Cream Tailored Suit

A very fashion forward look in 1985, this trim suit by Bruce Oldfield made the rounds for a few years, and was a glimpse into Diana's fashion future. She wore it in London at a World Travel Fair event, then during the visit to Washington DC on a shopping trip / "Best of Britain" mini-tour.

The ensemble is a cream beige pencil skirt and tight-tailored blouse style jacket. The jacket has a self-fabric jabot falling to the waist from a notched neck collar. The skirt cuts below the knee, but doesn't look frumpy or dowdy simply because the design is so well-cut and tailored that it follows Diana's frame beautifully. The back slit skirt also recalls the frill of the jacket with a similar shape installed at knee height.

Diana wore it with black pumps that really did nothing for it. She carried a small maroon envelope clutch and accessorised with pearl button earrings, a gold bracelet, and her rings. Diana added a maroon blouse underneath to provide a flash of colour at the cuffs, and a pocket square in a breast pocket to pick up the maroon of the hat.

The hat was a basic oval cap shape with an asymmetrical wing embellishment and short birdcage veil, then lined in the same maroon accents of the accessories, blouse, clutch and pocket square. The outfit oddly looks better without the hat, but the hat evokes a particular time in Diana's life, so it's necessary component.