At this point, some months after her separation from the Prince of Wales, she felt less constrained by royal protocol in her clothing, and her evening wear in particular began to reflect more of her own personality. When she appeared in this off-the-shoulder gown with a skirt slit to the thigh, showing off her fabulous legs and the upper body she was developing by working out, the headline in 'Royalty' magazine read "Diana stuns in figure hugging dress". (It also felt compelled to add that she attended 'alone'). When Diana auctioned 79 of her gowns for charity in 1997, this was Lot 17, described as "a dinner dress of eau-de-nil green and cream silk crepe", and fetched $35,500.

(Note that her earrings are, in fact, made from the same diamante buttons as on the gown. She once mentioned to her milliner, Philip Sommerville, that she was having trouble completing an outfit, and he suggested that she order extra buttons from Walker and have earrings made. She did so on more than occasion).

She also wore it later that month to a state dinner for the visiting president of Portugal(below right). It was only her second official appearance with the royal family since the separation from Charles had been announced, which was as much of a story as the dinner itself. Newspapers made much of that fact that she and Charles arrived in separate cars.