANGO
      • Designer Clothing
        • View all Vouchers
        • Reiss
        • THE OUTNET
        • SSENSE
        • Mytheresa
        • Liberty London
        • Selfridges
        • Farfetch
      • Accessories
        • View all Vouchers
        • AllSaints
        • Aspinal of London
        • Charles & Keith
        • River Island
        • FitFlop
        • Kate Spade
        • Vagabond
      • Jewellery
        • View all Vouchers
        • Pandora
        • Abbott Lyon
        • Goldsmiths
        • Beaverbrooks
        • Astrid & Miyu
        • Swarovski
        • Angara Jewellery
      • Beauty
        • View all Vouchers
        • Sephora
        • Cult Beauty
        • Space NK
        • Dyson
        • Clarins
        • Look Fantastic
        • Clinique
      • Activewear
        • View all Vouchers
        • Lululemon
        • Gymshark
        • Sweaty Betty
        • Nike
        • adidas
        • New Balance
        • Helly Hansen
  • NEWSLETTER Signup to our newsletter
  • logoCreated with Sketch.
    Marie Claire Newsletter

    Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!


    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

    You are now subscribed

    Your newsletter sign-up was successful


    An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
    Trending
    • Women in Sport 2026
    • Marie Claire Masters
    • Spring Summer 2026
    • Nail Trends 2026
    • Best Investment Bags
    • Best Perfumes
    • Digital Issues
    • Women Who Win
    1. Style
    2. Shopping

    This new trend is proof we still look to Diana for fashion inspiration

    It's everywhere for party season

    Penny Goldstone's avatar
    By Penny Goldstone
    Published 8 November 2017 In Features

    When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

    diana dynasty trend
    (Image credit: Rex)
    • Facebook
    • X
    • Pinterest
    Share this article
    Join the conversation
    Follow us
    Add us as a preferred source on Google
    Subscribe to our newsletter

    It's everywhere for party season

    You really don't have to be a genius to know Princess Diana was a style icon way before the term 'influencer' was a thing. Remember those trainers she wore that Kate Middleton later brought back in fashion?

    From power suits to Sloane ranger-esque checked jackets, I literally can't count how many fashion trends she championed which are coming back in force this season.

    Case in point: Dynasty-style dresses that are everywhere for party season (and handily just in time for the reboot of the show on Netflix. You know the ones. Shoulder pads, a bit of ruching, perhaps some velvet, a healthy dose of sequins and pretty much anything that shimmers.

    diana dynasty trend

    At the Octopussy premiere in 1983, wearing Bruce Oldfield. Imag: Rex

    Now obviously, this isn't a trend for the fainthearted, and more importantly, you don't want to look like you're an extra from Pretty in Pink. However, it is possible to nail the trend, the classy way, and obviously Diana knew how. Which is why she was dubbed Dynasty Di at the time.

    You may like
    • 30 AW26 BUYS 30 of the Most Sought-After New Season Buys to Kick-Start Your Autumn/Winter 2026 Wardrobe
    • Skirt Suits Skirt Suits Are Back, According to the A-Listers in New York Right Now—Here’s How to Wear One for Summer and Beyond
    • Susan Bender I'm a Stylist Who Knows a Lot About Vintage Shopping—Here's Where to Shop, Based On Your Personal Style

    diana dynasty trend

    At the Shirley film premiere in 1989. Image: Rex

    Fun fact for you: She got the nickname from the British press after she wore a white one-sleeved beaded Hachi dress to the James Bond Octopussy premiere in 1983. But it was really in the late 1980s that she went all out with the look, with a little help from designer Bruce Oldfield.

    diana dynasty trend

    Wearing Bruce Ordfield to his show in 1989. Image: Rex

    The key, as you might have guessed by these pictures, is to avoid contrasting accessories. Note how Diana always had shoes and bags in the same colour-way, and avoided any embellishments? They also matched the dress most of the time. You also want to wear minimal jewellery. Because of course, you want to let the dress do all the talking.

    Marie Claire Newsletter

    Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!

    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

    diana dynasty trend

    At the When Harry Met Sally in 1989. Image: Rex

    Ready to tackle on the trend now? Perfect, because I've got just the dresses for you.

