The gown, which was designed by Catherine Walker especially for the state visit to India in February 1992, is set to fetch between 80,000-120,000 pounds. (Image: AFP)
London:
A Mughal-inspired designer gown wornby Princess Diana during her state visit to India in 1992 isamong 10 iconic outfits coming up for auction next month.
The lavishly embroidered pink silk evening gown andbolero, designed by Catherine Walker especially for the statevisit to India in February 1992, is set to fetch between80,000-120,000 pounds.
"It is one of the most lavish of all her gowns. Richlyembroidered royal dresses have been a tradition for royaltyand aristocracy since Elizabethan times," a spokesperson forKerry Taylor Auctions told PTI.
It was during this particular trip that Princess Dianawas famously photographed sitting alone at the Taj Mahal,which led to a flurry of speculation in the press at the time.
According to the lot description, the inspiration for theembroidered design came from the lid of an Indian inlaidmarquetry box discovered by the designers in a London market.
Great care was taken when choosing the colours of theneedlework as it needed to be colourful and exuberant toreflect the country of her visit.
The other nine lots at the auction includes anothericonic gown worn by the princess while dancing with actor JohnTravolta during a state dinner at the White House in 1985.
The Victor Edelstein midnight blue velvet outfit is thehighlight of the sale and set to fetch up to 300,000 pounds."Diana was photographed wearing these gowns by not onlyby the paparazzi, but by some of the leading photographers ofthe day - including Mario Testino and Lord Snowdon," said theauction house, which specialises in vintage fashion sales.
It is confident that the latest auction will prove hugelypopular as the lots include some of the "most important andiconic" dresses worn by Diana, who died in a car crash inParis in 1997.
At Diana's request, the 10 dresses were originally soldin a charity auction in New York in June 1997, just two monthsbefore she died.
Florida-based businesswoman Maureen Dunkel bought thedresses but was forced to put them up for auction in 2011after she went bankrupt - but only four of them sold.
"That sale was a bit of a disaster... The reserve priceswere ridiculously high. But they are beautiful dresses. Wehave a good reputation for selling these things and theestimates are sensible, rooted in reality and obtainable," thespokesperson added.
The princess is a well-known fashion icon and her stylewas minutely scrutinised, discussed and imitated around theworld.
The latest sale of her collection, which includes thehandiwork of her favourite designers like Zandra Rhodes andBruce Oldfield, is expected to raise a whopping 800,000pounds.
Black was her favourite colour and Diana often chose towear it, despite the fact that Prince Charles had advised herthat it was strictly against royal protocol - as members ofthe royal family are only supposed to wear it for periods ofmourning.
The lavishly embroidered pink silk evening gown andbolero, designed by Catherine Walker especially for the statevisit to India in February 1992, is set to fetch between80,000-120,000 pounds.
"It is one of the most lavish of all her gowns. Richlyembroidered royal dresses have been a tradition for royaltyand aristocracy since Elizabethan times," a spokesperson forKerry Taylor Auctions told PTI.
It was during this particular trip that Princess Dianawas famously photographed sitting alone at the Taj Mahal,which led to a flurry of speculation in the press at the time.
According to the lot description, the inspiration for theembroidered design came from the lid of an Indian inlaidmarquetry box discovered by the designers in a London market.
Great care was taken when choosing the colours of theneedlework as it needed to be colourful and exuberant toreflect the country of her visit.
The other nine lots at the auction includes anothericonic gown worn by the princess while dancing with actor JohnTravolta during a state dinner at the White House in 1985.
The Victor Edelstein midnight blue velvet outfit is thehighlight of the sale and set to fetch up to 300,000 pounds."Diana was photographed wearing these gowns by not onlyby the paparazzi, but by some of the leading photographers ofthe day - including Mario Testino and Lord Snowdon," said theauction house, which specialises in vintage fashion sales.
It is confident that the latest auction will prove hugelypopular as the lots include some of the "most important andiconic" dresses worn by Diana, who died in a car crash inParis in 1997.
At Diana's request, the 10 dresses were originally soldin a charity auction in New York in June 1997, just two monthsbefore she died.
Florida-based businesswoman Maureen Dunkel bought thedresses but was forced to put them up for auction in 2011after she went bankrupt - but only four of them sold.
"That sale was a bit of a disaster... The reserve priceswere ridiculously high. But they are beautiful dresses. Wehave a good reputation for selling these things and theestimates are sensible, rooted in reality and obtainable," thespokesperson added.
The princess is a well-known fashion icon and her stylewas minutely scrutinised, discussed and imitated around theworld.
The latest sale of her collection, which includes thehandiwork of her favourite designers like Zandra Rhodes andBruce Oldfield, is expected to raise a whopping 800,000pounds.
Black was her favourite colour and Diana often chose towear it, despite the fact that Prince Charles had advised herthat it was strictly against royal protocol - as members ofthe royal family are only supposed to wear it for periods ofmourning.
