princess diana

Kate Middleton's Fashion Show Dress Up For Auction

They call it the dress that may have started it all. By all they mean the Royal Wedding of Kate Middleton and Prince William. The pair were friends but the romance reportedly began after the prince saw Kate Middleton wear a transparent knitted dress over a black bra and panties at a 2002 charity fashion show at the University of St. Andrews. The dress, created by Charlotte Todd (who did not pursue a career in fashion and now works at an aquarium), is expected to sell for more than 8,000 pounds ($12,800) at Kerry Taylor Auctions in London on March 17. The see-through piece was originally meant to be worn as a skirt but Kate wore it as a short dress.

Tags: catherine middleton, kate middleton, kery taylor auctions, prince william, Princess Diana, royal wedding

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EXCLUSIVE: Former Harrods Owner Mohamed al Fayed Sells Off His Rolls & Ferrari Collection

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Auctions, The Classicist, Wealth

Last summer we reported that Mohamed al Fayed had sold famed London department store Harrods to Qatar's royal family for $2.2 billion. Now the ultra-rich businessman, equally well known as the father of the late Princess Diana's lover Dodi Fayed, is selling off his incredible car collection, featuring stunning custom classic Rolls-Royces, Ferraris and more. There are ten cars in all from al Fayed's collection starring in Bonhams' Paris sale of Motor Cars at the Grand Palais on Feb. 5 - chief among them being the 1965 Ferrari 330 GT 2+2 originally owned by John Lennon, expected to fetch up to $220,000, which we can now exclusively reveal comes from al Fayed's collection and was in fact owned by Dodi Fayed.

Next up are a remarkable pair of classic Rolls-Royce motorcars which al Fayed has refinished in custom Harrods Green livery, one with a royal pedigree. The 1963 Rolls-Royce Phantom V Limousine (above) was the property of H.R.H. Prince Edward, Duke of Kent until al Fayed acquired it in 1996, and is expected to fetch up to $200,000. The Duke of Kent's Rolls, which was originally painted black, still has its blue bullet lamp on the roof signifying Royal ownership. There's also a matching Harrods Green 1969 Rolls-Royce Phantom VI Limousine, estimated at up to $240,000. Read on for the full list of al Fayed's cars being offered for sale, including several other Ferraris:

Gallery: Mohamed al Fayed's Car Collection at Bonhams

Ex-Duke of Kent 1963 Rolls-Royce Phantom V

Tags: auctions, Bonhams, British royalty, classic cars, department store, Dodi Fayed, Ferrari, Harrods, London, mohamed+al+fayed, mohamedalfayed, Mohammed al Fayed, Paris, Princess Diana, Rolls-Royce, royalty, UK

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Princess Diana's Wedding Dress Heads To Kansas City In March

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

The Princess Diana exhibition is moving through the Midwest. The exhibit is currently at the Grand Rapids Art Museum in Michigan and heads next to Kansas City, Missouri where it opens March 4 in the city's Union Station. The exhibition runs through June 12 meaning that it will be in place during the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton in April. MLive.com reports that more than 50,000 tickets have been sold in Grand Rapids to see the exhibition of 150 items related to the life of Princess Diana that includes the famous wedding dress.

Kansas City's Union Station is a historic railroad station that was renovated into a non-profit center. Built in 1914, it was a working train station for years but was closed in the 1980s. It was neglected for years until its renovation in the late 1990s. Now it is a community center filled with shops and restaurants as well as its own Amtrak stop.It houses the permanent collections and archives for Union Station Kansas City, Inc./Kansas City Museum. Tickets for the Diana exhibit are $23.50 and special events for the celebration will include mother/daughter teas and ladies night Fridays.

Tags: Princess Diana, princess diana dresses, Princess Diana exhibits, wedding dress

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Warhol's Charles and Diana Up For Sale

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Art

The Opera Gallery in London is hoping to cash in on royal wedding fever, putting two portraits by artist Andy Warhol up for sale that were created to celebrate the wedding of Prince Charles and Princess Diana. The AFP reports that the gallery acquired the original synthetic polymer and silkscreen ink on canvas pieces from a private collection. These pieces were initially sold to a private collector in 1982 and haven't been for sale since. The large portraits show Diana in a formal gown against a pink background while Charles is in a uniform against a blue background. The gallery will be selling them as a set for 2 million pounds ($3.15 million).

