Princess Diana was a true style icon, always managing to grab the spotlight with her impeccable fashion sense every time she graced the public eye.
With top designers and fresh talents eagerly vying to dress her, many fans fondly recall her unforgettable ensembles—such as the number she wore whilst twirling with John Travolta at the White House, or the infamous ‘revenge dress’ donned amidst revelations of her ex-husband King Charles’ adultery.
Her mastery in managing her image extended beyond her wardrobe choices; she pioneered clever techniques for maintaining her poise during high-profile outings, OK! reports.
Among her most noteworthy fashion hacks was her strategic use of a clutch bag while emerging from a vehicle, a trick she affectionately termed her ‘cleavage clutch’, intended to shield herself from the invasive cameras of the media.
The move became synonymous with Diana, frequently seen clasping her handbag close to her chest.
Renowned handbag designer Anya Hindmarch, whose boutique in Chelsea began serving Diana after its opening in 1993, reminisced to the Telegraph about Diana’s visits: “She was a very loyal customer and a lot of fun… she would come and see us with no bodyguards or any fuss.”
The designer shared: “We used to laugh when we designed what she called her ‘cleavage bags,’ little satin clutches which she would cover her cleavage with when she stepped out of cars.”
Diana wasn’t the only royal who utilised her bag for more than just carrying items. The late Queen also had a clever system to communicate with her ladies-in-waiting or other staff using her handbag.
Much like how her ancestors used handheld fans to send messages, the Queen could signal her wishes through simple movements of her bag.
As reported in Grazia, if the monarch placed her handbag on the dinner table, it was a sign that she wanted the event to wrap up within five minutes.
If she put it on the floor, it indicated that she was not enjoying the conversation and wished to be saved by her lady-in-waiting. Royal historian Hugo Vickers explained before the monarch’s death that the Queen always carried her handbag over her left arm.
So, if she switched it, it was a clear sign that she was bored and wanted to move on. He said: “This move is a discreet directive that she would like staff to help end the conversation. It would be very worrying if you were talking to the Queen and saw the handbag move from one hand to the other.”
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