kerry taylor auctions

Princess Diana's Clothing Sells Above Estimates

Proving the enduring legacy of Princess Diana, the black taffeta gown that she wore on her first official appearance after her engagement to Prince Charles sold recently for a price far above the estimate. The dress was estimated at 30-50,000 pounds but sold for 192,000 pounds in an auction today, June 8 by Kerry Taylor Auctions at La Galleria in London. The gown was designed by David and Elizabeth Emanuel, the same designers who created Diana's wedding. The black dress with a sequined flounce at the bodice cemented Diana's status as more than just "shy Di" but a woman worth watching.

The dress was bought by fashion museum the Fundacion Museo De La Moda in Chile. Jorge Yarur, the founder of the museum, has said that when he dies he plans to have this dress and the other Diana dresses he owns donated to Kensington Palace, where she lived from the time of her wedding in 1981 until her death in 1997. Other items in the lots included the chiffon blouse worn by the Princess when she appeared in Vogue shortly after the announcement of her engagement. That went to the Newbridge Silverware Museum in Ireland for 26,400 pounds against an estimate of 10,000-15,000 pounds. The calico toile prototype for the Royal Wedding gown, brought in 20,400 pounds against an estimate of 8,000 and 12,000 pounds.

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Princess Diana's Black Ballgown Up For Sale

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Auctions

It's quite the season for famous gowns. First we learned about Marilyn Monroe's pink satin number up for auction now a black taffeta gown belonging to Princess Diana is up for sale. The evening gown was worn by Princess Diana on her first official appearance after her engagement to Prince Charles and marked her debut as an international fashion icon. The gown was designed by David and Elizabeth Emanuel, the same designers who created Diana's wedding. The black dress with a sequined flounce at the bodice is expected to bring between 30,000 and 50,000 pounds ($44,000 to $73,000) when it goes up for sale on June 8th by Kerry Taylor Auctions at La Galleria in London.
Also up for sale is the calico prototype used to fit her ivory wedding gown. That prototype is estimated at between 8,000 and 12,000 pounds ($12,000 to $17,000). The sale also includes the the silk chiffon blouse chosen for the Princess of Wales' official engagement portrait by Lord Snowdon. It is hoped that the pieces will go to a museum but could end up in a private collection. Many of Diana's dresses have been sold for thousands of dollars. The collection up for sale from David and Elizabeth Emanuel also includes sketches, notes, invoices, providing a complete picture of the creation of a Royal look.

Tags: david and elizabeth emmanuel, diana spencer, dress auction, kerry taylor auctions, princess diana