News Summary
The auction titled ‘Princess Diana’s Style and A Royal Collection’ held at The Peninsula Beverly Hills amassed $5 million. Featuring over 200 items from Diana’s iconic wardrobe, including personal artifacts, the event highlighted her lasting cultural influence. Notable pieces included the ‘caring dress’ that sold for $520,000. The auction also supported Muscular Dystrophy UK, reinforcing Diana’s legacy of compassion.
Beverly Hills – The auction titled “Princess Diana’s Style and A Royal Collection” was a remarkable success, generating a total of $5 million at The Peninsula Beverly Hills on June 26. Hosted by Julien’s Auctions, the event featured over 200 items specifically belonging to the late princess, marking it as the largest collection of her iconic wardrobe ever assembled for sale.
The auction included a diverse range of items, such as clothing, shoes, handbags, hats, fashion illustrations, signed photographs, and even handwritten letters and wedding ephemera. In total, there were 325 lots available for bidders, showcasing personal items from various periods in Diana’s life. Alongside her wardrobe, the auction featured fashion pieces from other notable figures, including couture garments from the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, as well as items owned by Queen Elizabeth II and the Queen Mother.
The standout piece of the auction was the famous 1988 Bellville Sassoon floral day dress, also known as the “caring dress.” This blue crepe-de-chine knee-length dress, adorned with pastel flowers, was designed for comfort during Diana’s visits to hospitals and sold for an impressive $520,000. The impactful design of the dress not only reflects Diana’s style but also highlights her compassionate engagement with young patients during her hospital visits.
Renae Plant, founder and curator of The Princess Diana Museum, was the successful bidder for the “caring dress,” an acquisition so significant that she and her husband chose to take out a fourth mortgage in order to afford it. Other noteworthy items included a 1981 John Boyd pink straw archer-style hat which sold for $26,000, and a 1986 Catherine Walker evening gown embellished with embroidered falcons that fetched $455,000.
In addition to its primary focus on Diana’s wardrobe, the auction also included unpublished letters and personal artifacts from her life, such as a birthday card signed by Diana alongside her sons, Princes William and Harry. However, items like Diana’s coats were notably absent from the auction, as she frequently donated them to those in need during winter months.
A portion of the proceeds from this auction will support Muscular Dystrophy UK, reflecting the legacy of compassion that Princess Diana embodied during her lifetime. This event reiterates the lasting influence Diana continues to have on fashion and culture, even nearly three decades after her passing.
Julien’s Auctions described the collection as a tribute to not only fashion and royalty but also to the lasting impact of an iconic figure from the 20th century. The high level of interest and sales reinforces the ongoing admiration for Princess Diana’s style, even in a modern context. Just last December, another of Diana’s dresses, the 1985 Jacques Azagury evening dress, made headlines by selling for $1,148,080 at a previous auction.
This auction event serves as a reminder of how each piece not only represents fashion but also reflects crucial historical moments and the enduring legacy of Princess Diana. Her unique style combined with her approach to kindness and compassion continues to resonate with the public, illustrating that fashion is much more than clothing; it is a narrative woven into the fabric of one’s life.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
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Additional Resources
- Beverly Hills Courier
- Town and Country
- Dagens
- People
- Time Out Los Angeles
- Wikipedia: Princess Diana
- Google Search: Princess Diana auction
- Google Scholar: Princess Diana fashion
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Princess Diana
- Google News: Princess Diana auction
