It’s not every day that the public gets a chance to own a piece of Princess Diana’s sartorial history. At an sale held by Julien’s at the Peninsula Beverly Hills this week, bidders had precisely that opportunity. The largest auction ever of Lady Di’s wardrobe, it comprised more than 200 lots, including pieces by designers like Bally, Bruno Magli, Bellville Sassoon and Escada. Among the many items that broke records in their categories was a lambskin Lady Dior bag. Originally called the Chouchou but renamed because of Diana’s love of it, the model is inextricably linked to her. Estimated to bring $20,000 to $30,000, her personal version was hammered down at $325,000.
Many other handbags also outperformed expectations. A champagne-colored leather Prada tote bag that the Princess of Wales carried on official visits abroad sold for $26,000, more than double the high estimate of $12,000. One of the Versace leather bags that she owned in multiple colors also doubled its high estimate, bringing $16,250, while a Versace silk evening clutch more than tripled its high, selling at $26,000. Obviously, many fashion aficionados are still energized by the late royal’s style sense.
