Catherine Walker Collection
Catherine Walker was one of Princess Diana’s favorite designers. The Princess Diana Museum is proud to display an extensive collection of outfits designed by Catherine Walker. Each one reflecting a different side to Diana’s fashion evolution.
This Catherine Walker couture beaded blue-grey Taroni silk cocktail dress is one of only two dresses made and identical to the one worn by Princess Diana to a London gala preview for the auction of her dresses, 2nd June, 1997. It's beaded and embroidered in high relief with roses and scattered petals in silver threads, the motifs at the bodice edge further encrusted with diamanté. Often designers made two identical dresses in case something happened to the original. Diana was fitted in both.
The designer — the late Catherine Walker — described her approach: "I always try to give my embroidery a three-dimensional quality not only by tilting the image in perspective, but also with the texture itself. Here, the bugle beads and diamanté are so dense that they rise from the surface of the fabric like florets made of sugar."
Image Source: © Getty
Princess Diana's Chelsea Design Company navy wool blazer from the late 1980s, early 1990s. It is double-breasted with sharp lapels and gilt metal buttons each bearing the Royal Arms of England (three cast lions passant guardant). It also has diagonally slanted pockets and is lined in blue acetate.
Mr. Said Ismail of Catherine Walker remembers making a number of these blazers for the Princess over the years.
Image(s) Source: © Globe
Princess Diana's Catherine Walker printed peach silk polka dot coat dress, 1988. Bearing "Catherine Walker for Chelsea Design Co." label, double-breasted, of loose cut but with slimmer fitting skirt, padded shoulders, lined in white silk.
Princess Diana wore this dress on four public occasions:
June 13, 1988 - to attend the Order of the Garter ceremony with Prince Charles; accessorized with a peach sailor bonnet with rear bow and upturned brim and single strand pearl choker.
July 12, 1988 - to welcome President Evren of Turkey on a State Visit, with Prince Charles; accessorized with a peach sailor bonnet and double strand pearl choker.
July 12, 1989 - on a visit to The Freeman Hospital, and Percy Hedley School in Newcastle Upon Tyne; accessorized with a white clutch bag and court shoes.
May 15, 1991 - for an International Spinal Research Charity event at the Langham Hilton Hotel, London; accessorized with peach leather shoes.
Image Source: © Getty
Image Source: © Alamy
Royal Blue Jacket
The jacket was greatly admired by Diana, and she requested it to be made in a range of different colors, most notably royal blue and "Red Cross" red. A staff member recalls Diana purchasing this jacket from Catherine Walker's studio in late 1992, shortly after the publication of Andrew Morton's biography, with the intention of diversifying her wardrobe. She aimed to move away from solely elaborate gowns to more relatable pieces, aspiring to be seen as a professional and working woman.
Princess Diana wore this blue Chelsea jacket on four occasions, most famously when she dropped Prince William off at Eaton College for his first day of school.
Navy Wool Day Dress
Princess Diana's Catherine Walker navy wool day dress, circa 1989 bearing "Catherine Walker for Chelsea Design Co." label, was worn for private, non-official engagements and reflects Diana’s stylish working wardrobe.
Image Source: © Shutterstock
Navy Pin Striped Blazer
This Catherine Walker navy pin striped blazer was one of Diana’s favorite jackets for her charity work. She wore it on at least thirteen occasions.
Image Source: © Alamy
Green Velvet Dress
Princess Diana wore this green velvet dress designed by Catherine Walker to the National Portrait Gallery in March 1995, looking lovely as ever.
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Catherine Walker Falcon Evening Gown
A custom cream silk crepe embroidered evening gown designed by Catherine Walker for Diana, the Princess of Wales, for her 1986 Gulf Tour, including countries Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Diana was never seen in public wearing this dress.
Richard Dalton, Diana's hairdresser, recalls this particular design by Catherine Walker in his memoir It's All About The Hair, My Decade with Diana, writing, "One Night, Diana was invited to join the Sheikhas at the harem. [...] Diana was wearing this cream gown designed by Catherine Walker. It had all these gold birds embroidered flying up the back of her dress and train to honor the native bird of Saudi Arabia."
He is the only one to have seen her in this incredible dress.
Image Source: © Getty
Swatch Collection
An incredible collection of 8 swatches showcases Peggy Umpelby’s hand embroidery work on dresses designed by Catherine Walker, such as the iconic “Elvis Dress” and a paisley beaded ivory satin dress famously worn by Diana on four occasions.
It took 100 hours to embroider each swatch, using faux pearls edged with gold stitch-work and miniature bugle beads, complemented by a scattering of diamante.
Black Cocktail Dress
Diana was photographed wearing this Walker design on at least three occasions:
Sitting for photographer Gemma Levine, on September 27, 1994, at the photographer's Wimpole Street studio. The Palace chose the photograph as the official photograph for 1995.
For the grand opening of London Fashion Week in 1994
While on an official visit to Hong Kong in 1995.
Image Source: © Gemma Levine - Getty
Visit The Princess Diana Museum to see this collection in 3D.
Two-Piece Cobalt Blue Dress & Jacket Ensemble
Walker's design features a fitted, knee-length, long-sleeve dress and a matching single-breasted suit jacket with a peplum.
The dress has square padded shoulders with a high neckline, fitted sleeves, and an empire waistline with gathering, allowing the bust to be loose and blouson; the skirt is fitted with a knee-length hemline. The matching jacket features structured shoulders, fitted sleeves, and a defined waist, thanks to the peplum flounce.
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