Julien’s Auctions, the industry-leading Hollywood auction house, has announced “PRINCESS DIANA’S ELEGANCE & A ROYAL COLLECTION,” an exclusive auction taking place live on Thursday, June 27th and online at juliensauctions.com. A portion of the auction proceeds will benefit Muscular Dystrophy UK, the leading charity for over 110,000 people in the UK living with one of over 60 muscle-wasting and weakening conditions.
Julien’s Auctions, which has represented the sales of some of Princess Diana’s most important garments, most recently with their $1.14 million sale of her Jacques Azagury 1985 ballerina-length gown, a new auction record for the most expensive dress worn by Princess Diana, has assembled the largest collection offered at auction of the legend’s most luxurious cocktail and evening dresses, as well as suits, shoes, hats, and accessories, worn in her most photographed and famous fashion statement making moments since the 1997 auction by Christie’s.
From her philanthropic missions to royal tours and appearances that changed royal fashion and the monarchy forever, on offer will be Diana’s highly glamorous gowns worn in her most photographed appearances, such as a Murray Arbeid midnight blue strapless tulle Diamante Star gown with a fitted bodice worn by Princess Diana twice in 1986, at the Phantom of the Opera premiere and to a dinner at Claridge’s for King Constantine of Greece. Diana was also photographed in the gown by Lord Snowdon in 1997 for her charity auction (estimate: $200,000 – $400,000).
Another show-stopping item is a magenta silk and lace evening dress designed by Victor Edelstein that she wore in London and in Hamburg, Germany in 1987 (estimate: $200,000 – $400,000). The off-the-shoulder with banded lace sleeves dress features a Spanish flamenco-style skirt with three tiers of gathered lace flounces. Edelstein first met Diana when she was pregnant with Prince William and would go on to produce Diana’s most influential look–an ink-blue velvet gown with a mermaid tail skirt that she wore when she danced with John Travolta at The White House.
Some of Diana’s style-defining ensembles created by one of the Princess’s closest collaborators, Catherine Walker, will be presented, such as the pink floral shirt dress designed by Walker for her clothing label The Chelsea Design Company as seen worn by Diana in photographs in 1991, leaving St. Mary’s Hospital in London and in 1992 leaving Prince Harry’s school in Notting Hill (estimate: $100,000 – $200,000).
A Victorian revival evening gown featuring a fitted bodice with a Basque waist and a full voluminous skirt with under layers of tulle petticoats designed by Walker, not worn in public (estimate: $100,000 – $200,000); and Walker’s two-piece yellow and navy skirt suit she was photographed wearing in 1989 in Hong Kong during a visit to Tamar, a British Forces shore base and when Diana gave a speech and awarded the Gopaul family the award for Family of the Year in London in 1990 (estimate: $30,000 – $50,000).
Accessories
Other highlights include many of Diana’s shoes, handbags, and hats that changed Royal Fashion accessorising such as her Kurt Geiger emerald green satin jewelled vamp evening shoes worn to a state banquet at the Dorchester Hotel in London (estimate: $2,000 – $4,000); a striking yellow and black felted wool turban style hat designed by Royal milliner Philip Somerville for Princess Diana, photographed wearing it in Berlin, Germany in 1987 (photo right) and Somerville’s cream and red lacquered straw wide-brim hat accented with three Calla Lilies sewn at the side that Diana was photographed wearing at a Garter ceremony and on a Royal Tour in Australia in 1985 (each hat estimate: $10,000 – $20,000); a Rayne violet leather semi-circle clutch she was photographed holding several times in 1990, on an official visit to Washington D.C. where she and First Lady Barbra Bush visited AIDS patients and during her royal tour in India where she toured the Taj Mahal in 1992 (estimate: $2,000 – $4,000); a Rayne white and red leather envelope clutch Diana was photographed holding on visits to Cambridge in 1988 and 1989 (photo left) and on tour in Saudi Arabia and Kyoto, Japan in 1986 while trying on a hand-painted silk kimono worth 40,000 pounds at the time (estimate: $2,000 – $4,000); and more.
“Julien’s is honoured to present this historic auction that will celebrate Princess Diana’s iconic fashion style and her reign as the People’s Princess and will be the largest Diana collection to come to auction in 27 years,” said Martin Nolan, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Julien’s Auctions. “We are also delighted to bring back many of Diana’s favorite fashion ensembles to Asia and Europe that she wore on some of her highly publicized international royal appearances and humanitarian efforts such as her Catherine Walker suit from her 1989 visit to Hong Kong. Furthermore, this showcase in Hong Kong represents Julien’s efforts to expand our presence and development in the region and our leadership in the auctions of Royal Fashion.”
It was also announced that the public will have a once in a lifetime opportunity to view highlights of a dazzling collection of the Princess of Wales’ most famous attire in Asia and Europe before its auction beginning at a Pop Up at K11 MUSEA in Hong Kong from April 18th-April 29th and exhibition at The Museum of Style Icons in Newbridge, Ireland’s June 11th-June 27th.“Julien’s is honored to present this historic auction that will celebrate Princess Diana’s iconic fashion style and her reign as the People’s Princess and will be the largest Diana collection to come to auction in 27 years,” said Martin Nolan, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Julien’s Auctions. “We are also delighted to bring back many of Diana’s favorite fashion ensembles to Asia and Europe that she wore on some of her highly publicized international royal appearances and humanitarian efforts such as her Catherine Walker suit from her 1989 visit to Hong Kong. Furthermore, this showcase in Hong Kong represents Julien’s efforts to expand our presence and development in the region and our leadership in the auctions of Royal Fashion.”
JULIEN’S AUCTIONS TOUR OF COLLECTION
Pop Up at K11 MUSEA Gold Ball
Victoria Dockside, 18 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong
April 18th- April 29th
Free and open to the public 10am-10pm daily
The Museum of Style Icons
Athgarvan Road, Newbridge,
Co. Kildare, Ireland
W12 HT62
Exhibition: June 11th-June 27th
https://visitnewbridgesilverware.com/about-the-museum-of-style-icons
Registration is required to bid in this auction and can be done in person on the day of the auction, or online before the sale at JuliensAuctions.com
For inquiries, please email info@juliensauctions.com or call 310-836-1818.
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