Diana: The Secrets of Her Style [Illustrated] [Hardcover]

Diane Clehane (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1998

This sensitive and comprehensive chronicle of the late Princess Diana's meteoric rise and reign as a fashion star is lavishly illustrated with 125 photos by the world's top fashion photographers, and with ten original sketches created exclusively for the book. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to The Royal Marsden Cancer Fund.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Sleek and sophisticated like the princess herself, Diane Clehane's Diana: The Secrets of Her Style thoroughly analyzes the princess's role as an international fashion icon. Through interviews with Diana's designers and stylists, original sketches by her designers, and more than 100 photographs, Secrets details Diana's evolution from a dowdy, plain schoolgirl to a Versace-touting diva who harnessed the power of glamour to achieve humanitarian goals. Broken into four stages of development, Clehane's book interweaves behind-the-scenes anecdotes with Diana's public image. When the princess wore shimmering, crescent-shaped earrings to meet the leaders of Saudi Arabia, for example, the press reported that the earrings were an extravagant, costly gift from her hosts. In truth, the striking accessory was merely costume jewelry she bought for less than $40 at a popular department store. Another telling insight comes from Diana's hairdresser, Richard Dalton, who styled the princess's coif differently for the state opening of Parliament in 1984: "It knocked the Queen off the front page," and stayed in the headlines for days afterwards. Subsequently, Diana and Dalton were careful about making any changes to her lush locks, for fear of taking limelight from the royals and creating political rifts. --Rebekah Warren

Product Details

• Hardcover: 159 pages
• Publisher: Gt Pub Corp (September 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1577193482
• ISBN-13: 978-1577193487
• Product Dimensions: 11.9 x 9.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #861,443 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #61 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Leaders & Notable People > Royalty > Princess Diana

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Author Captures Diana's "Style", June 19, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Diana: The Secrets of Her Style (Hardcover)

More than just a "fashion parade" of Diana's clothes, this book captures the real essence of the Princess of Wales herself as seen via what she wore. The author, Diane Clehane, admits that she is a great fan of the Princess, yet she gives an honest account of Diana's transformation from unknown nursery-school teacher to international superstar. She candidly points out "fashion mistakes" that the Princess made along the way in her public life while also leading the reader to an understanding that Diana's "style" was so much more than her clothes.

Diana had a figure and height which enabled her to wear clothes beautifully, but even more important than that is the personality which shone forth. It is this which Ms. Clehane has successfully revealed in the pages of this book. She has, with grace and eloquence, drawn the line between fashion and style and shown that the clothes did not make Diana. Diana made the clothes.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read for Diana fans., October 4, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Diana: The Secrets of Her Style (Hardcover)

This is a beautiful, thoughtful book about the transformation of Diana Spencer from a shy, shetland-clad school girl to an ultra-glamorous, international, woman of the 90s. The book is PACKED with great photographs and pretty designer sketches. I thought I knew everything there was to know about the Princess, but Ms. Clehane proved me wrong! (I even bought a few extra copies to give as Christmas gifts for my Diana-loving friends.) Kathy Mackenzie

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A stylish and substantive tribute, March 16, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Diana: The Secrets of Her Style (Hardcover)

I own all the books written about Princess Diana and this one is very special. Yes, the writer is a fan but I think it adds something to the sincerity of the text. It seems Ms. Clehane spent a great deal of time researching her subject and got some very touching material from those who knew her well.

The photos are beautiful (many that I've never seen before) and the sketches are very interesting, too. I love the tribute that Ms. Clehane wrote in the introduction of the book. She expresses her feelings beautifully.

I found all the stories to be accurate. And as for errors, I found several in the Georgina Howell book that was $10 more.

This book has a lovely spirit.