The Met Gala red carpet wasn't always the spectacle fashion fans have come to know, but in 1996, Princess Diana certainly made a statement as she made her one and only appearance at the costume benefit. However, a new story about her Dior slip dress has come to light nearly 30 years later—and it proves Diana made her own rules when it came to fashion.
In the new Hulu documentary, In Vogue: The '90s, former Dior creative director John Galliano revealed how the princess took him by surprise at the event by switching up his design.
The designer—who currently serves as creative director of Maison Margiela—had just taken over at Dior, and since the '96 Met Gala was themed to celebrate an exhibition about Christian Dior, it seemed only natural for Princess Diana to wear a dress by the French fashion house.
With Galliano hailing also hailing from Britain, it seemed like the perfect partnership. However, it seems the royal made a last-minute (and rather major) change when it came to the lace-trimmed navy slip dress he created for her Met moment.
Diana wowed in her silky slip dress at the event.
"I remember one day we all jumped into this old van, and we went to London, where we met Princess Diana," Galliano recalled. "It was like a blessing. I mean, wow."
The designer shared that he "went to Kensington Palace and discussed drawings" with the princess, who had some strong opinions about color.
"I was trying to push for pink, but she was not having it. 'No, not pink!' That was real, real fun," Galliano said in the documentary, adding that the lingerie-inspired slip dress originally featured a corseted detail over the simple design.
It turns out the princess, who had filed for divorce from Prince Charles that summer, was in the mood for rebellion.
"Fast-forward to the event, and I just remember her getting out of the car," Galliano said, sharing that he was shocked by what he saw. "I couldn't believe it. She'd ripped the corset out."
Galliano (left) said he "couldn't believe it" when he saw Diana had switched up his design.
"She didn't want to wear the corset," the designer continued, explaining that the princess must have "felt so liberated" in her new era that "she'd torn the corset out."
"The dress was much more sensuous. The cameras went mental. The paparazzi was blinding, which made the dress really bling and the jewels and everything," Galliano continued.
The former Dior creative director wasn't the only one who shared memories of Diana in the new Hulu documentary. "I think all of us were so captivated and fascinated by Princess Diana," Vogue legend Anna Wintour said.
"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."
And while Diana's Met Gala dress made headlines around the world for its boudoir-inspired design, no one knew that it was the princess herself who was behind the "sensuous" change.
-
Creator of Taylor Swift's Glitter Freckles Sobs After Star Provokes 2,500% Sales SpikeShe's done it again!
-
Hailey Bieber Dishes On Her Favorite Fall Manicure TrendsShe's all-in on a brand new shade.
-
Tina Knowles Shares Insight Into What It Was Like Raising Beyoncé and SolangeMotherhood has been her favorite job, she said.
-
How Princess Diana's Sisters Have Remained Close to Prince Harry and Prince William"The aunts looked thrilled to see their warring nephews."
-
Princess Diana Allegedly Praised Queen Camilla as "Loyal and Discreet" During Charles Affair"She was complicated and confusing."
-
Princess Diana Would Trick Her Staff with "Fake Vomit," Former Royal Hairdresser RevealsHairstylist Richard Dalton said the late royal had "a wonderful sense of humor."
-
Prince Harry Reveals How Becoming a "Father for the Second Time" Changed Him"Much has changed in my life and the world."
-
Princess Diana Wasn't Afraid to Go "Where the Pain Was" in Her Charity Work"It’s so easy to pause, to stop and to say, 'This is too big. It’s too messy.'"
-
Prince Harry Abandons "Show-Boating" Attitude for Signs of "Anxiety" at Poignant Engagement in NYCA body language expert observes.
-
Prince Harry Calls to Replace the Term "Mental Health" With a New Phrase During New York Trip"He actually said to me, as we came in, that we should no longer talk about mental health."
-
Prince Harry Spent the Morning Honoring The Diana Award's "Army of Activists" at His First New York City Stop"Your activism and passion, those two things are so true to how my mum led her life and what she believed in."