Tags: andy warhol, prince charles, princess diana

The Fashion Statement: Will 2011 be the Year of the Hat?

by Kristin Young (RSS feed) —

Filed under: The Fashion Statement

Hats worn for the express purpose of style hasn't been widely popular since the '20s. Millinery did have a brief comeback in the '80s when Princess Diana gave visibility to the British tradition of wearing hats for special occasions. Now Kate Middleton is again putting a modern face under the British topper. And numerous designers on both sides of the pond made the hat a central focus of their spring/summer runway collections. And then there is Lady Gaga entertaining us all with her theatrical chapeaus.

Not since the '80s have we seen so many hats! So we wonder: Could 2011 be the year of the hat?

Arguably the most buzzed about accessory of the season was the colorful, wide-brimmed hat like the one above at Prada. Badgley Mischka and Marc Jacobs channeled Jodi Foster in Taxi Driver with their bright pink versions shown over hair that had been appropriately curled and frizzed. Sally Field in The Flying Nun would have fit right in at Missoni where almost every model wore hats that flapped down the runway like wings. And Alberta Ferretti went boho by pairing floppy fringed brims with her collection of gauzy ethereal gowns.

Gallery: Hat Gallery

Tags: Alberta Ferretti, ann demeulemeester, Anna Sui, BadgleyMischka, Carolina Herrera, Christian Dior, dsquared2, Giles Deacon, Hermes, issey miyake, John Galliano, John paul gaultier, just cavalli, Kate Middleton, Lady Gaga, Missoni, moschino, Prada, Princess Diana, Sonia Rykiel, YohjiYamamoto

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Where to See Princess Diana's Dresses

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel

With a royal engagement announced and Princess Diana's ring on Kate Middleton's finger, many are feeling nostalgic about the time when young Diana first came into the public eye. There are several places where you can see Diana's dresses. A special exhibition of ten dresses that belonged to Diana, Princess of Wales is on display at the Fashion Museum in Bath, England from now until January 9, 2011. The dresses were lent to the museum by their owner, Mrs Suzanne King and span the 16 years that Diana was in the spotlight as a style icon. The exhibit includes dresses worn during the Royal tours of Canada and New Zealand in the early 1980s, evening dresses by couturier Catherine Walker from around 1990, and little black cocktail dresses by designers such as Versace from the mid-1990s.

Since her tragic early death, Princess Diana's dresses have been in exhibits around the world and some have sold for quite a bit of money. Earlier this year the black taffeta gown that she wore on her first official appearance after her engagement to Prince Charles sold for £192,000 at auction. That dress was bought by 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.

Princess Diana's wedding dress is currently in Michigan at the Grand Rapids Art Museum where it is the star of an exhibit titled "Diana -- A Celebration," which opened earlier this month and runs through February 16, 2011. The exhibit of more than 150 personal objects includes the ivory silk taffeta and lace wedding dress, with a fitted, boned bodice and curved neckline. Admission to the exhibit is $20.

Tags: Princess Diana, princess diana dresses, princess diana engagement ring, Princess Diana exhibits, royal engagement, royal wedding

Guernsey's Auction Fails To Sell Liberty's Nose, Diana's Jewels

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Auctions

News from last night's auction at Guernsey's in New York City is not good. According to reports, a lot of the memorabilia did not sell. The auction was a bit of a mixed bag boasting everything from Superman's cape to a cast of the Statue of Liberty's nose and may have attracted more of the curious than the ready-to-bid. The nose was expected to bring in between $150,000 and $200,000. A set of jewels worn by Princess Diana were listed with an estimate of $1.5 to $2.5 million but did not reach their reserve price. The AFP quotes Arlan Ettinger, president of the auction house as saying that the reserve prices for some items were very high.

