An evening gown once worn by Princess Diana will highlight a fashion auction in London later this month.
The Bruce Oldfield-designed crushed purple velvet number will sell with a £70,000 ($87,500) high estimate at Kerry Taylor Auctions’ Passion for Fashion sale on December 12.
Diana wore it at a dinner hosted by Portuguese president Mario Soares during an official visit to the country in 1987.
It last sold just months before Diana’s death in 1997 in a major charity auction at Christie’s, where it achieved $26,450.
“The dress since purchase has been occasionally exhibited for charity and carefully stored away in tissue paper,” explains the auction house.
“The last person to wear the gown was the Princess as, as out of respect, the purchaser never wore it.
“The dress is therefore in pristine condition and comes with a matching velvet padded hanger and the original Christies lot ticket.”
Two further Diana dresses are also up for grabs.
A Caroline Charles-tartan wool dress that Diana sported at the Braemar Highland Games in 1982 is sure to attract interest. It has a £9,000 ($11,250) valuation.
A Catherine Walker turquoise silk outfit Diana wore when rubbing noses with a local Maori dignitary in New Zealand in 1983 has a more modest £1,000 ($1,250) estimate.
The record for a Diana dress at auction is £240,000 ($362,424), set by the Victor Edelstein gown she wore when dancing with John Travolta at the White House.
An exhibition of Diana’s fashion comes to London next year.
The London auction will also feature a cotton dress worn by the Queen’s sister, Princess Margaret, in Bermuda in 1967. It’s estimated at up to £600 ($750).
