Whatever happened to Princess Diana's pink Zandra Rhodes dress

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 Zandra Rhodes designed 10 dresses for Diana, this pretty dress was included in the Christie's dress auction in 1997. Lot 47 is described in the auction catalogue as A Mid-Length Dinner Dress in Pink Silk Chiffon.

The fabric printed in white on pink silk, with a design of pearl necklaces and lace. The gathered neckline has a pointed collar, edged with simulated pearls, glass beads and paste with pink satin cording. The skirt, pleated to below the hip has a pointed hem, echoing the pattern on the collar, edged with pearls and glass beads and trimmed with paste in lozenges and circles.

The Princess wore this dress to a State Banquet in Kyoto during her official visit to Japan in 1986, where she is photographed eating with upside down chopsticks. She wore it about three or four times: July 1985 at a Torvill and Dean party, Charleston Manor, Seaford Britain in aid of the London City Ballet and the Purcell school in July 1987. 

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At the original Christie's auction, it was sold to Melissa Scripps for $27,600. It was displayed as part of Suzanne King's Pink Ribbons Charity Exhibits, Dresses for a Cause at the Appleton Museum of Art in 2007, and as part of Kensington Palace's exhibit, Diana, Fashions and Style in 2008. The dress apparently passed through a few hands before it was subsequently auctioned in 2011 through Kerry Taylor Auction house for $35,000. The new owners are Historic Royal Palaces where it is now part of their Ceremonial Dress Collection.

© Marilyn Braun 2020 

Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

Sources

One of Princess Diana's Gowns Saved by Kensington Palace

Lot 47 Zandra Rhodes Chiffon Dress

5-minutes with Zandra Rhodes

Everything Royal - The Diana Dresses

Zandra Rhodes talks friendship with Princess Diana

Kerry Taylor Auctions

Whatever happened to Princess Diana's Sequinned Pink and Cream One-sleeve Gown by Catherine Walker

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So far, this is possibly the only dress whose colour has been influenced by the World Cup Championship. 

Lot 65 in the Christie's auction is described as 'A Long Evening Dress in Ivory Silk Crepe, by Catherine Walker'

The one-sleeved dress is embroidered in pink sequins and woven with gold thread to give the effect of shadowy flowers. The neckline is trimmed with sequins. 

It was worn during an official visit to Brazil in April 1991. The colour of the sequins was a safe one. Catherine Walker noted in her autobiography, 

The Princess of Wales took great care to honour the traditions and feelings of each country that she visited. Shortly before this visit to Brazil, the national football team had lost to Argentina in the World Cup and...in view of these circumstances we should not design anything in green, yellow and blue, which were the official colours of the team and definitely not in blue and white, which were the colours of the Argentinian football team. 

Diana wore it a second time, in August 1991, to the premiere of Stepping Out. She attended the after party where she was photographed laughing and chatting with Liza Minelli. 

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Maureen Rorech Dunkle paid $35,600 for the dress, and as with all of the dresses she purchased, this was a strategic bid, 

"From a geographic standpoint, I wanted most of the continents represented in my collection, and this was the first selection the Princess had worn in South America."

This dress, formed part of her popular Dresses for Humanity tour. In 2010, all of the dresses went up for auction in Toronto. This was a controversial sale and only three of the dresses met their reserve prices. The ten remaining dresses, including this one, were once again auctioned in 2013, this time at Kerry Taylor Auction House. Historic Royal Palaces bought two of dresses, paying £78,000 for this one and a dramatic black velvet Bruce Oldfield dress. Both now form part of the Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection. 

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© Marilyn Braun 2020 

Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

Sources

Princess Diana Boutique: Diana's two gowns go on permanent display at Kensington Palace

Two of Diana's iconic dresses go on display at Kensington Palace

My Decade with Diana by Maureen Rorech Dunkle

Christies: DRESSES from the Collection of Diana, Princess of Wales Auction catalogue

Catherine Walker - An Autobiography By The Private Couturier to Diana, Princess of Wales

Diana's Dresses - Dresses for Humanity exhibition program

Whatever happened to Princess Diana's Dramatic Black Velvet Evening Gown by Bruce Oldfield?

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Picture it. Diana, in all her 'Dynasty Di' glory, circa 1985. Alighting from her car, she is wearing a gloriously luxe black velvet gown by one of her favourite designers, Bruce Oldfield.

This dress has always been a favourite of mine. When I saw the dress for the first time at an exhibit in 1998, I wasn't sure it was the right one. Sure, it was black velvet, designed by Bruce Oldfield, but looking behind the dress, it had a black velvet rose with sparkling beads at the neckline. This detail is not apparent in photographs of Diana wearing it. But sure enough, it was there. According to the designer, the detail was added to prevent the dress from falling off Diana's shoulders.


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It was ordered by Diana after her friend, fashion editor, Anna Harvey, wore a similar design. It has a deep v-neck in front and back, draped waist and lightly gathered skirt. It was worn in 1985 at The Barbican for the first night gala performance of Les Miserables.  Diana also wore it in an official portrait by Lord Snowdon.

The dress was Lot #37 at the Christie's auction and purchased by Barbara Jordan, a Boston boutique owner. Ms. Jordan bought three dresses, paying $36,800 for the velvet Oldfield.  She bought it to publicize her boutique by displaying the dresses in the window and after Diana's death, it became somewhat of a shrine. A noted philanthropist, Ms. Jordan donated the dress to a Boston AIDS charity. It was auctioned by Skinner Gallery in October 1997 and purchased by Maureen Rorech for $200,000.

This dress travelled the world in the Dresses for Humanity tour and was eventually auctioned in 2013. Historic Royal Palaces confirmed it had purchased the gown for $68,000.

© Marilyn Braun 2020

Thank you for enjoying this article. If you use the information for research purposes, a link to credit the work I've put into writing it would be appreciated.

Sources

Bruce Oldfield Black Velvet Gown
Princess Diana's iconic dresses to go on display at Kensington Palace
DRESSES from the Collection of Diana, Princess of Wales auction catalogue
Dresses for Humanity exhibition catalogue
My Decade with Diana by Maureen Rorech Dunkel