This is a new record for Julien’s Auctions and a complement to the late Princess of Wales

Julien’s Auctions and Turner Classic Movies (TCM), have concluded “HOLLYWOOD LEGENDS,” netting over USD7 million(about RM32 million). This marks Julien’s most successful Hollywood memorabilia auction in its 20-year history that realised a new world record with 16,351 registered bids.

A Global Hit

These bids came from bidders all across the globe. Key bidders were from the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Japan, Australia, Sweden, Italy, Hong Kong, Israel, The Netherlands, Ireland, Austria, Finland, Uruguay, South Korea, New Zealand and Switzerland, who participated live, online and on the phone on Julien’s Auctions.

Moreover, the top selling item of the four-day year end blockbuster was a piece synonymous with the Princess of Wales’ royal elegance and eternal grace. The beautiful, romantic ballerina-length evening dress designed by Moroccan-British fashion designer Jacques Azagury was worn by the Princess in Florence, Italy April 23, 1985.

The Other Pieces

She wore this along with a matching illustration that sold for an astounding USD1,148,080 (around RM5,320,777) eleven times its original estimate of USD100,000 (approximately RM463,450). Julien’s now holds the new world record for most expensive dress worn by Princess Diana sold at auction (previous auction record was USD604,800 (roughly RM2,802,946).

The dress with padded shoulder pads also features a black velvet bodice with embroidered stars in metallic thread made from Jakob Schlaepher fabric with a two-tier royal blue organza skirt with a sash and bow.

More Memorabilia

Additionally, a blush pink chiffon Emanuels blouse worn in her famous 1981 engagement portrait that became one of the most iconic images ever taken of Princess Diana also sold for USD381,000 (around RM1765,745) nearly four times its original estimate of USD80,000 (about RM370,760).

The engagement of Prince Charles and Lady Diana was announced shortly after the photo shoot and the image, captured by Lord Snowden, was used as an official engagement photograph that was featured in the February 1981 issue of Vogue.

Emanuel sold this blouse from her archive in 2010. This blouse was previously on display at Kensington Palace in London as part of the exhibition Diana: Her Fashion Story that ran from February 24, 2017 to February 17, 2019.

Visit the Official Julien’s auctions Website to find out more.