The late royal’s belongings continue to break records at auction.
On Sunday, December 17, Julien’s Auctions sold one of Princess Diana’s evening dresses for a record-setting $1.143 million.
The ballerina-length gown was designed by Moroccan-British fashion designer Jacques Azagury for Princess Diana. She then wore the dress to at least two public appearances.
She first wore it at a formal dinner with the Mayor of Florence, Italy in 1985 then again a year later, at a performance by the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra at the Orpheum Theatre.
The dress’ black velvet bodice is embroidered with metallic stars while the two-tier royal blue organza skirt has a sash and bow. In keeping with the decade, the dress features shoulder pads. The designer also made a nod to Princess Diana’s love of dance with the ballerina skirt.
Originally estimated at $100,000 to $200,000, the dress sold for eleven times that price. With 19 bids, it’s now Princess Diana’s most expensive dress sold at auction. Earlier this year, her aubergine silk velvet gown sold for $600,000 while her “Black Sheep” sweater fetched $1.1 million.
Before the auction, the dress was on display at Kensington Palace in London, as part of the Fashion Rules exhibit. The exhibit ran from July 4, 2013 to July 10, 2015 and also showcased Queen Elizabeth and Princess Margaret’s wardrobe.
According to the auction house, The New-York Historical Society sold the dress and 100% of the proceeds from the sale will benefit the museum. Martin Nolan, co-founder and executive director of Julien’s Auctions, told Penta that the buyer is a private individual who plans to exhibit the dress with other items in the future.
Banner image via Julien’s Auctions’ website.
