Hopeful bidders and fans of Princess Diana were given the opportunity of a lifetime on Thursday morning: To own garments worn and beloved by the late royal herself.
The auction, “Princess Diana’s Style & A Royal Collection,” took place in Beverly Hills, Calif., on June 26, and featured more than 200 items that showcased the princess’s “enduring influence as a fashion icon and humanitarian,” Julien’s Auctions, the famed auctioneer company, said. Those who attended the live auction at the Verandah Ballroom in the Peninsula Beverly Hills were able to place first bids on items from the rare collection, though bidding online and over the phone with an auction house representative was also available. A portion of the proceeds from the auction will benefit the British charity Muscular Dystrophy UK, according to the auction house.
Among Diana’s auctioned items is her Belville Sassoon “Caring Dress,” which sold for $520,000, her Lady Dior lambskin handbag, which sold for $325,000 and her beloved British Lung Foundation sweatshirt, which sold for $221,000.
“This collection is not only the most comprehensive offering of her wardrobe ever presented, but also a tribute to her elegance, grace, glamour, and enduring spirit. Each item is a window into a moment in history,” Martin Nolan, Julien’s co-founder and executive director, said in a statement ahead of the auction.
Here’s a look at some of Diana’s most coveted wardrobe staples, along with how much they were auctioned for.
John Boyd Peach Pink Straw Archer Style Hat: $26,000
Scottish milliner John Boyd designed this custom hat, made of silk, ostrich feather plumes, feather stems and straw, for Diana’s 1981 honeymoon send-off outfit. The headpiece, which she wore again in 1983, was dyed light pink to match her Belville Sassoon skirt suit.
Dobbie White Three-Plume Fan: $58,500
Diana wore this limited-edition ostrich feather fan to the Fanmakers’ Banquet at Mason House in 1985. Inscribed on the three-plume fan’s sterling silver handle is the Prince of Wales crest.
Head Scarlet Nylon Ski Suit: $325,000
Diana was famously photographed wearing this magenta nylon suit while skiing in Malbun, Liechtenstein, in 1985; Klosters, Switzerland, in 1986; and Lech, Austria, in 1992. The suit, with its dropped shoulders and funnel neckline, also features brass tone buttons and adjustable D-ring belts.
Bruce Oldfield Yellow Floral Ensemble: $260,000
Diana wore this coordinating yellow floral set to the Royal Ascot in 1987. Designed by Bruce Oldfield, the colorful coordinates feature a short-sleeve silk top with ruched sleeves and a pencil skirt in the same print.
Bellville Sassoon Floral Day Dress: $520,000
Diana was photographed wearing this wardrobe staple — a silk, floral-printed dress designed by Belville Sassoon — nine times between 1988 and 1992. The bright blue garment, with its puffed sleeves and inviting print, was dubbed the “Caring Dress” because Diana often wore it during her visits with patients in hospitals.
“It was colorful, approachable, likeable and huggable,” Nolan told People. “When she would go to visit kids and people in the hospital, they gravitated toward the colors and felt they could hug her.”
The winning bid belonged to Renae Plant, who runs a virtual Princess Diana museum. Immediately after learning she’d won the garment, Plant fell to the floor out of excitement.
Three-Piece Escada Suit: $260,000
Another staple in Diana’s closet was her three-piece Escada suit. The grey cashmere ensemble features a double-breasted blazer with bright blue pinstripes as well as a matching skirt and blue silk blouse. Diana was photographed wearing the ensemble on six separate occasions from 1988 to 1992.
Rayne Two-Tone Shoes: $22,750
Diana stepped out in a pair of red-and-black leather heels designed by Rayne on Christmas Day at Sandringham in 1990. For the festive occasion, Diana paired the two-tone pumps with a black, white and red houndstooth skirt suit by Moschino Cheap and Chic, along with a Victor Edelstein blouse and Phillip Somersville brimmed hat.
Lady Dior Lambskin Handbag: $325,000
Diana was first photographed carrying the black Lady Dior handbag on her official visit to Argentina in 1995, and then later that same year during a visit to the Foundation for Conductive Education in Birmingham, England. Because of Diana’s love of the silhouette, the box-shaped tote was later named Lady Dior in 1996, in her honor.
Catherine Walker Black Cocktail Dress: $260,000
The sleeveless black cocktail dress, with its delicate black beading on the bodice and subtly ruched skirt, was worn by Diana on a few occasions. The late princess wore the Catherine Walker garment at London Fashion Week in 1994 and again during her official visit to Hong Kong in 1995.
Catherine Walker Coat Dress: $455,000
Diana was photographed in a navy wool Catherine Walker coatdress while leaving the Carlyle Hotel in New York in 1995. The double-breasted garment features a black velvet collar and cuffs, and is adorned with gold anchor buttons.
Prada Milano Champagne-Colored Leather Tote: $26,000
Featuring a long gold link handle and embossed Prada logo, the champagne-hued leather tote was worn by Diana on three separate occasions, in Moscow in 1995, and Pakistan and Chicago in 1996.
British Lung Foundation Sweatshirt: $221,000
No one did a slouchy sweatshirt like Princess Diana. The beloved royal had a knack for blending glamour and athleisure when it came to curating her everyday style. Included in her collection of sweatshirts was this British Lung Foundation crewneck, which she wore on several occasions. Here she’s photographed wearing the sweater — with a blazer, light denim jeans, brown riding boots and a navy cap — at Guards Polo Club in 1988.
