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| Princess Diana |
The "Infanta"-style outfit, created by social tailor Victor Edelstein, was memorialized in various ways on the late princess, including portraits, editorials, and even on a doll. The dress will now be sold at auction at Sotheby's New York and might bring in more than $120,000.
Princess Diana sat in a gorgeous Victorian chair in 1991 with a crown and two gold lions perched on either side of the crest rail. Despite the continuous turmoil in her marriage, the Princess matched the grandeur of the chair. Her stance was that of a swan, and the aubergine silk velvet gown Victor Edelstein, a society dressmaker, had created enhanced her innate beauty. The Princess and the garment were captured in a royal portrait with a fast flash from Lord Snowdon's camera. On January 27, thirty years later, the dress will be offered for sale in Sotheby's New York's first "The One" auction, with an estimated price of close to $120,000.
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| princess-diana-dress-front : COURTESY OF SOTHEBY'S |
According to Christina Prescott-Walker, Sotheby's Global Director of Art and Objects, "Princess Diana was respected for her effortless sense of style, which is arguably best expressed by this elegant and stylish ball gown designed by world-renowned Victor Edelstein." "The gown was chosen for Diana's wardrobe and eternally immortalized in her official portrait by Lord Snowdon in 1991, epitomizing her everlasting grace and elegance."
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| princess-diana-dress-close-up : COURTESY OF SOTHEBY'S |
In addition to Snowdon's image, the outfit made a number of other notable appearances. The Princess was painted by British portraitist Douglas Hardinge Anderson in the same outfit and against an outdoor scene in 1991 as well. Diana served as president of the Royal Marsden Hospital Fund, where the painted portrait is currently displayed.
Princess Diana wore the same outfit in an editorial spread shot by Mario Testino six years later. This was the final official photograph taken of her before her tragic passing. It was considered one of Princess Diana's most recognizable outfits and a smaller version of it was created for Franklin Mint's 1998 limited edition Princess Diana doll.
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| Victor Edelstein worked with Princess Diana for over a decade, from 1982 to 1993. - PA IMAGES |
The outfit has, however, previously been seen at auction. Eighty dresses from Princess Diana's personal collection were sold in 1997, with the money raised going to the Royal Marsden Hospital Cancer Fund and the AIDS Crisis Trust. Of course, the gown was among those in this group.
According to Prescott-Walker, "it is a testimony to Diana's irrepressible personality to showcase this gown in our inaugural, curated auction 'The One,' placing it in dialogue with many other best-in-class goods spanning millennia of human history.
