History and High Heels: Style Icon: Princess Diana

In honor of her 50th birthday on Friday, I chose Princess Diana as my style icon of the month. Her classic, simple, and effortless style made her famous. She popularized the sleeveless dress and traditional white shirt, while enthralling millions of people with her marriage to Prince Charles. Diana inspired the world with her charity work with numerous philanthropies, including the Red Cross and International Campaign to Ban Landmines. Her death in the car accident broke the hearts of her admirers and provoked outrage at her untimely demise. Princess Diana represented the common, modern woman in a monarchy that seemed more and more outdated to the British public.

Here are five interesting facts that you might not have known about the Princess:

1. Diana Spencer was born into an aristocratic family, but her parents divorced when she was seven years old after her mother's admitted infidelity.
2. Her cousins include Audrey Hepburn, Humphrey Bogart, and is related to Mary, Queen of Scots, and Mary Boleyn.
3. She was 5'10", wore a size 4 to 6 dress (UK 8), and a size 10 shoe (UK 9A).
4. Her photo has been on the cover of People Magazine more than 50 times, Newsweek 7 times, and Maclean's 12 times.
5. Diana was buried with rosary beads given to her from Mother Theresa on an island in Althorp Park. The island is guarded by four black swans and holds 36 trees that symbolize each year of the Princess's life.
facts courtesy of dianaremembered.wordpress.com