The Julien's Auctions house, based in Los Angeles, announced the sale of an evening gown worn by the late Princess Diana for $1.1 million, exceeding its initial estimated value by eleven times, setting a new record as the most expensive dress worn by Diana sold at auction. The auction house noted that the dress resembles those of ballet dancers, falls just below the knee, and is in black and blue, designed by Moroccan-British designer Jacques Azagury.
Princess Diana first wore the dress in Florence in 1985, and photos of her wearing it a second time were taken a year later during her visit to Vancouver, Canada. The auction house stated on Sunday that the dress and an accompanying illustration sold for $1,148,080 after being listed with an estimated price range of $100,000 to $200,000. They added in a statement, "Julien's Auctions has now set a new world record for the most expensive dress worn by Diana sold at auction," noting that the previous record was $604,800.
The dress features a long black velvet bodice embroidered with blue stars and a two-layer blue organza skirt adorned with a shawl and a bow. It was sold at the "Hollywood Legends" auction, which lasted four days and was organized by Julien's Auctions in collaboration with the American network Turner Classic Movies. The auction also included a variety of memorabilia related to the world of Hollywood.
