Princess Diana was never afraid to push royal rules—especially when it came to fashion. She used her style to show she was no longer just a royal figure, but a strong, independent woman.
Now, her iconic fashion sense is being remembered in a special auction called “Princess Diana’s Style & A Royal Collection,” happening on June 26 in Los Angeles. The auction will include original sketches and fabric samples from some of Diana’s most memorable dresses, created by designer Jacques Azagury.
“It feels amazing to help keep her memory alive,” Azagury told Fox News Digital during a private preview in London. “Anything I can do to carry on her legacy, I will do it. It’s my way of keeping her spirit alive.”
Azagury met Diana in 1985 during one of his fashion shows. They were introduced by Anna Harvey from British Vogue. He remembers feeling nervous at first, but Diana quickly made him feel relaxed. “She had this natural gift to make anyone feel comfortable,” he said.
As they worked together, Azagury helped Diana leave behind the stiff, traditional clothes she wore early in royal life. He introduced her to a more modern, elegant style. “She became more confident and glamorous in her final years,” he explained. “We moved away from frilly, outdated outfits and focused on clean, fitted looks that suited her growing role on the world stage.”
Royal family members are expected to follow strict dress codes. But after her marriage to Prince Charles began falling apart, Diana used fashion as a way to express herself. One powerful example was the now-famous “Revenge Dress”—a bold black dress she wore in 1994, on the same night Charles admitted to cheating on her in a TV interview. Diana had owned the dress for years but thought it was too daring—until that night.
Charles and Diana separated in 1992 and officially divorced in 1996. During that time, Azagury designed a set of dresses known as “The Famous Five,” showing a side of Diana the public had never seen before.
“That’s when we saw the real Diana,” Azagury said. “She was free. She had started a new chapter. She was fit, healthy, and glowing. The dresses spoke for her. She wasn’t just following royal rules anymore—she was dressing for herself.”
Still, Diana sometimes surprised even her designer. “She only shocked me once,” Azagury laughed. “She wanted one dress to be super short, but we had to say no. Especially with the ‘Swan Lake’ dress—it was already low-cut and short. We told her, ‘You’re still a princess. Let’s not go too far.’”
Diana’s favorite color to wear was black, which was unusual for a royal since black is normally reserved for funerals. But after her separation, she wore what she liked—including stylish, figure-hugging black dresses that showed off her slim arms. One was a bright red silk outfit with a short skirt; another, called the “Washington” dress, had a dramatic open back.
“Once she was free from royal restrictions, she embraced it,” Azagury said. “After the famous Martin Bashir interview, we made her a black, sexy dress. That dress told the world, ‘This is the new me. I’m confident and in control.’ That’s how she treated her wardrobe—it was her voice.”
Because Diana was always in the spotlight, everything she wore had to be flawless. “She could step outside and be surrounded by hundreds of photographers,” Azagury said. “That’s why we had to make sure every dress detail was perfect—no loose threads, no mistakes. It took a lot of effort, even for the simplest designs.”
One of the last dresses Azagury created for Diana was a long black gown with thin straps and a high slit—what many call the “Final Goodbye” dress. She was fitted for it just before her trip to Paris. “I think it was meant for a Disney premiere,” Azagury said. “We wanted it to be extra glamorous—real red carpet. All we had left to do was adjust the straps. Sadly, she never got to wear it.”
Even though Diana is gone, Azagury says her impact on fashion is still strong. “She still influences what people wear today, including the royal family,” he said. “Every time Kate Middleton wears something even slightly like Diana’s style, it makes headlines.”
“Diana’s clothes may have been from the ‘90s, but they were timeless. You could wear them today and still look fashionable. That says a lot about her style—it was simple, elegant, and had real meaning.”
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