What did sell was a statue used in the movie "The Maltese Falcon." It went for $305,000 dollars to billionaire Stewart Rahr who was at the auction with Leonardo DiCaprio. Two prop tablets from the movie "The Ten Commandments" carried by actor Charlton Heston during his portrayal of Moses went for $18,000.

Tags: guernseys, princess diana, superman

Rubens Painting Sells To Raise Money For Princess Diana's Family Home

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Auctions, Art

A painting by Flemish master Peter Paul Rubens listed for auction by the family of the late Princess Diana sold on Tuesday at Christie's for 9 million pounds ($13.68 million). The picture "A Commander being armed for Battle," was painted in 1613 or 1614. The bearded man had been identified by some as Emperor Charles V and carried an estimate of 8-12 million pounds ($12-18 million). The painting has been at the Spencer family home, Althorp for more than 200 years. Although it was originally described as being in the "school of Rubens" it has now been identified by noted scholars as being painted by the master himself.

The painting is part of a Spencer collection sell-off of approximately $30 million designed to help preserve the family home. Althorp is undergoing a major restoration and the trustees of the estate decided to sell artwork deemed not integral to the Spencer Collection. Diana's brother Earl Spencer also sold off "King David" by Baroque artist Il Guercino for 5.2 million pounds. Overall the auction raised 42.3 million pounds solidly mid-range against an estimate of 36.9-55.8 million pounds.

Tags: althorp, art market, auction-house, christies auction house, christies international, ChristiesAuction, ChristiesAuctionHouse, Earl Spencer, peter paul rubens, Princess Diana, rubens

Occult Jams Feature Princess Diana's Hair, Pyramid Sand

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Events

We've seen diamonds made from celebrity hair before but jam? The AP is reporting that something called "occult jam" is being sold as part of the Surreal House exhibit at London's Barbican Art Gallery. The jam is said to be made from infusing a small sample of the late Princess Diana's hair with gin and then combining the infused gin with milk and sugar to create a product that is said to have a taste similar to condensed milk. The jam is being sold for five pounds a jar (around $7.60).

The maker is Sam Bompas, who founded catering company Bompas and Parr. The hair was bought from a celebrity hair dealer. Other occult jams being sold at the gallery include absinthe and pineapple with sand from the Great Pyramids and plum and oak with wood from Nelson's ship The Victory.

This summer Courvoisier and Bompas & Parr are also hosting the Complete History of Food, a walk-through dining experience and multi-course meal charting key revolutionary periods in food history held at a private London venue. Food eras covered include Medieval, Renaissance, Victorian and the contemporary scene. A meal and four cocktails are included in the £25 ticket price.

The Surreal House is a labyrinth of chambers, designed by architects Carmody Groarke, sort of a fun house gone artsy it features works by Salvador Dali, Marcel Duchamp, Alberto Giacometti, René Magritte, Man Ray, Joseph Cornell, Louise Bourgeois, Rebecca Horn and Rem Koolhaas.

Tags: barbican gallery, london, Princess Diana, sam bompas, surreal house

Princess Diana's Clothing Sells Above Estimates

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Auctions

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.

Tags: kerry taylor auctions, princess diana, princess diana auction, princess diana dresses, Princess Diana exhibits

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

Princess Diana's Family Selling Off Art

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Auctions, Art

rubens, a commander being armed for battle

The family of the late Princess Diana is selling off some of its famous art collection. "A Commander being armed for Battle" painted in either 1613 or 1614 by Flemish master Peter Paul Rubens is hoped to bring 8-12 million pounds ($12-18 million) when it goes on sale at Christie's in London on July 6 as part of an old masters sale. The painting has been at the Spencer family home, Althorp for more than 200 years. Although it was originally described as being in the "school of Rubens" it has now been identified by noted scholars as being painted by the master himself.

The painting is part of a Spencer collection sell-off of approximately $30 million designed to help preserve the family home. Althorp is undergoing a major restoration and the trustees of the estate decided to sell artwork deemed not integral to the Spencer Collection. Earl Spencer, Diana's brother, is head of the estate, and plans to marry for a third time later this year.

