Red and White Circle Dots    Rising Sun Dress

Diana considered the message in her clothes very early in her career as a visiting princess.  On a trip to Japan, she paid her hosts the compliment of wearing a red and white polka dot dress and hat by designer Tatters that echoed the country’s rising sun flag as well as her love for polka dots.

During the 1986 visit, she was presented with a lovely peach kimono, which she immediately put on.  Normally, either of these outfits would be a difficult option to reproduce, given the print, however Sylvia Braden of A Golden Thread made silk fabric sheets on an ink jet printer of both the polka fabric and a kimono kit which was sold separately.

Diana also wore the dress for a Buckingham Palace garden party with another gorgeous red hat and while attending Trooping the Colour in 1986 for her carriage ride with the Queen Mother and the family balcony appearance. She then began ditching the hat and wearing the dress alone, which was actually a better look for her, showing her hair at its best.

As an outfit for the FM vinyl doll, I'd like to see it include:

1. Dress

2. Hat

3. Kimono

4. Red/white spectator shoes

5. Red envelope shoulder bag

6. Pearls

7. Pearl earrings

Below, replicas from left are by:  mini-mary, Alana Bennett, Jane Mahlig Hornung. Kimono replicas are by Alana Bennett, Tamara (Germany), Jane Mahlig Hornung (last two using Sylvia’s kit--at left made by Axelle Marion.)