Vintage-Fashion Moments: Princess Diana Wore This Necklace As A Headband

Princess Diana considered the epitome of grace, and the British royal that made headlines for giving iconic fashion-forward kodak moments such as her revenge dress, and when she chose to pull-off a necklace as a headband. These moments were seen often after her separation from Prince Charles. 

Princess Diana's blast-from-the-past viral moment

The moment happened during the royal tour of Australia in 1985. Diana had spent the day in the blazing sun and ended up with a sunburn on her neck. But that wasn’t going to stop her from rocking a spectacular emerald and diamond necklace—a wedding gift from Queen Elizabeth—for a gala dinner at the Southern Cross Hotel.

Richard Dalton, Diana's hairdresser at the time, couldn’t help but admire the beauty of the necklace. Inspiration struck, and he came up with a bold idea: why not transform the necklace into a headband? Dalton recalled the moment in his book It’s All About the Hair: My Decade with Diana. He enlisted Evelyn, Diana's dresser, and they got creative, using knicker elastic (yes, the kind grandmothers wear) to secure the necklace around Diana’s forehead.

The result? A glamorous, edgy look that had everyone buzzing. Dalton tied the elastic behind her head, tucked Diana’s hair around it, and—voilà—she had a head-turning accessory that turned heads all night long. Diana was delighted with the result, and Dalton later joked that he never traveled without knicker elastic again.

That night, Diana’s necklace-as-headband became an instant sensation, solidifying her status as a true fashion icon who was always ready to break the rules and make her own.