A dress first worn by Princess Diana in 1985 has sold for a record $1.148 million (£ 908.000) at auction, 11 times its estimate.
The blue and black dress, designed by Moroccan-British fashion designer Jacques Azagury, is now the most expensive dress worn by the princess to be sold at auction, smashing the previous record of $604,800, Los Angeles auction house Julien’s Auctions said in a statement. This very ’80s evening gown worn by Princess Diana just set an auction record.
The dress was part of a collection called “The Blue and Black Dress” that Azagury created for Diana in 1985. The collection was inspired by the colors of the sky and the sea, as well as by Diana’s love for animals and nature. The dress featured a fitted bodice with a sweetheart neckline and puffed sleeves, and a flowing skirt with ruffles and sequins. The dress also had a matching hat with feathers and pearls.
The dress was worn by Diana on several occasions, including at the premiere of the film “The Living Daylights” in London in November 1985, where she danced with John Travolta on stage. The dress also appeared in Vogue magazine’s December 1985 issue, where Diana posed with her husband Prince Charles and their son Prince William.
The dress was sold at Julien’s Auctions on December 18, 2023, as part of its “Royal Style” auction series that celebrates the fashion legacy of British royalty. The auction attracted more than 1,000 bidders from around the world who competed for the coveted piece of history. The final bid was placed by an anonymous buyer who paid $1.148 million for the dress.
The auction also featured other items related to Princess Diana’s style and life, such as her engagement ring from Prince Charles (estimated at $200,000), her wedding veil (estimated at $100,000), her engagement portrait (estimated at $50,000), and her personal belongings (estimated at $10,000).
The proceeds from the auction will benefit various charities that support causes close to Princess Diana’s heart, such as AIDS research, children’s welfare, animal protection, and environmental conservation.
Princess Diana was known for her stunning style and charisma that captivated millions of people around the world. She was also known for her humanitarian work and dedication to various causes that she championed throughout her life. One of these causes was animal welfare.
Diana loved animals more than anything else in the world. She had three dogs: Dodi Fayed’s Corgi Lupo (who died with him in Paris in 1997), Sarah Ferguson’s Corgi Tuppy (who lives with her in Scotland), and Camilla Parker Bowles’ Corgi Lili (who lives with her in Cornwall). She also supported many animal charities and organizations that helped rescue and rehabilitate abused or abandoned animals.
One of these charities was Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, which is one of London’s oldest and largest animal shelters. In 1985, Princess Diana visited Battersea Dogs & Cats Home to meet some of their residents and volunteers. She also donated some items from her personal wardrobe to help raise funds for their work.
Among these items was a blue and black dress that she wore on several occasions during that year. The dress was designed by Jacques Azagury, a Moroccan-British fashion designer who created it specifically for Diana based on her preferences and personality.
The dress was part of Azagury’s “The Blue and Black Dress” collection, which he described as “a tribute to Princess Diana”. He said he wanted to capture “the essence of who she is: elegant yet playful; sophisticated yet down-to-earth; glamorous yet humble”. He also said he wanted to reflect “the colors of nature: blue sky; black sea; white clouds; green trees”.
The dress featured a fitted bodice with a sweetheart neckline that accentuated Diana’s bustline. It also had puffed sleeves that added volume to her arms. The skirt flowed down to her ankles with ruffles along the hemline that gave it movement and flair. The skirt also had sequins scattered throughout it that sparkled under the light.
The dress came with a matching hat that had feathers on top that matched its color scheme. The hat also had pearls around its brim that added some elegance to its look.
The blue and black dress became one of Princess Diana’s signature pieces. She wore it on several occasions during 1985, such as:
On November 9th, she attended the premiere of the film “The Living Daylights” in London, where she danced with John Travolta on stage.
