AND‘arrived in Italian cinemas Spencerthe film by Pablo Larraín dedicated to Princess Diana, played by Kristen Stewart (and nominated for the role at the next Oscars 2022). The biopic, set in Sandringham in the three days between Christmas 1991, he investigates Lady D.’s moment of inner torment in the year in which she contemplates regaining her pre-marital freedom. Spoiler on the plot aside (it was released in November in the US and in the UK), what is most striking about the film are the costumes of the two-time Oscar winner Jacqueline Durran (for Little Women in 2020 and for Anna Karenina in 2012), which decided to narrow the field to the period 1988-1992 to investigate the outfits of the real Diana e recreate almost from scratch the role of the actress.
If indeed on the one hand Chanel opened the archives to dress his muse in Spencer – Stewart is an ambassador, and Diana also often sported the House’s outfits – most of her must-have pieces were redesigned based on the cult ones that the then wife of the heir to the throne of England loved to wear every day.
Even today, a ‘inexhaustible source of styling ideas.
1. The varsity jacket
In a key moment of the film, seamstress Maggie confides on the beach with Lady D. Here Kristen Stewart shows her more casual side in Spencer wearing one of Diana’s favorite outfits: a varsity bomber jacket in college style. A garment often chosen by the princess to pick up her children from school in the 80s and 90s: Jacqueline Durran has found a jacket that looks very similar to the one worn by the Princess of Wales. A trendy piece that is easy to copy by sifting through vintage stores as well as in the Spring Summer 2022 collections.
Kristen Stewart with the varsity bomber in the film Spencer (Photo: 01 Distribution).
2. The tartan blazer
The plaid motif, a cult that Diana wore very often. Especially in the form of refined double-breasted blazer. On the other hand, the tartan is a must-have of the Christmas period of the Royal House, in which Spencer is set. Among Diana’s favorite outfits, a red and green checked garment created by the designer Catherine Walker. The classic check blazer, in different shapes and signed by different designers, was worn by the princess on several occasions: in 1988 during an official visit to France with Prince Charles and then in 1989 in Portsmouth, England, in the form of a coat.
Diana in a tartan blazer on November 9, 1988 in Chambord, France. (Photo: Georges De Keerle / Getty Images).
3. The white high-necked blouse
On one of the official occasions portrayed in SpencerKristen Stewart / Diana wears an outfit consisting of a pencil skirt and one white blouse with high collar. A much loved piece by the princess, who she loved wearing it under her jacket, spotted in her wardrobe both before and after her marriage to Carlo. Two different styling ideas with the same garment to be inspired even today, in the office look.
Kristen Stewart in Spencer with the turtleneck blouse (Photo: IPA).
4. The short blue jacket
During a confrontation with the Queen on the palace stairs, in a high-impact scene of Spencer, Kristen Stewart / Diana she wears a short blue Chanel jacket that looks similar to one designed by the same Maison, sported by Lady D. in 1992 at the Great Ormond Street Hospital For Children in London. The piece in similar versions, but always characterized by the electric color and the original cut, recurs in her wardrobe over and over again.
Diana in a Chanel blue jacket at Great Ormond Street Hospital For Children in 1992 (Photo: Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images).
5. The houndstooth skirt
For Princess Eugenie’s baptism, on 23 December 1990 in Sandringham, Lady Diana shows off one of the outfits that go down in history: the houndstooth suit by Moschino. The skirt is picked up in Spencer by Pablo Larraín, worn by Kristen Stewart as she sits on the bedroom floor in the sumptuous Sandringham estate with her two children as they discuss opening Christmas presents. The motif was very popular in Diana’s wardrobe and is still in trend today.
Kristen Stewart in Spencer with the houndstooth skirt (Photo: 01 Distribution).
6. The red coat
It is a piece that comes from the Maison Chanel archive, to be precise from the collection ready-to-wear autumn-winter 1988. In Spencer Kristen Stewart / Diana wears it in her Christmas day outfit. Lady D. was often spotted wearing a red coat: on December 25, 1993, for example, a year after the separation. But also “out of season”, in February 1992: why limit yourself to wearing it only during the holidays? Lady D’s inspiration is all to be copied.
Diana in 1992 in a red coat (Photo: Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images).
7. The pearl necklace
In one of the most memorable scenes of Spencer, Diana (Kristen Stewart) is shown eating (or is she imagining eating ?!) the massive pearl necklace that Prince Charles gave her for Christmas – actually it was candy. Although the pearl necklace remains a Lady D. must have, it is also worn in other Spencer’s scenes.
For the jewels in the outfits, the costume designer turned to Mouawadwho recreated some jewelry pieces along the lines of those of the princess, such as the pearl necklace around her neck in Argentina in November 1995.
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