The Lady Di Look Book: What Diana Was Trying to Tell Us Through Her Clothes

EXCELENTE

"The Lady Di Look Book: What Diana Was Trying to Tell Us Through Her Clothes" is a captivating and insightful exploration of Princess Diana's iconic fashion choices. The author's deep dive into Princess Diana's wardrobe reveals the thoughtfulness and intention behind her fashion selections. Each chapter delves into different aspects of Diana's life, highlighting the significant moments and events that shaped her personal style. From her glamorous gowns to her casual ensembles, the book uncovers the hidden symbolism and messages woven into her clothing choices.What sets this book apart is its ability to go beyond the surface level of fashion and delve into the deeper meanings behind Diana's outfits. It explores how she used fashion as a form of self-expression, diplomacy, and even activism. The book showcases how Diana skillfully used her wardrobe to connect with people and support causes she believed in.The writing style is engaging and accessible, making it a pleasure to read. The author's passion for Princess Diana's fashion choices shines through, making the book both informative and entertaining.Whether you are a fashion enthusiast, a fan of Princess Diana, or simply intrigued by the intersection of fashion and personal expression, "The Lady Di Look Book" is a must-read. It offers a fascinating glimpse into the world of Diana's fashion and how her clothing became a powerful tool for communication and influence.

A cherrypicking tour-de-forceUPDATE 11/22: I dropped my rating from 2.5 to 2 stars; see reasoning at bottom.This book is visually stunning, and the Kindle version doesn’t do that aspect justice. The hardcover’s pages pop with colors, whether it’s the layout of the page or the outfits themselves. The Kindle version, by contrast, is a sea of white space with the occasional picture tumbleweeding by.That said, the narrative in either format is lacking. First, the text begins as a sort-of biography of Diana’s clothes but morphs into the Instagram clickbait that made the author quasifamous (Di’s Revenge Look [with eight or so criteria]! Di’s Revenge Gym Look [5ish items]! Di’s High Colonic Revenge Look! Di’s Travel Revenge Look!).This would be forgivable if not for the glaring omissions. For example, after spending paragraphs saying that each of Diana’s outfits were her autobiography, the author then refuses to share pictures of Diana in “giant puritan collars over tunics” “because they haven’t stood the test of time.” Moran continues, “There was no way to describe some of Diana’s early ‘on-duty’ looks as anything except utterly heinous—think royal-themed cosplay, but from the Crusades era. Robin Hood-esque, feather-adorned hats and terrifying tartans would have you thinking Camilla paid off Diana’s stylist for some serious sartorial sabotage.” Hideous or no, those poorly aged outfits are still part of Diana’s autobiography and should be included.Let’s also consider “autobiography.” Former Secretary of State Madeline Albright wrote Read My Pins, a fascinating look at her life in politics reflected in the jewelry she wore at key events. The closest thing Diana left to a sartorial autobiography is the Christie’s catalogue of her charity dress auction in 1987, yet Moran never alludes to it, let alone quotes from it.A more egregious sin is Moran’s selective vision: she claims, for example, that Diana in the early 80s “opted for pastels and conservative plaids,” even though the second item Moran examines in the entire book is Diana’s hot pink llama sweater. Sadly, this trend continues throughout the book. She calls Diana’s decision to wear the Spencer tiara in 1983 “poignant,” as if that were the only time Diana chose to wear that headpiece over the Windsor Knot tiara. Moran also claims that the ivory outfit Diana wore the day her divorce was finalized symbolized her liberation, a conclusion belied by Charles’ sapphire engagement ring still gracing her finger.The book’s greatest sin is Moran’s endless contortions to attach meaning to an outfit. When analyzing Diana’s black sheep sweater, she notes, “because the Spencers were the UK’s oldest sheep farming family, the black sheep sweater Diana wore ‘certainly…reflects not just her inward thoughts about her new family and foray into public life, but memories of rejection from her childhood and teenage years.’” Or, the sweater could just be a sweater.Commenting on a 1985 white outfit adorned with a tuxedo tie, Moran notes, “Looking back, this suffragette white skirt set…and black bow tie strikes a more symbolic meaning—she’s the outcast, claustrophobically sandwiches between the Prince and the ‘men in grey.’” Or it could just be an outfit.Referring to Diana’s Revenge Dress, worn the night Charles publicly humiliated her on national TV, Moran notes, “When Diana bravely stepped out of the car, wearing her little black [revenge] dress, she bacame the shining hero the country was pining for.” In addition, “the mini-train if her dress fluttered symbolically, standing in contrast to the twenty-five foot train of her wedding dress.“ Please note that the Stambouli dress was her second choice that night; Diana certainly didn’t choose to wear it because it called to mind the train of her wedding dress. She wore it because Versace blabbed that she was going to wear their dress that night.A fixation with the Firm’s proscription against wearing black runs rampant through this book. Granted, Diana was told this at her first formal evening event, when she wore a black strapless gown. However, Moran belabors the point to no end. I find it a bit hard to ascribe a black and white suit Diana wore to Australia as a revelation of her mindset: “wearing black was rebellious, as it was deemed strictly for mourning, while white, historically, symbolizes women’s liberation. The blending of the two implied she was stuck somewhere in between.” Or it could just be a suit.In fact, for all of Moran’s bloviating about the tabu of black clothing, she doesn’t seem to recognize she’s featured dozens of photos in her own book of Diana, starting in the 80s, in black! To movie premieres, to theatre outings, to formal dinners. Clearly, the taboo mainly exists in the author’s mind.There are minor sins, as well. She inexplicably repeatedly refers to Diana as “duchess” throughout the first 25% of the book. I realize “duchess” as a childhood nickname, but it’s not a title she ever went by as an adult. Moran also refers to the Panorama interview as the first time the public had heard her side of the story. Andrew Morton, author of Diana: Her Own Story, would like a word. Moran mentions Diana’s morning sickness on a trip to Australia, but Diana was never pregnant on a trip to Australia. She also comments on an outfit Diana wore during Harry’s pregnancy, chosen to prevent the press to see her baby bump. Diana wore the outfit in question two weeks after announcing her two-month pregnancy. There was no bump to hide.Finally, I have to note the jarring narrative commentary. There is a fine line between irreverent and immature, and Moran missed it by a mile. In addition to pointless asides such as “jeez, bitter much?” and “all men are bastards,” she calls Camilla being pelted with dinner rolls in public in 1994 “justice.” A running joke about Camilla and chicken Kiev (revisited several times) is simply not funny.The anti-Camilla narrative is more unsettling when you realize the author was five when Diana died and therefore has no memory of the War of the Waleses. Come to think of it, if Moran had watched the soap opera unfold in the 80s, she wouldn’t have referred to their 1992 South Korea trip as the *beginning* of the War of the Waleses. In any event, how can she be so vitriolic about Camilla at this late date when she wasn’t even around for the scandal itself?In case no other reviewers have questioned it, why does Moran include mini layouts of Fergie and Anne?If you would like a thoughtful examination of Diana’s wwardrobe instead of clickbait, please read something such as Diana: The Secrets of Her Style or Dressing Diana.UPDATE 11/22: It has come to my attention that QEII met Marilyn Monroe whilst garbed in black, so this author’s argument about Diana wearing black to rebel falls out the window. Fail.

If you loved the late Princess Diana or love fashion this book is fantastic! Would make a great gift too.

Love the book