Purple reign! Diana’s velvet gown by Victor Edelstein worn by the princess in 1991 royal portrait sells for $604,800 at auction
- The dress, by Victor Edelstein, sold at auction for nearly half a million pounds
- Diana wore the strapless purple evening gown in a royal portrait in 1991
- READ: EDEN CONFIDENTIAL: Modest Diana said no to Vogue job when she was given the chance to dip her toe into journalism by guest-editing the fashion bible
A Victor Edelstein dress worn by Diana, Princess of Wales, has been sold for $604,800 in an auction at Sotheby’s New York salesroom.
The strapless purple evening gown – worn by Diana in a royal portrait in 1991 – was bought on Friday at the curated auction The One.
Sotheby’s said the final bid was five times the pre-auction estimate of $80,000 to $120,000.
Diana was painted by Douglas Anderson in the gown. The portrait today hangs in London’s Royal Marsden Hospital, which she often visited, supported and served as President for.
A Victor Edelstein dress (pictured) worn by Diana, Princess of Wales, has been sold for $604,800 in an auction at Sotheby’s New York salesroom
Cynthia Houlton, Sotheby’s global head of fashion and accessories, said: ‘Diana has long been renowned and celebrated for her timeless sense of style, and this sleek and sophisticated bespoke ball gown, designed by Victor Edelstein, encapsulates Princess Diana’s effortless elegance.
‘Today’s sale of this historic dress is a reminder of Princess Diana’s enduring legacy that continues to inspire people all over the world.’
Diana would wear the dress again for a 1997 Vanity Fair spread, shot by photographer Mario Testino.
That same year, the ball dress of deep aubergine silk velvet, with a tulip-shaped stiffened skirt, augmented by three paste buttons at the back, was sold as part of a charity event.
Diana was painted by Douglas Anderson in the gown. The portrait (pictured) today hangs in London’s Royal Marsden Hospital, which she often visited, supported and served as President for
The strapless purple evening gown – worn by Diana in a royal portrait in 1991 – was bought on Friday at the curated auction The One
It formed part of an auction of 80 dresses to raise money for the charities’ Aids Crisis Trust and the Royal Marsden Hospital Cancer Fund.
The ball dress, designed for Edelstein’s Autumn 1989 collection, was sold 26 years ago for $24,150.
Edelstein, who would design other dresses worn by Diana in the 1980s and 1990s, also made the midnight-blue, off-the-shoulder, velvet gown she wore at a state banquet at the White House given by US president Ronald Reagan.
During the event in 1985, Diana famously danced with Hollywood actor John Travolta.
At The One auction on Friday, a jersey worn by American basketball player LeBron James during an NBA victory in 2013 was sold for $3.7 million.
Diana would wear the dress (pictured) again for a 1997 Vanity Fair spread, shot by photographer Mario Testino
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