Scarlet Black Rifat Ozbek Suit

Diana wore this chic scarlet and black Rifat Ozbek suit on an official visit to Caen, Normandy is September 1987, with a red and black boater hat over a black silk snood.  Rifat's most famous other outfit for Diana was the bright turquoise and golden embroidered moiré taffeta "traje de luces" (matador suit) and it wasn't a press favourite either

The sn/hat suit also wasn’t the best look for her and the snood/hat combination wasn’t seen again, but the suit was.  She wore it without headgear to visit Childline, one of her charities in 1990. She had lots of red/black suits, but this one wasn’t photographed very often. The lapels each sported a small gold medallion which was echoed at the waist in a single row of double-breasted set of buttons.

On the snood wearing occasion, the back view reveals that Diana carried a bi-coloured clutch with a red front and a black body/back which perfectly matched her Chanel style pumps. It's very put together ensemble, but the press weren't happy because Diana hid her hair, and let it be known that her hairdresser had been unable to travel along and the snood was to hide a bad hair day.  AS IF!

The overall ensemble combines several of my favourite elements:  those two-tone pumps, plus a great hat, with a well-cut jacket and a pencil skirt. Red and black is a great combo for Diana's skin, and hats are quite often her friend, although this bolero hat, being set at the requisite horizontal eyebrow level and angle, seem severe and hides her looks.   It also puts me in mind of what a Spanish Flamenco dancer would wear.   

Jewelry was simple: discreet touches of gold.  Twisted knot earrings, 2 gold bracelets tucked under one cuff;  I suspect her gold Cartier watch under the other cuff.  On anyone else, the whole taken together would this outfit would come off as the uniform of an Air Iberia flight attendant. 

I have now been able to find one replica, if you know of any more, feel free to let me know.

At left is an ensemble by Miricreations sold on eBay.

As an outfit for the FM vinyl doll, I'd like to see it include the snood/hat look.

1. Jacket/ Skirt 

2. Hat/snood

3. Red Chanel black toe capped pumps  

4. Red clutch, black clutch

5. Pale nylons, nude nylons

6. Gold dome button earrings

7. Gold chain and gold bangle bracelets 

8. Gold watch.