Almost three decades since her passing, Princess Diana is still considered a legend. As each new generation emerges, the late royal’s innate sense of fashion and pioneering trends continue to be remembered, but none has been as iconic as her hair. Born Lady Diana Spencer in 1961, the princess was already widely recognized by the time she joined the royal family in 1981, but it wasn’t until the ’90s and her exit from the royal household that she truly became a fashion icon. Her style during that era was characterized by her famous bob —A haircut that contours the face and gives a more youthful appearance— that she never truly transformed. And as Sam McKnight, her hairstylist and the person who gave her the bob in 1990, explained, there was a particular reason she refused to let her hair grow back.
“She was quite intelligent, as she realized that even if she altered her farewell, the media would still be concentrating on that,” McNight said.Harper’s Bazaar Australia, explaining that the princess kept her hair the same so that media coverage would stay focused on the significant charitable efforts she was involved in. “We would go to Pakistan, or meet Mother Teresa, really all over the world, to refugee camps and other places that I found extremely distressing,” McKnight continued. “It takes a very, very, very special kind of person to do what she did — that truly opened my eyes.” He added that Diana “understood she was drawing incredible attention to these areas” and didn’t want to change the focus. “She wasn’t a vain fashion-oriented woman… but she knew it wasn’t about her hair,”couldn’tmake it about her hair.
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How the famous bob haircut of Princess Diana was created
In 1981, when she walked down the aisle at St. Paul’s Cathedral and became the Princess of Wales, Diana sported a basic rounded bob that she maintained throughout the 1980s. As the decade progressed, she tried out various trends of the era, shifting between box bobs, shullets (a blend of a mullet and a shag), and all styles in between. However, her look evolved significantly during a significant British Vogue photoshoot with Patrick Demarchelier in 1990.
“For that now legendary photo session, I styled her hair to look short in the image,” Sam McKnight remembered toVogue Australiain 2019. “Later she asked: ‘What would you do if I gave you complete control?’ and I answered: ‘I’d just take it all off.’ Her hair was amazing, but it was time for a new look, and I think she felt the same. So she said: ‘Okay, do you want to do it now?’ So I went ahead.”
Neither McKnight nor the princess could have foreseen the worldwide reaction to the big chop; McKnight later told Harper’s Bazaar Australia, “the entire world went completely crazy” when the pictures were released. “It was July, and I had gone to Paris for a photoshoot when I was flooded with calls about Diana’s hair,” he said to Vogue Australia. “By that point, I realized the change had made a significant impact.”
A short hairstyle complemented Princess Diana’s overall fashion sense.
It’s clear that after Princess Diana noticed how the international media reacted to her pixie cut, she aimed to prevent further controversy that might distract from her significant endeavors. However, the enduring popularity of the hairstyle isn’t solely due to her generous spirit; it also complemented her fashion sense, especially during the 1990s when she was recognized for her power suits and confident demeanor.
It’s no exaggeration that Princess Diana’s fashion underwent a significant transformation following her departure from the royal family.”She was transforming, she was altering her appearance, her fashion style was changing, and her perception of herself was evolving,” Sam McKnight shared withShow Studioin 2015, “So we gave her a very short haircut.” He mentioned that they drew inspiration from the supermodels of that era, such as Linda Evangelista and Cindy Crawford. “She was interested in what made them successful and how they handled the fame… famous for their appearance,” he added.
Another attractive aspect of the bixie for Diana was its simplicity. Despite her global fame, designer outfits, and financial security, McKnight stated that she favored a down-to-earth way of living. “It wasn’t about having a hairstyle that couldn’t withstand the wind or anything like that — for her, it was all about being practical,” he shared with Vogue Australia. “She didn’t wear much makeup and chose clothing that made her feel at ease.” She truly was ahead of her time — just take a look.Princess Diana’s clever trick for preventing fashion mishaps for further proof.
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