SOLD FOR £900,000
Her unique sense of style and the compelling way in which she expressed herself through fashion made Diana, Princess of Wales one of the world’s most famous trailblazers.
And as the fascination with her life endures – in a new wave of interest dubbed “The Crown effect”, sparked by Netflix’s historical drama – her outfits are making history, too.
At a recent auction in Hollywood, an evening gown worn twice by Diana as Princess of Wales – in Florence during her 1985 royal tour of Italy with Prince Charles, and again during a visit to Canada the following year – sold for a recordbreaking $1.15m (£900,000) to an unknown bidder, fetching more than 11 times the price estimated by Julien’s Auctions and far more than any of her dresses to date.
STAR OF THE SHOW
The romantic ballerina-style gown, which features a black velvet bodice embroidered with blue stars and a two-tier royal blue organza skirt with a sash and bow, was created by Jacques Azagury, who went on to become one of Diana’s favourite designers.
“The dress was very 1980s, with wide shoulders, yet more minimal than anything she wore,” he previously told hello!. “The only bit of froufrou was the organza skirt.”
For the Moroccan-British designer, who had been introduced to Diana by Anna Harvey, then the editor of UK Vogue, this first commission from the Princess marked the start of a ten-year relationship that he calls “the best moment of his career” and prompted the evolution of a pared-down style for Diana before her death in 1997.
In November, Jacques, who created a “twin” of each gown he made, sold the last five dresses he designed for his famous client to The Princess Diana Museum in Los Angeles for a total of £100,000.
Among the lots at the most recent auction was the shell-pink crepe blouse worn by Diana
