A call to arms….(and shoulders!) How athletic Princess Diana inspired new sleeveless fashion trend
Sleeveless fashion has its time, from the catwalk to the high street. And, as with so many modern trends, it has roots in royalty.
Princess Diana helped pioneer the sleeveless statement — most notably when she donned a black vest, sunkissed arms on display, while vacationing in Barbuda in 1997.
She was often spotted in halter dresses and tank tops, flaunting toned 1990s triceps in a look that exuded power and glamour.
Today, the look has reappeared thanks to the likes of Jodie Comer and Zendaya. Other celebrities opt for strapless sheath dresses and tight cardigans.
Princess Diana was photographed while on holiday in Barbuda in 1997 wearing a black cardigan with her sun-drenched arms
Hollywood stars appear to follow Diana’s sleeveless fashion choices, with Jodie Comer (left) opting for a bold cardigan dress and Zendaya (right) showing off bare arms in a backless gray design
Naomi Watts (left) and Ana de Armas (right) also channeled Diana with a black waistcoat look
Diana’s former personal trainer, Jenni Rivett, said the princess was “incredibly devoted” to their three training sessions a week at Chelsea’s The Harbor Club, which began in 1991.
“She knew she would feel great after every session,” she told Yahoo News’ series The Royal Box.
Athleisure looks became one of Diana’s trademarks, for example showing off muscular legs in lycra cycling shorts.
So did her off-the-shoulder and armless outfits, which she adorned for the most glamorous occasions.
Her selection of ’90s dresses ranged from floor-length pieces to flattering midi dresses that hugged her arms.
Diana’s was regularly spotted in the 1990s in off-the-shoulder and armless outfits, including this black Catherine Walker halter neck dress in 1994
The princess wore floor-length sleeveless dresses to the most glamorous events. Diana is pictured in New York in 1995 (left) and Sydney in 1996 (right)
Diana’s mid-length tank dresses became a staple of her wardrobe. She sparkled in a blue midi dress by Jacques Azagury for a Swan Lake performance in 1997
She once again turned to Catherine Walker for a gorgeous sequined tank number to attend a private viewing of her dresses that were auctioned at Christie’s in 1997.
Diana looked glamorous in a sophisticated sleeveless Versace dress for a 1995 concert in Italy
Many were designed by Catherine Walker, including a black halter dress, embellished with sequins and finished with Diana’s South Sea pearl earrings to accentuate her bare neck and shoulders.
She made a bold statement by choosing a midnight blue dress with a plunging neckline from the same designer for the 1995 CFDA Awards.
Accessorizing with her breathtaking sapphire choker, Diana swept her hair back to reveal her shoulders in another gorgeous sleeveless halter neck.
After her divorce from Charles in 1992, the sleeveless tank dress became a prominent item in Diana’s wardrobe.
She sparkled in a blue Jacques Azagury midi dress for a Swan Lake performance at the Royal Albert Hall on June 3, 1997.
Diana’s blue sleeveless shirt paired with beige trousers became a distinctive feature during her 1997 trip to Angola
Celebrities have continued Diana’s glamorous sleeveless trend, with Elle Fanning (left) opting for a pinstripe waistcoat and trousers and Kate Bosworth (right) opting for the outfit in cream
The princess even opted not to wear sleeves for her more relaxed outfits, which still made an impression.
For her famous trip to Angola in 1997, where she met victims of landmine explosions, Diana changed from a white shirt to a sleeveless blue shirt, for photos that became defining for the princess’s work.
Diana was a princess who often broke royal protocol with her fashion choices and many of her sartorial looks have been repeated over the years.
As the parade of Hollywood stars in vests shows, Diana’s arm-baring statements are the latest favourite.