Princess Diana's Corset-Ripped Dior Dress Changed the Met Gala Forever

Key facts

• Princess Diana attended the Met Gala only once, in 1996, four months after her divorce from King Charles III.
• She wore a navy slip dress by John Galliano for Dior, matching her sapphire jewellery.
• Diana ripped the corset out of the dress just before the event, telling Galliano she felt liberated.
• Anna Wintour has led the Met Gala since 1995 and named Catherine, Princess of Wales, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, as her dream guests in 2019.
• Filipa Fino, former senior accessories director at American Vogue, worked with Wintour for seven years.
• Diana's attendance is credited with spurring Wintour to turn the gala into a major spectacle.

The Night Diana Rewrote Met Gala History

Princess Diana attended the Met Gala exactly once, in 1996, but that single appearance reshaped the event's trajectory. Arriving in a navy slip dress by John Galliano for Dior, she matched her sapphire jewellery and stepped onto the red carpet just four months after her divorce from the future King Charles III. The dress, now considered an iconic style moment, was not originally designed that way.

A Spontaneous Act of Liberation

Diana made a late modification to the gown. 'Fast-forward to the event, and I just remember her getting out of the car,' the designer recalled in the series In Vogue: The 90s. 'I couldn't believe it. She'd ripped the corset out. She didn't want to wear the corset. She felt so liberated. She'd torn the corset out. The dress was much more sensuous.' The alteration transformed the dress from a structured piece into a flowing, sensual silhouette that perfectly captured Diana's post-divorce independence.

How Diana Forced the Royal Family to Modernise

Diana's willingness to break protocol extended far beyond fashion. Her approach to parenting, charity work, and public engagement forced the monarchy to adapt to a more modern, emotionally open style. She famously said, 'A mother's arms are more comforting than anyone else's,' a sentiment that resonated with millions and contrasted sharply with the traditional reserve of the royal family. Her influence is still felt today, with Princess Kate taking steps to protect Diana's iconic moments and the family continuing to grapple with her legacy.

The Met Gala's Transformation Under Wintour

Insiders say Diana's attendance spurred Anna Wintour, who has chaired the Met Gala since 1995, to turn the event into the global spectacle it is today. Filipa Fino, a former senior accessories director at American Vogue who worked with Wintour for seven years, noted the impact. Wintour herself has long coveted royal presence, naming Catherine, Princess of Wales, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, as her dream guests in 2019. 'I would love to have the Duchess of Sussex and Duchess of Cambridge together,' Wintour said on Today. 'They could leave their husbands at home; it's the two of them I want.' Neither has attended yet.

Diana's Enduring Cultural Footprint

Decades after her death, Diana remains a subject of intense public fascination. Never-before-heard tapes of the princess have been unearthed for a 'revelatory' docuseries, promising new insights into her life. Her wedding dress designers secretly made a second dress to throw off the media, a testament to the relentless scrutiny she faced. And her quote, 'A mother's arms are more comforting than anyone else's,' continues to circulate as a life lesson on love and care.

What Comes Next: The Royal Family's Ongoing Reckoning

The royal family continues to navigate Diana's legacy, with Princess Kate taking meaningful steps to protect the memory of Diana's iconic moments. The unearthed tapes and ongoing media interest suggest that the story is far from over. As the monarchy evolves, Diana's influence remains a touchstone for both tradition and change.

The bottom line

• Princess Diana's only Met Gala appearance in 1996 featured a dress she modified by ripping out the corset, a move that symbolised her personal liberation.
• Her attendance is credited with inspiring Anna Wintour to transform the Met Gala into a major cultural event.
• Diana's approach to parenting and public life forced the royal family to modernise, a shift still evident today.
• Never-before-heard tapes of Diana are set to be released in a new docuseries, promising fresh revelations.
• Her wedding dress designers created a secret second dress to mislead the media, highlighting the intense press scrutiny she faced.