Princess Diana loved this flashy swimsuit - and you can still buy it

(Image credit: Getty)
Penny Goldstone
By Penny Goldstone
published

There's no denying Princess Diana was a global fashion icon, one we still look to today for style inspiration, no matter the situation, including the beach.

Much has been written about Lady Di's chic ballgowns and cocktail dresses, but her beachwear also deserves attention. When she holidayed in the South of France in the late 90s (which will be the focus of the new and final series of The Crown), she especially honed her pool-side look, favouring statement swimsuits in bold animal prints and neon colours, accessorised with matching pareos.

There was one brand in particular that she favoured: Gottex. She build a personal relationship with the label, which is based in Israel but stocked worldwide. In the UK, it's stocked in stores such as Harrods, which is likely where Diana picked hers up, as she was a fan of the store.

(Image credit: Getty)
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GOTTEX Floral Chain Print Swimsuit, £119 at Harrods
As seen here, this swimsuit is adorned in two much-loved prints: the feminine floral and the high-drama chain. Featured on an otherwise simple and elegant square-neck silhouette, this piece is packed with personality and promises to be a swimwear staple for years to come.

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GOTTEX SEASCAPE TANK SWIMSUIT, £88 at SIMPLY BEACH
This stunning Gottex Seascape Tank Swimsuit comes in a breath-taking ocean sunrise print with underwired cups for a supportive fit. It is similar to the neon piece Lady Di wore in the picture above.

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GOTTEX KENYA SURPLICE SWIMSUIT, £123 at SIMPLY BEACH
Add a touch of feline elegance to your holiday swimwear wearing Gottex's Kenya Surplice Swimsuit in a Multi Brown Animal Print, a nod to the style worn by Princess Diana on holiday (main picture).

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It specialised in high-end swimwear and resortwear but has since branched out in sportswear, and the Princess of Wales wasn't its only famous - or indeed royal - customer. Over the last 60 years, it has been worn by the likes of Elizabeth Taylor, Princess Caroline of Monaco, Brooke Shields and Queen Elizabeth II.

Of course, you won't be able to shop the exact styles Diana wore on her holiday, however Gottex has got some very similar 90s-inspired styles for sale at the moment, so you can still recreate the royal's look, should you be lucky enough to be jetting off to the Riviera sometime soon.

A piece to invest in now and wear forever.

Penny Goldstone
Penny Goldstone

Penny Goldstone is the Digital Fashion Editor at Marie Claire, covering everything from catwalk trends to royal fashion and the latest high street and Instagram must-haves.

Penny grew up in France and studied languages and law at the Sorbonne Nouvelle University in Paris before moving to the UK for her MA in multimedia journalism at Bournemouth University. She moved to the UK permanently and has never looked back (though she does go back regularly to stock up on cheese and wine).

Although she's always loved fashion - she used to create scrapbooks of her favourite trends and looks, including Sienna Miller and Kate Moss' boho phase - her first job was at MoneySavingExpert.com, sourcing the best deals for everything from restaurants to designer sales.

However she quit after two years to follow her true passion, fashion journalism, and after many years of internships and freelance stints at magazines including Red, Cosmopolitan, Stylist and Good Housekeeping, landed her dream job as the Digital Fashion Editor at Marie Claire UK.

Her favourite part of the job is discovering new brands and meeting designers, and travelling the world to attend events and fashion shows. Seeing her first Chanel runway IRL at Paris Fashion Week was a true pinch-me moment.

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