18 bright and beautiful knits that would absolutely be Princess Diana-approved

Lady Di was no wallflower when it came to her knitwear

While there’s a lot to be said for building on the basics for your winter wardrobe – plenty of neutrals are always a safe bet – there’s just nothing quite like bagging a unique number to liven things up. Knitwear is where a lot of us play it safe, but with so many fantastic pieces out there, both on the high street and from vintage sellers alike, now is the perfect time to get creative.

One woman who certainly knew the power of a bright print or a punch-packing colour palette was Princess Diana. Lady Spencer is still lauded for her pitch-perfect 80’s fashion sense over 20 years after her death, with countless Instagram pages set up to honour her style. One piece she seemed to be particularly fond of was a bright and beautiful knit to set off her winter outfit. Even though the weather is cold and dark, that doesn’t mean your wardrobe has to follow suit. The words tacky or gaudy, usually associated with an OTT jumper or cardigan, do not apply here. A winter knit is made to bring joy – and God knows we need some of that now more than ever.

Bright colours, embroidery, unique stitching and detailing are all en vogue at the moment, especially with the resurgence of vintage online. An original Austrian cardigan may be more expensive than its high street counterpart, but as these pieces are often hand-made with high-quality materials, it’s worth the investment.

Take a leaf out of Princess Di’s book and let your creative juices flow with these pieces

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Knit cardigan with floral details, €59.95 from Zara

ASOS DESIGN jumper with detachable woven collar detail in yellow, €44.99 from ASOS

Floral Embroidery Cable Knit Alpaca Cardigan, €89 from & Other Stories

Barbour Heritage Navy Fairisle Pattern Roll Neck Jumper, €128 from Next

Jacquard knit cardigan, €39.95 from Zara

People Tree hand-knitted wool cardigan with Fairisle design, €205.99 from ASOS

Heart Button Alpaca Blend Cardigan, €79 from & Other Stories

Austrian Cardigan – Pink Cable Knit with Flowers, €238 approx. from Sigrid Maria Vintage

Vintage Austrian cardigan, €69 from Imparfaite

Knit cardigan with embroidered flowers, €49.95 from Zara

Wool Blend Scalloped Sweater, €89 from & Other Stories

Object jumper with oversized collar in grey, €69.99 from ASOS

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