Collection Coming to Europe: Ireland’s The Museum of Style Icons June 11th
Julien’s Auctions, the industry-leading Hollywood auction house, announced their upcoming showcases of “PRINCESS DIANA’S ELEGANCE & A ROYAL COLLECTION,” their exclusive auction event coming this summer 2024. The public will have a once in a lifetime opportunity to view highlights of a dazzling collection of the Princess of Wales’ most famous attire in Asia and Europe before its auction beginning at a Pop Up at K11 MUSEA in Hong Kong from April 18th- April 29th and exhibition at The Museum of Style Icons in Newbridge, Ireland’s June 11th-June 27th.
A portion of the auction proceeds will benefit Muscular Dystrophy UK, the leading charity for over 110,000 people in the UK living with one of over 60 muscle-wasting and weakening conditions.
On display will be Diana’s highly glamourous gowns worn in her most photographed appearances such as a Murray Arbeid midnight blue strapless tulle Diamante Star gown with a fitted bodice worn by Princess Diana twice in 1986, at the Phantom of the Opera premiere and to a dinner at Claridge’s for King Constantine of Greece. Diana was also photographed in the gown by Lord Snowdon in 1997 for her charity auction (estimate: $200,000-$400,000) (photo top right credit: Getty Images).
Another showstopping item is a magenta silk and lace evening dress designed by Victor Edelstein that she wore in London and in Hamburg, Germany in 1987 (estimate: $200,000-$400,000) (photo left). The off-the-shoulder with banded lace sleeves dress features a Spanish flamenco-style skirt with three tiers of gathered lace flounces. Edelstein first met Diana when she was pregnant with Prince William and would go on to produce Diana’s most influential look–an ink-blue velvet gown with a mermaid tail skirt that she wore when she danced with John Travolta at The White House.
Some of Diana’s style-defining ensembles created by one of the Princess’s closest collaborators, Catherine Walker, will be presented, such as the pink floral shirt dress designed by Walker for her clothing label The Chelsea Design Company as seen worn by Diana in photographs in 1991, leaving St. Mary’s Hospital in London and in 1992 leaving Prince Harry’s school in Notting Hill (estimate: $100,000-$200,000) (photo left); a Victorian revival evening gown featuring a fitted bodice with a Basque waist and a full voluminous skirt with under layers of tulle petticoats designed by Walker, not worn in public (estimate: $100,000-$200,000); and Walker’s two-piece yellow and navy skirt suit she was photographed wearing in 1989 in Hong Kong during a visit to Tamar, a British Forces shore base and when Diana gave a speech and awarded the Gopaul family the award for Family of the Year in London in 1990 (estimate: $30,000-$50,000) (as seen right worn by Princess Diana photo credit: Hong Kong Red Cross.
Other highlights include many of Diana’s shoes, handbags, and hats that changed Royal Fashion accessorizing such as her Kurt Geiger emerald green satin jewelled vamp evening shoes worn to a state banquet at the Dorchester Hotel in London (estimate: $2,000-$4,000); a striking yellow and black felted wool turban style hat designed by Royal milliner Philip Somerville for Princess Diana, photographed wearing it in Berlin, Germany in 1987 (photo right) and Somerville’s cream and red lacquered straw wide-brim hat accented with three Calla Lilies sewn at the side that Diana was photographed wearing at a Garter ceremony and on a Royal Tour in Australia in 1985 (each hat estimate: $10,000-$20,000); a Rayne violet leather semi-circle clutch she was photographed holding several times in 1990, on an official visit to Washington D.C. where she and First Lady Barbra Bush visited AIDS patients and during her royal tour in India where she toured the Taj Mahal in 1992 (estimate: $2,000-$4,000); a Rayne white and red leather envelope clutch Diana was photographed holding on visits to Cambridge in 1988 and 1989 (photo left) and on tour in Saudi Arabia and Kyoto, Japan in 1986 while trying on a hand-painted silk kimono worth 40,000 pounds at the time (estimate: $2,000-$4,000); and more.
“Julien’s is honored to present highlights of our upcoming auction that will celebrate Princess Diana’s iconic fashion style and her reign as the People’s Princess at two exciting events in Asia and Europe,” said Martin Nolan, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Julien’s Auctions. “We are delighted to bring back many of Diana’s favorite fashion ensembles to the two continents that she wore on some of her highly publicized international royal appearances and humanitarian efforts such as her Catherine Walker suit from her 1989 visit to Hong Kong. Furthermore, this showcase in Hong Kong represents Julien’s efforts to expand our presence and development in the region and our leadership in the auctions of Royal Fashion.”
Since 2004, Julien’s Auctions has represented the sales of some of Princess Diana’s more notable garments and holds the world record for the most expensive dress worn by Princess Diana sold at auction with their $1.14 million sale of her Jacques Azagury 1985 ballerina-length gown.
Also read: HKTDC Smart Lighting Expo debuts today alongside Spring Lighting Fair
JULIEN’S AUCTIONS TOUR OF COLLECTION
PRINCESS DIANA’S ELEGANCE & A ROYAL COLLECTION
Pop Up at K11 MUSEA Gold Ball
Victoria Dockside, 18 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong
April 18th- April 29th
Information: Free and open to the public 10am-10pm daily
The Museum of Style Icons
Athgarvan Road, Newbridge,
Co. Kildare, Ireland
W12 HT62
Exhibition: June 11th-June 27th
Information: https://visitnewbridgesilverware.com/about-the-museum-of-style-icons
REGISTERING TO BID
Registration is required to bid in this auction and can be done in person on the day of the auction, or online before the sale at the Julien’s Auctions.
For inquiries, please email info@juliensauctions.com or call 310-836-1818.
PLACING BIDS
There are four ways to bid in Live Auctions:
1. Bid with Julien’s Auctions online.
2. Bid over the telephone through an auction house representative.
3. Bid in person in the room at our auction events.
4. Bid in advance by absentee bid. Absentee bid forms are available by calling 310-836-1818
About Julien’s Auctions
For the moments that matter.
You know that moment when the lights dim, right before your favorite band starts playing? Or that feeling right before the credits roll on a movie that changed your whole world in an instant? The air is charged with anticipation and words are never going to do it justice because you just really had to be there.
At Julien’s, we exist to bring those moments back into your life through iconic artifacts and one-of-a-kind collections. Whether collaborating directly with artists, partnering with legendary estates, or working closely with discerning collectors, our auctions make culture pop with the promise of discovery and reconnection. From Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe, and Ringo Starr to Lady Gaga, Banksy, and Kurt Cobain-from LA to the world, we are where originals find their kind.
