Elegance and style — the highly valuable dresses worn by Princess Diana on display here this month
Martin Nolan from Julien’s Auctions in LA at the Museum of Style Icons at Newbridge Silverware opening of the Princess Diana’s Elegance & A Royal Collection.
From Hong Kong to New York — and now Newbridge. A new exhibition of some of Diana's most famous gowns and accessories will be showcased at the Museum of Style Icons from today before it is auctioned at the end of the month in LA.
Martin Nolan of Julien’s Auctions, the Irish-born auctioneer to the stars, brought the pieces to Ireland this week, for the only European exhibition of ‘Princess Diana’s Elegance & A Royal Collection’.
Athlone-born Nolan has handled the world’s biggest celebrity auctions — Michael Jackson to the Beatles.
This Diana collection also includes personal letters she wrote to her nanny from the early 80s to the mid 90s.
“What I really learned was that she was happy,” says Nolan.
“She was happy on her honeymoon, she was happy being pregnant, she was happy when William was born, she was happy when Harry was born… We think of the sadness she went through, and she did have sadness.. but reading these letters she really did have a happy life.”
This collection came about after Julien’s Auctions’ record breaking sale of one of Princess Diana‘s evening dresses last year. It broke auction records — achieving $1.1 million, 11 times its estimate.
Julien’s sold the Jacques Azagury piece, which the late Princess of Wales wore while touring Italy in 1985. To date, it’s the most expensive of Princess Diana’s dresses to sell at auction.
“That led to a call from a lady in Scotland who was a school friend of Diana’s. They wore the same size — Diana used to give her shoes, bags, hats and dresses. The lady never thought of the value until she read about the auction,” says Nolan.
“She said I’ve been wearing all this stuff… [we said] stop wearing them!”
The collection highlight — a Murray Arbeid midnight-blue strapless tulle diamante star gown, worn to the London premiere of in 1986 — is estimated to sell in excess of $400,000.
“ Princess Diana has a timeless allure, she exuded movie-star glamour that transcended mere fashion,” says Nolan adding that she was ahead of her time — a sustainable dresser, she was willing to ‘wear and repeat’.
As well as fashion economics, she also practiced fashion diplomacy — knowing what to wear for each and every occasion. A visit to a cancer charity for example would see her in low-key attire, says Nolan, so she could embrace and not overwhelm the children.
The auction includes items worn by the princess privately, such as a black velvet Catherine Walker evening gown estimated to sell for $100,000 to $200,000; and the two-piece yellow and navy skirt suit by Catherine Walker that Diana wore in Hong Kong in 1989.
The final toile of her wedding dress and her engagement blouse are on permanent display at the Museum of Style Icons.
Princess Diana’s Elegance & A Royal Collection is open now at the Museum of Style Icons and runs until June 17. Admission is free. For more see visitnewbridgesilverware.com
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