When Princess Diana ascended the iconic steps at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in December 1996 for what would be her sole Met Gala appearance, she turned heads in a slinky navy blue column dress designed by John Galliano for Dior, complete with lingerie-like black lace straps and trim.

In 1996, shortly after her divorce from Prince Charles, Princess Diana made her first and only appearance at the Met Gala. For the event, she wore custom, couture Dior, but the design ended up veering from what the brand envisioned.

John Galliano has recalled how Diana, Princess of Wales "ripped" the corset out of the custom-made gown she wore to the 1996 Met Gala. In an interview for docuseries In Vogue: The 90s, the fashion designer recounted how he was invited by the British royal to Kensington Palace in London in the lead-up to the annual event to create a bespoke number