That was Diana's main plea to David Sassoon while shopping for her trousseau, according to " Diana, Queen of Style" (page 17). She was desperately trying to fit in with her new family and new role and was afraid of putting another foot wrong. On her first official engagement with Prince Charles in March of 1981 a strapless black evening gown turned what everyone had initially thought of as a naive and unfashionable kindergarten teacher into a dazzlingly glamorous superstar. It had also brought a dressing-down from the Palace (supposedly by the Queen Mother), since both the color and the decolletage were deemed inappropriate. Sassoon succeeded admirably with this red and gold chiffon gown whose sweetheart neckline, although still lowcut, was softened by a small ruffle and delicate spaghetti straps. Like Diana herself, it was youthful, pretty and romantic, not overly sophisticated or sexual. She wore it twice in June of 1981, to her first movie premier for charity (left),the Bond film "For Your Eyes Only', and also that month accompanying Prince Charles to a regimental dinner. She wore it again in December of 1982 (right) accompanying Prince Charles to a charity gala at Covent Garden,where her weight loss in the ensuing year and a half was painfully evident. Officially this was explained as overdieting to regain her figure after giving birth, and not to the reality of either the bulimia or the post-partum depression she was suffering.
Diana's introduction to the design team of Bellville Sassoon came through her mother, Mrs. Frances Shand-Kydd, who was a regular client. They had also dressed many members of the Royal Family, including Princess Margaret, Princess Anne, and Princess Michael of Kent, so Diana trusted them to dress her appropriately, avoiding any more scoldings.
