Princess Diana’s Love Affair With Chanel In 8 Looks

In February 2021, fans were treated to a teaser poster of Kristen Stewart as Princess Diana in the upcoming biopic, Spencer. Stewart was seen nailing Diana’s famous head tilt in a red tweed coat, pulled from the actual Chanel archives for the film (Chanel's autumn/winter 1988/89 ready-to-wear collection, to be exact).

While the look recreated in the film wasn’t Chanel, Diana did own a very similar red coat from the French fashion house. It was part of her outfit the very first time she wore Chanel on a visit to Paris in 1988. She returned to the label again and again over the years for public appearances.

Diana was known to carry a Lady Dior mini tote, but Chanel’s signature quilted handbags were also a favourite. So much so that the brand’s 90s black crossbody bag has become known as the Diana. It can no longer be bought new but goes for thousands on second-hand retail sites.

Fashion designer Jayson Brundson, who worked with Diana, told Harpers Bazaar Aus that she stopped wearing the Chanel logo after her divorce because its interlocking “C”s reminded her of Charles and Camilla. The truth of this is contested, however, as Diana still incorporated the brand’s suits into her post-divorce wardrobe and was spotted with a Chanel logo-d handbag shortly before her death.