Princess Diana Beats Hollywood Icons to Take Top Spot as Ultimate Style Icon
Diana may have passed away three decades ago, but her legacy is still prevailing, and her influence on fashion clearly shows no signs of fading.
Princess Diana may have passed away three decades ago, but her legacy endures, and her influence on fashion shows no signs of fading. From her glamorous gowns to her effortlessly cool off-duty looks, Diana continues to inspire generations who never even got the chance to see her in real life. Now, new research has revealed just how powerful her fashion legacy really is.
According to a new survey, the late princess beat some of the biggest names in Hollywood, music, and fashion to claim a major style title. Surpassing prominent figures like Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, and Beyoncé, Diana has been crowned as the greatest female style icon of all time. The survey, conducted for the clothing brand Cotton Traders, asked 2,000 people to name their ultimate style icons. Almost a third of those questioned chose Diana, giving her an impressive 32% of the vote.
Interestingly, Diana also came out on top among Gen Z voters. Members of this generation were born after her tragic death in 1997, yet her fashion choices continue to have a strong influence on younger audiences. Alongside elegant dresses and gowns, Diana had a distinct flair, where she was often seen stepping out in cycling shorts, oversized sweatshirts, and trainers. Her fashion choices are to this day a major inspiration to many.
Her famous fashion moments continue to inspire modern trends, with many of her signature looks regularly appearing on social media and being recreated by celebrities and fashion enthusiasts alike. Next in rank to Diana was Marilyn Monroe, who came second in the survey with 22% of the vote, followed by Audrey Hepburn at 16%. Catherine, Princess of Wales, secured fourth place with 14%, while Beyoncé came fifth with 13% votes. Rihanna and Madonna both received 12%, followed by Grace Kelly at 11%, while Jennifer Aniston and Jennifer Lopez rounded out the top 10 with 10% each.
While Diana won the style icon title, she did not take the top spot for the most iconic dress in history. That honor went to Marilyn Monroe’s famous white halter-neck dress from The Seven Year Itch, which received 15% of the vote. Diana’s unforgettable “revenge dress” followed closely behind, securing second place with 12% votes. As for the men's category, another Brit took the top spot, with soccer legend David Beckham winning the style icon title.
