Princess Diana’s unforgettable 1996 Met Gala appearance is back in the spotlight amid claims that she helped inspire Anna Wintour to transform the event forever.
The late Princess of Wales attended the famous fashion fundraiser during one of the most scrutinized periods of her life, instantly turning heads with a bold outfit that is still discussed decades later.
Now, fresh claims suggest Wintour’s drive to reshape the Met into “fashion’s biggest night out” may have been fueled by Diana’s star power after the Vogue matriarch reportedly missed the chance to host the princess herself.
In a chat with The Times, former American Vogue senior accessories director Filipa Fino claimed that Wintour’s fashion rival, Elizabeth Tilberis, played a key role in bringing Diana to the gala in 1996.
The princess’s attendance was a major coup for Tilberis and reportedly left Wintour frustrated that her competition had beaten her to such a high-profile royal moment.
That frustration was allegedly deepened by the fact that Wintour never got a chance to host Diana herself, as the princess died months after the outing. However, Fino claimed the missed opportunity became part of Wintour’s motivation to elevate the Met Gala into the global fashion spectacle it is today.
“This seed of Anna never being able to host Diana at the Met, and her vision of what it should be like, worthy of a princess, is what drove her from 1996 to today. She took on the Costume Institute Ball as her own personal project,” she said.
Diana Removed The Corset From Her Met Gala Dress
Diana’s appearance at the event wasn’t the only thing that caught attention. Her dress, designed by British designer John Galliano, also drew significant interest in a manner that even surprised the designer himself.
In the Hulu docuseries “In Vogue: The 90s,” Galliano described being approached to dress the late princess and saw the opportunity as “a blessing.” Work on the gown began in earnest, ultimately resulting in a blue, lingerie-inspired, bias-cut slip dress with lace straps, originally designed with a corset.
However, just at the event, Diana made a personal adjustment by removing the corset Galliano had included in the design.
“Fast-forward to the event, and I just remember her getting out of the car,” the designer said, per Newsweek. “I was like [shock]. I couldn’t believe it. She’d ripped the corset out.”
Princess Diana’s ‘Felt Liberated’ By The Design Alteration
According to Galliano, Diana’s last-minute alteration carried a deeper meaning, seemingly reflecting her sense of freedom following the end of her marriage.
“She didn’t want to wear the corset,” he said. “She felt so liberated. She’d torn the corset out.”
The change also transformed the feel of the gown, making it far more “sensuous” than originally intended. It intensified the attention around Diana as she arrived at the fashion event, with paparazzi swarming to capture the moment.
“The cameras went mental. The paparazzi was blinding, which made the dress really bling and the jewels and everything,” Galliano added.
Diana ‘Captivated’ People
Wintour also reflected on Diana’s magnetic appeal in the same docuseries, recalling how strongly people were drawn to the late princess at the time.
According to Wintour, Diana “captivated” people, and her love for fashion only heightened the attention around her while boosting her global appeal.
“I think all of us were so captivated and fascinated by Princess Diana,” Wintour shared. “At that time, she was the most famous woman in the world. She was enjoying fashion and the spotlight that she put on, particularly British designers.”
Princess Diana Left The Met Gala Event Early
After delivering a show-stopping appearance at the Met, Diana slipped away before midnight, just as the after-party dancing was about to begin.
Looking back at the event, fashion designer Mica Traynor claimed her absence was felt by many who were hoping to see her take to the dance floor.
“I didn’t feel she was actually here. I just wanted to see her dance once, but no luck,” she said.
Debutante Crickett Richards also noted the same eagerness from attendees to see Diana at the after-party.
“They paid to see her, and, to all intents and purposes, she did not show up,” Richards added.
