Princess Diana's 1985 Ballerina-Inspired Evening Gown Smashes Auction Records with Stunning $11 Million Sale
Princess Diana’s iconic 1985 ballerina evening dress shatters records, fetching an astonishing $11 million at auction This exquisite piece was worn by the princess in both 1985 and 1986, adding to its timeless allure A truly remarkable deal of the day
Princess Diana. Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images
Princess Diana passed away 26 years ago, but her legacy continues to captivate people's interest. At a recent auction held by Julien’s Auctions in Los Angeles, a dress worn by the late royal was sold for a record-breaking $1.1 million on Sunday, December 17.
The dress in question was created by the Moroccan-British fashion designer Jacques Azagury and includes shoulder pads, a black velvet bodice adorned with blue embroidered stars, and a blue two-tiered organza skirt with a sash and bow.
According to Julien’s Auctions’ official website, the dress is described as having a ballerina skirt that pays homage to Princess Diana’s passion for dance and her support of the English National Ballet. The design is said to be both charming and elegant, with silver metallic paint on the velvet adding a sparkling touch that complements the embroidery, creating a look reminiscent of a starry night sky.
Jayne Fincher/Princess Diana Archive/Getty Images
The dress was worn by Diana on two separate occasions. The first instance was during an official royal tour with her then-husband Prince Charles (now King Charles III) in Florence, Italy, in April 1985. She donned the garment once again at the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra in 1986.
Diana’s winning bid set a new record for the highest amount ever paid for one of her dresses— 11 times more than the dress’ original estimated value of $100,000. The previous record was set in January of this year, when a strapless velvet purple dress designed by Victor Edelstein was sold for $604,800.
At the same auction, many other iconic clothing items previously worn by the royal were also sold. This included a light pink silk chiffon blouse worn by Diana in her official 1981 engagement portrait, which fetched $381,000 — nearly four times the amount of its initial estimate of $80,000.
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Other items which were sold at the auction include a signed design sketch of the velvet evening dress by Azagury, which fetched $5,080, and a red evening gown worn by Diana in 1991 to the premiere of Hot Shots in London, which was sold for $571,500.
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So, what is it about Diana that continues to fascinate and inspire the public — enough to drop over $1 million on one of her dresses?
In an interview with The New York Times on Monday, December 18, fashion critic Elizabeth Holmes shared her thoughts, stating, "The fact that this dress, all these years later, goes for this amount - I think people continue to be in awe of her and her fashion. Diana has remained a fashion icon."
