“It’s cream version but still princess,” Waterhouse wrote below the upbeat montage

By
Janine Henni

Published on August 1, 2024 12:00PM EDT

Suki Waterhouse’s TikTok video; Princess Diana in 1985. Photo: Suki Waterhouse/TikTok; Brendan Beirne/Shutterstock

Suki Waterhouse is channeling Princess Diana’s bold style.

Last week, the 32-year-old actress and singer made a fashion splash on TikTok with a sartorial tribute to the late Princess of Wales. The quick clip showed Waterhouse modeling a whimsical vintage dress by Zandra Rhodes, the same style that Princess Diana wore several times in the 1980s.

“It’s cream version but still princess,” the star captioned the clip of herself laughing and twirling in the drop-waist dress with neutral heels.

The video flashed to throwback photos of Princess Diana in a pale pink version of the frock and was overlaid with audio from The Devil Wears Prada. Waterhouse mimed the dialogue from the 2006 comedy where Anne Hathaway’s character told Emily Blunt’s character, “Yeah, I am” wearing “the Chanel boots” after her makeover. In text displayed on the video, the Daisy Jones & the Six star replaced the movie lines with her own version: “The Zandra Rhodes dress that Diana wore to dinner in Kyoto? Yeah…I am.”

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The Zandra Rhodes brand confirmed the provenance of Waterhouse’s look on Instagram, explaining that the “it girl” was wearing the label’s “Buttons and Bows” dress from 1986.

The dress came to be after Princess Diana popped into the label’s London shop and was struck by the design for the dress, which was planned to be made in black with a fluorescent pink print. The designer suggested switching the colors to pink and white, and Diana commissioned the combination. It was later made for her following two fittings at her ​​Kensington Palace apartment, and the color scheme and print were kept exclusive to her, Kerry Taylor Auctions reported.

The future King Charles and Princess Diana arrive to attend a state banquet in Kyoto, Japan in May 1986.Anwar Hussein/Getty

The ethereal look with off-the-shoulder neckline, beading and zigzag hem apparently became a favorite in her royal rotation, and the Princess of Wales wore it to a Torvill and Dean party in 1985, an official state visit to Japan with the future King Charles in 1986 and a benefit for the London City Ballet in 1987.

A decade later, the Zandra Rhodes dress was part of the lot at the Christie’s of New York auction Diana held shortly before her tragic death in 1997. In 2011, it changed hands once more and was bought by Historic Royal Palaces for almost $32,000, the Daily Mail reported.

Princess Diana at a Torvill and Dean party in July 1985.Brendan Beirne/Shutterstock

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The dress was later displayed at Kensington Palace, Princess Diana’s former home in London, for the Fashion Rules exhibit in 2016.

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While speaking to Forbes in 2021, Rhodes reflected on what it was like to work with Princess Diana and the practical mindset she had about how things should fit.

A dress worn by Princess Diana on display at Kensington Palace for the Fashion Rules exhibit.John Stillwell/PA Images/Getty

“She would always check that the dress was not too daring or indiscreet. Especially the skirt as she got out of the car. She said that the photographers would always be there to get the wrong angle!” the designer told the outlet, adding that the royal didn’t need to do much to make an outfit pop.

“She was so natural and beautiful that simple pearls looked fabulous!” Rhodes added about what accessories Diana liked.