Is this colour the secret to a proposal? Princess Diana's niece adds fuel to the theory

Princess Diana’s niece, Lady Eliza Spencer, has officially said 'yes'– and her proposal look is turning into a talked-about style moment. At age 33, Eliza accepted longtime partner Channing Millerd’s proposalduring a romantic Santorini getaway, announcing the happy news via Instagram with the caption “Forever and Ever”.

In the romantic snaps, Eliza, who bears a striking resemblance to her aunt Diana, stands in a deep red satin midaxi dress, simple sandals and delicate gold jewellery. The bold red hue immediately brings to mind the so-called 'red nail theory', or more broadly, the 'romantic red effect'.

TikTok users and colour psychologists suggest wearing red can increase perceived attractiveness or even spur proposals, partly because red is linked to confidence, passion and subliminal cues. This theory has now widely circulated on social media, and can be traced all the way back to 2021 when US influencer Bridget Bahl got engaged to her now-husband with bright red nails. She went on to say that she believed the red colour played a big part in the proposal happening that weekend, since she'd worn neutral nails for months around that weekend in the hope of a proposal.

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Despite mixed (alright, very little) scientific backing, it’s clear that red still feels loaded with symbolic power. Lady Eliza’s choice feels deliberate, and at the very least, incredibly chic. It's no secret that red evokes romance and boldness, and an already devoted partner might just feel inspired. Whether or not it triggered the proposal, a red dress in that Greek sunset light made the whole moment feel almost cinematic.

Lady Eliza follows in the glam footsteps of her aunt, the late Princess Diana, who also favoured a red nail and a red dress combination. Most famously, her look for the ballet in March 1992 (just a few months before Eliza was born) showed how the colour can be worn to look regal and romantic, rather than harsh.

So, whether she was mimicking her aunt's style, subtly prompting a proposal, or just dressing for the romantic scenery, we think Lady Eliza's dress choice was the perfect one for the occasion. So if you have a special (or hopefully a special) date coming up that you want to look your best for, here's how to shop her look.

Shop Lady Eliza's red engagement dress

Her exact dress looks to be Reformation's Casette Silk Dress in the deep red shade, £348, however, the red shade has sold out. You can pick up the midaxi piece in six other shades, though, should you like that exact silhouette. For an almost identical alternative to the red dress she wears in the engagement photos, Reiss' Alula Back Detail Midi Dress in Red, £240, is an excellent pick.

If you're looking for a cheaper lookalike, Pretty Little Thing's Red Satin High Neck Ruched Detail Dress, £32, will give you Lady Eliza's look for less. And of course, for nails, you can beat Essie's iconic Not Red-y For Bed, £8.99.