June 9, 2010 (Sampurn Wire): The black taffeta dress, which established the 19-year-old, Lady Diana Spencer, the most glamorous member of the Royal Family, has been sold in an auction in London for around £192000, by a fashion museum in Chile. The price is nearly four times than what it expected to get. Museo De La Moda paid the price, which includes a buyer’s premium.
Princess Diana wore the dress at an event at the Goldsmiths’ Hall in the City in March 1981, on her first official date with fiancé Prince Charles. The dress was designed by Elizabeth and David Emanuel, who later designed the wedding dress for the princess.
The images of Diana stepping out of the limousine in the black gown with a plunging neckline, made headlines catapulting Diana as a style icon from a shy society girl. Later Diana returned the gown to the designers for an alteration as she lost weight. But making a new one was easier, so the original dress remained as it is for years.
Speaking about Diana, Elizabeth Emanuel said that her transformation was incredible, as she looked like a movie star instead ofa nursery school teacher.
“We gave her the dress, made a little shawl to go with it so that she could cover up on the night and away she went”. She added that when the Princess bent over to get out of the limousine but instead of thinking that she was showing off her cleavage, everyone only thought that she was looked stunning.
The dress was center of attraction at the auction held at La Galleria, by specialist vintage fashion auctioneers Kerry Taylor Auctions.
-Sampurn Wire