Lady Di: The Princess. The Mom. The Icon.

Princess Diana has been, and is continuously looked at as the ultimate portrayal of class and grace. The “People’s Princess” was nothing short of a fashion icon and World humanitarian.  As we approach the wedding of her eldest son, Prince William, to Kate Middleton, we take a look back at the World's 'Candle in the Wind'.

As a fashion icon, Princess Diana gave a new look to royalty!  While married to Prince Charles, she was placed on the International Best Dressed List for two consecutive years (1991-1992)! Surprisingly, her fashion sense has not always been lauded. In 1982, she was listed as one of the “10 Worst Dressed Women” by a London newspaper. It’s even said that in the beginning, the royal family was so embarrassed by her fashion know-how, or lack thereof, that they sent people over from Vogue to help mold the Princess into a fashionista! She obviously took what she wanted from those “lessons” and made it all her own!

Combining young fashion with international glamour, Princess Di became an idol for many women around the world. Who didn’t want her hairstyle? And even if you never cared for hats, seeing the flair she brought to hat wear made you want to grab the most elaborate one you could find!  Even the soon-to-be Princess seems to still be channeling this tricky fashion trend.

With Prince William and Kate Middleton preparing to tie the knot very soon, the media has been comparing the styles of Lady Di and Kate. Will she be able to measure up to her late mother-in-law? Only time will tell, but the soon to be Princess of Wales is definitely on the right track. Kate was listed in The Daily Telegraph’s “Most Promising Newcomer” in 2006. She was also featured in People Magazine’s “Best Dressed List” for 2007 and 2010, and in 2008, Style.com selected her as its monthly beauty icon! In the same year, she was also included in Vanity Fair’s International Best Dressed List.

Who do you think is more of a trendsetter? Is Kate on her way to becoming a fashion icon?  Or are Princess Diana's shoes just too big to fill...