A purple crushed velvet evening gown worn by Princess Diana fetched £45,000 at auction on Monday (Dec. 12). The late princess wore the Bruce Oldfield design during a visit to Portugal with Prince Charles in the 1980s.
Diana wore the dress in 1987
Kerry Taylor Auctions in London put a few iconic pieces from Diana's wardrobe up for auction, including a tartan wool day dress and turquoise Catherine Walker two-piece dress ensemble. While the latter pieces didn't pull in as much as her evening gown, they did change ownership for a cool £5,500 ($9,100) and £4,200 ($6980), respectively.
Diana's Bruce Oldfield dress sold at auction for £45,000
It was on Feb. 11 1987, when the mother of two stepped out in the stunning velvet gown at an officialdinner hosted by Portugal's then-president Mario Soares at Ajuda Palace is Lisbon. She added extra glamour to her look by accessorizing the gown with her stunning Spencer diamond tiara.
A tartan day dress and Catherine Walker ensemble were also up for sale.
Following her untimely death in 1997, Diana's dresses have been auctioned off and featured in fashion exhibits around the world. To mark the 20th anniversary of her death next summer, a collection of gowns will be included in the Diana: Her Fashion Story exhibit, which will be on display at Kensington Palace starting in February.