    Shop now: PREEN BY THORNTON BREGAZZI Clarissa asymmetric sequined mesh midi dress for £930 from Net-a-Porter

    diana dynasty

    Shop now: JOHANNA ORTIZ Carmelilla silk taffeta-embellished sequined velvet midi dress for £1,605 from Net-A-Porter

    What to read next
    • Corsages Listing Carrie Bradshaw's Favourite Accessory Is Suddenly Everywhere—And It Just Appeared at Haute Couture Week
    • Realisation Par The Internet's Most-Wanted Dress Is Back in Stock—It's So Good, You Can Wear It (Almost) Anywhere
    • Copenhagen Fashion Week street style Kitten-Heel Sandals, Lace Dresses and the Season's New Favourite Shade of Blue— These are the Copenhagen Fashion Week Street Style Trends to Note

    diana dynasty

    Shop now: Metallic Cut Out Bodycon Dress for £35 from Miss Selfridge

    diana dynasty

    Shop now: Mela London - Silver shimmer 'Alissia' v-neck maxi dress for £35 from Debenhams

    diana dynasty

    Shop now: Phase Eight Anthea Pleat Dress for £120 from House of Fraser

    diana dynasty

    Shop now: Phase Eight Nigella full length dress for £130 from John Lewis

    diana dynasty

    Well it is party season after all.

    What better time to embrace the trend?

    Penny Goldstone
    Penny Goldstone
    Social Links Navigation
    Contributing Fashion Editor

    Penny Goldstone is the Contributing Fashion Editor at Marie Claire UK. She writes about catwalk trends and the latest high street and Instagram sartorial must-haves. She also helms the Women Who Win franchise.

    She has worked in fashion for over 10 years, contributing to publications such as Cosmopolitan, Red, Good Housekeeping, and Stylist.

    Read more
    30 AW26 BUYS
    Fashion 30 of the Most Sought-After New Season Buys to Kick-Start Your Autumn/Winter 2026 Wardrobe
    Skirt Suits
    Shopping Skirt Suits Are Back, According to the A-Listers in New York Right Now—Here’s How to Wear One for Summer and Beyond
     
     
    Susan Bender
    Fashion I'm a Stylist Who Knows a Lot About Vintage Shopping—Here's Where to Shop, Based On Your Personal Style
    Corsages Listing
    Shopping Carrie Bradshaw's Favourite Accessory Is Suddenly Everywhere—And It Just Appeared at Haute Couture Week
     
     
    Latest in Shopping
    Jodie Comer
    Shopping Jodie Comer Just Announced the Start of Knee-High Boots Season
    Kaia Gerber
    Shopping Kaia Gerber Just Wore the ’90s Dress Style That’s as Flattering as It Is Low-Effort
     
     
    Knee-Length Skirts
    Shopping Very Few Shoes Actually Look Good With Knee-Length Skirts—This One Style Always Works
    Kinda Chic Trend
    Shopping Is "Kinda Chic" Kinda Cringe? Everyone's Favourite Fashion Word Just Went Completely Out of Fashion
     
     
    Latest in Features
    Autumn Nail Trends 2026
    Nails From Fawn Print to Milky Matcha—These Are Autumn 2026’s Defining Nail Trends
    Fenty Beauty Pro Filtr Fluid Flex Foundation Review
    Make Up Fenty Beauty Just Replaced Its Most Iconic Foundation—3 Editors Put Its “Flexible” Full Coverage to the Test
     
     
    Ata-Owaji Victor reviews Clinique Black Honey Collection
    Make Up Clinique Just Turned Viral Black Honey Lipstick Into a Full Collection—I've Tried Them All, and I Have Thoughts
    Charlotte Mensah Afro Hair
    Hair Charlotte Mensah Has Spent 40 Years Changing the Conversation Around Afro Hair—Now, Her Legacy Is Going on Display
     
     
    logoCreated with Sketch.
    • Site Archive
    • Contact Future's experts
    • Contact us
    • Terms and conditions
    • Advertise with us
    • Privacy policy
    • Cookies policy
    • About us
    Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google

    Marie Claire UK is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

    © Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.