Tags: althorp, art, art for sale, earl spencer, peter paul rubens, princess diana, rubens, spencer collection

A Fight Over Princess Diana's Dresses

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Celebrity Shopping, Crimes and Misdemeanors

Controversy and drama continue to surround Princess Diana, even so many years after her death, as a fight has broken out over ownership of a collection of her beautiful and historical dresses.

Maureen Rorech Dunkel bought 13 of Princess Diana's dresses for $700,000 just a few weeks before her unexpected death back in 1997, and now the fate of 5 of those dresses is in dispute. It's all very tangled and twisted but apparently Dunkel had some financial difficulties and took out a series of loans -- to the tune of $1.5 million -- from HRH Ventures LLC and used the dress collection as security. Dunkel has since defaulted on payment and recently filed for bankruptcy, but Patricia C. Sullivan (manager for HRH Ventures) is seeking ownership of 5 of the 13 dresses claiming Dunkel doesn't have the resources to properly care for and maintain such irreplaceable valuables. Among the 5 is a blue velvet dress valued at over $1 million that the Princess wore to a White House dinner and was photographed in dancing with John Travolta. Dunkel, who is also known for founding The People's Princess Charitable Foundation, is claiming the loans aren't supposed to mature until 2012.

As of right now all the dresses are on loan to Kensington Palace in London.

Source

Tags: princess diana, princess diana dresses, PrincessDiana, PrincessDianaDresses

Al Fayed Receives Modest Payout In Princess Diana Case

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

There's an intriguing update in the Princess Diana story. The AFP reports that a French court has ordered the authorities to pay Mohamed Al Fayed, the owner of Harrods department store and the father of Dodi Fayed, 5,000 euros over an inquiry into the car crash that killed Princess Diana, Dodi Fayed and their driver Henri Paul in Paris. Since the accident in 1997, Mohamed Al Fayed has claimed that the accident, which was caused when Paul attempted to elude paparazzi photographers, was part of a murderous plot.

In 2007, Al Fayed brought a case against the French state after a judge dismissed a challenge to the original inquest ruling which stated that the crash had been caused by the fact that Henri Paul was driving drunk. Al Fayed claim that the case had been slowed down by mistakes made by the judge in charge. This week the court ruled that court authorities were responsible for the problems had delayed that case several years and so Al Fayed is owed 5,000 euros compensation plus 3,000 euros in legal fees. It's a drop in the bucket for the billionaire department store owner but Al Fayed has said that he is delighted because the verdict shows that there has been a cover-up.

Source

Tags: dodi fayed, DodiFayed, henri paul, HenriPaul, mohamed al-fayed, MohamedAl-fayed, princess diana, PrincessDiana

Princess Diana's Dress to be Auctioned on E-Bay

by Sandy Maple (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Auctions, Charity

A few months before Princess Diana's tragic death in a car crash in Paris, 80 gowns from her personal collection went up for auction at Christie's. Three of those gowns were purchased by the cable television network WE TV and have been preserved ever since, waiting for the right moment to bring them out as a celebration of her memory and style. Two will be touring the country this fall, the other will be auctioned for charity.

Beginning August 12, this beautiful chiffon evening gown designed by Catherine Walker will go up for auction on E-Bay. Valued at more than $300,000, the Princess wore the gown to the Cannes Film Festival in 1987 and again to the opening of Miss Saigon in 1989. All proceeds from the sale will go to America's Promise Alliance to support a cause close to Diana's heart - helping underprivileged children. America's Promise Alliance is a non-profit organization founded by General Colin Powell to to ensure that all children have the fundamental resources needed to lead successful happy lives.

The auction runs through August 22 and the starting bid is $125,000.

Source

Tags: america's promise, America'sPromise, auction, canne, cannes film festival, CannesFilmFestival, catherine walker, CatherineWalker, charity, colin powell, ColinPowell, diana, dress, ebay, evening gown, EveningGown, miss saigon, MissSaigon, princess diana, princess of wales, PrincessDiana, PrincessOfWales, we, we tv, WeTv

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