Princess Diana has been named the greatest female style icon of all time, with her influence on fashion still resonating almost three decades after her death.
Fresh research found that the late Princess of Wales topped a list of some of the world’s most celebrated dressers, outshining names including Marilyn Monroe, Catherine, Princess of Wales, and Beyoncé.
In a poll of 2,000 Britons, nearly one in three respondents chose Diana — who was 36 when she died in a Paris car crash — as the ultimate standard-bearer for timeless style.
Hollywood legends Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn placed second and third in the female style icon rankings, securing 22 per cent and 16 per cent of the vote respectively.
Catherine, Princess of Wales — recently named society magazine Tatler’s “Best Dressed Britain” in 2026 — finished fourth, ahead of Beyoncé, Rihanna, Madonna, Grace Kelly, Jennifer Aniston and Jennifer Lopez.
Among men, Sir David Beckham was voted the greatest male style icon, with one in five people selecting the former England football captain in research carried out for British heritage clothing brand Cotton Traders.
He was followed by Elvis Presley, the “King of Rock and Roll”, along with David Bowie, Sean Connery, Freddie Mercury and Brad Pitt.
Marilyn Monroe’s white halter-neck dress from The Seven Year Itch was chosen as the most iconic dress in history, narrowly beating Princess Diana’s unforgettable “revenge dress”.
Hollywood icon Marilyn Monroe in ‘The Seven Year Itch’
Princess Diana has been crowned the greatest female style icon of all time as her legacy lives on nearly three decades after her death
The Princess of Wales – who was recently named society Bible Tatler’s ‘Best Dressed Britain’ in 2026 – came fourth
‘Many women dream of being a princess for the day, and what Diana did so effortlessly was make that possible for every woman,’ said Jools Dickson, a stylist at Cotton Traders.
‘She didn’t have a stylist or the luxury of the relaxed protocol that royals enjoy today, but she managed to steal the show wherever she went, and her ongoing impact on fashion is as relevant now as it was then.
‘From jaw-dropping ballgowns to slick suiting, and from sweats and joggers to country tweeds, she could make any look her own.’
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Commenting on Diana’s ‘simple styling trick’, Jools said she would always ‘add the unexpected’.
‘Her trademark frill collars were seen under dungarees or with jeans, while she would throw her favourite tailored blazer over a sweatshirt and cycling shorts.
‘These sorts of styling tricks are commonplace now, but fashion in the 1980s was not as individual and free as it is today.
‘She was a style pioneer long before Instagram and online shopping, and her distinct way of dressing was literally all her own work.
The research also found Diana’s influence spans every age group, as King Charles’s first wife topped the poll among Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X and Baby Boomers.
Sir David Beckham took the crown of the greatest male style icon. He is seen here with his wife, Victoria Beckham, at a state banquet at Buckingham Palace
American rock legend Elvis Presley came second on the men’s list
Asked what makes someone a style icon, respondents picked confidence as the key ingredient, along with knowing exactly what suits you, dressing for your shape and appearing effortlessly elegant.
Having a timeless look, still appearing stylish decades later and making affordable clothes look expensive were also considered hallmarks of genuine style.
The survey revealed that almost nine in 10 people believe that celebrities were more stylist in earlier generations than they are today, with almost a third of the respondents also admitting they have tried to copy their favourite star’s fashion.
Gen Z are the biggest celebrity style copycats, with almost two-thirds borrowing ideas at least sometimes, compared with 48 per cent of Millennials and only eight per cent of Baby Boomers – referring to the generation of people born between 1946 and 1964.
‘The fact that people still look to their favourite stars for inspiration shows just how powerful a genuine style icon can be,’ Jools added.
‘The best looks do not simply belong to one moment in time. They continue to influence what people wear for decades, which is why we are seeing women from Gen Alpha to the Baby Boomers loving these looks today.’
It comes after the 29th anniversary of Diana’s death on August 31, just five days after her younger son, Prince Harry, returned to the UK with his wife Meghan Markle and their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
Just weeks ago during a brief summer stay, Harry took both his children, who are now enrolled in British schools, to see Diana´s resting place for the first time.
The princess is buried on a tiny island in the Round Oval Lake on the Althorp estate in Northamptonshire – the Spencer’s ancestral home where Diana´s brother Earl Spencer is now the custodian.
