Virgil Abloh took the "people's princess" to the street for his Spring 2018 runway show, just four weeks after the 20th anniversary of Princess Diana's death. The collection was the most formal riff on streetwear Abloh has shown yet, and rightly so–given that it was inspired by an iconic royal wardrobe. Off-White's designer and his team sorted through countless images of the princess, looking to reinvent her wardrobe for today's fashion climate, and we spotted just the looks they sought inspiration from. Here, all the Off-White odes and updates to Princess Di's best looks—and what Virgil Abloh would fill her closet with if she were with us and on the style circuit today.
1. Her Tartan Day Suits
Princess Diana often wore suiting to royal duties and daytime family affairs, but Off-White gave her '80s suits an update with a more fitted silhouette, a cascading asymmetrical pleat, a wider windowpane plaid and gutsier extras.
2. Her Graphic Prints
Abloh adapted Diana's geometric and bold prints; from ladylike separates paired with conservatively-shaped skirts, to easy-to-wear elegant pieces, to jeans, minis, knee-length shorts (another one of his Diana-isms) and thigh-high boots.
3. Her Prim Cocktail Suits
Diana often wore pastel sets paired with pillboxes for cocktail attire, but Abloh imagined the modern day Diana sporting shorter hemlines—and tennis shoes for evening. For added je ne sais quoi, Off-White's pink suit (and his pastel blue version, below) strutted the runway with a pair of heels in hand instead of a purse.
4. Her Polished Whites
Diana wore white for black die, daytime and casual weekend activities, but for Off-White's finale, Virgil Abloh decked Naomi Campbell in an amazing ivory evening coat, paired with cycling shorts and a sexy lace-up, perspex-covered heel. This was Princess Di 2.0 at its finest, pairing her activewear with inspiration from her most stately of looks and daring accessories.
5. Her Bold-Toned Day Dresses
Diana wasn't afraid of color—and it doesn't seem the Off-White girl is afraid of much at all. For Spring 2018, a modern day Di wears these brightly-toned frocks with a strings of pearls and futuristic over-the-knee boots.
5. Her Ladylike Looks
Hemlines went higher, and in some cases, lower. Footwear went both super-sexy and easygoing athletic. For Virgil Abloh, a modern day Diana takes notes from her style heyday, and isn't afraid to mix her easy weekend attire with her black tie wardrobe.
