Princess Diana’s Best Plaid Outfits for Autumn Style Inspiration

It’s no secret that royal women love to wear a plaid print—and the late Princess Diana was no exception. In fact, Diana turned to plaid frequently throughout her life wearing wearing it at both casual outings and black tie events. Here, 12 of Princess Diana’s best plaid outfits for autumn 2026 style inspiration—and how to recreate her looks:

1. Classic tartan coat

Princess Diana Archive//Getty Images

Diana on a visit the Château de Chenonceau on the River Cher in France, November 1988.

To start, when thinking about autumnal dressing, a wool coat is an essential. Princess Diana stepped out in a tartan coat-dress by Catherine Walker in 1988, and rewore it again the following year. Here, some options from Vince, Barbour, Burberry, and more:

2. Mockneck dress

Anwar Hussein//Getty Images

Diana, 1981.

Princess Diana’s best plaid style moments came not in fall, but each summer at the Braemar Highland Games in Braemar, Scotland. For her first appearance at the games, in 1981, she chose a tartan dress designed by Caroline Charles, pairing it with a black tam o’shanter style hat. There are a few ways to take style inspiration from Diana here: either opt for a long-sleeve dress, or one with delicate embellishments—or both!

3. Black and white tartan

Princess Diana Archive//Getty Images

Diana at the 1989 Braemar Games.

Diana’s black and white tartan dress by Catherine Walker was another standout Scottish look for the late royal. Evoke her outfit by opting for a black and white plaid print from designers including Loewe, Ramy Brook, Veronica Beard, and others:

4. Plaid skirt

Hulton Archive//Getty Images

Diana leaves the Young England kindergarten, October 1980.

You don’t have to wear head-to-toe plaid; the busy print can add a pop of interest to your outfit, like Diana showed in her pre-royal life with this purple skirt and black sweater combo. Luckily, there are plenty of skirts of all lengths to shop, from Burberry’s wool midi option to a Miu Miu mini:

5. Contrasting collar

Tim Graham//Getty Images

Diana in Scotland, 1982.

Back at the Braemar Highland Games in 1982, Diana again chose a long-sleeved dress—but this one featured a contrasting collar, a chic style element that can be found on many plaid items of clothing in 2026. (Diana was, once again, ahead of her time!)

6. Eveningwear, but make it plaid

Plaid and black tie don’t necessarily go hand-in-hand but as Princess of Wales, Diana stepped out in a few plaid gowns, including a Catherine Walker tartan evening gown in 1991 and a red chiffon Bruce Oldfield dress embroidered with a silver tartan design for the London premiere of When Harry Met Sally in 1989:

Anwar Hussein//Getty Images

Diana in a Catherine Walker design.

Tim Graham//Getty Images

Diana in a Bruce Oldfield dress.

While plaid gowns aren’t as easy to come by, if you’re looking to lean into the style for, say, a fall wedding, here are some chic options:

7. Unexpected colors

Diana wasn’t one to shy away from bold style statements—and her tartan pieces were no exception. Take this dress she wore visiting Venice in 1985, or this bold yellow and black check coat designed by Escada in Berlin in 1987:

Tim Graham//Getty Images

In Venice.

Anwar Hussein//Getty Images

In Berlin (featuring a matching hat designed by Philip Somerville).

Plaids, Diana proved, don’t have to be in muted autumnal tones. They can be in purple, yellow, or green! Here, some stylish unexpected plaid colors from Damson Madder, Staud, and Guest in Residence, among others:

8. Prince of Wales check

Tim Graham//Getty Images

Diana in September 1989.

Fittingly, as Princess of Wales, wore many pieces that featured the Prince of Wales check (also known as “Glen Plaid,” as it originated the Glenurquhart Estate in Inverness-shire, Scotland). Here, some modern takes on the pattern from Chloé, Michael Kors, and more:

9. Skirt suit set

Princess Diana Archive//Getty Images

Diana visits the St Helen’s Rugby Club in Swansea, Wales.

Long before Taylor Swift was wearing plaid skirt suits to Kansas City Chiefs games, Princess Diana wore a red and black tartan suit in 1992. If you’re going to wear plaid, why not wear it in a matching set? Here’s two chic options from Sézane and Sister NY:

10. Festive plaid

Anwar Hussein//Getty Images

Diana in November 1991.

Princess Diana wore this red and green tartan coat dress designed by Catherine Walker at least twice—and surprisingly, neither of the appearances were on Christmas. Still, as we get closer to holiday season, green and red plaid pieces are a fun (and festive) way to take a style cue from the late princess.

11. Accessorize with plaid!

Princess Diana Archive//Getty Images

Note the plaid bows on her shoes!

Last but not least, Princess Diana understood the power of a smart accessory—like the bows on her shoes during an engagement in Australia in 1985. Put a plaid spin on your shoes, hats, or handbags this fall:

Emily Burack (she/her) is the Deputy Digital Editor for Town & Country, where she covers entertainment, celebrities, the royals, and a wide range of other topics. Before joining T&C, she was the deputy managing editor at Hey Alma, a Jewish culture site. Follow her @emburack on Instagram, Twitter, and other social media platforms.