Princess Diana ‘engagement’ blouse could fetch up to $200K at auction

A 1981 picture of late Princess Diana, left, by photographer Lord Snowdon wearing the blouse was featured among others during the exhibition ‘Diana, Princess of Wales’ at central London’s National Portrait Gallery. ASSOCIATED PRESS

Here’s your chance to dress like royalty.

A blush pink crepe silk chiffon blouse worn by Princess Diana in a 1981 engagement portrait photographed by Lord Snowdon is going up for auction — and could fetch an eye-popping $200,000.

The blouse — the first high-end, custom made item worn by the former Diana Spencer — goes under the hammer Dec. 14-17, according to Julien’s Auctions of Beverly Hills, which is hosting the sale.

The Princess of Wales wore the blouse when she was snapped by Snowdon — whose full name was Antony Armstrong-Jones — as an “upcoming beauty” for the February 1981 issue of “Vogue,” according to the auction house.

“Princess Diana’s engagement blouse transcends fashion; it’s a poignant symbol of love, grace, and a timeless moment in history,” said Darren Julien, president and chief executive officer of Julien’s Auctions. The “cherished” blouse captures the “elegance of a woman who forever captivated hearts around the world,” he added.

The piece coincided with the Feb. 24, 1981 announcement of her engagement to Prince Charles. “The ‘Lady Di engagement blouse’ blouse was a sensation, and mass marketed after that image was published” and quickly sold out, the auction house said.

The Royal family announced the engagement of the former Diana Spencer to Prince Charles on Feb. 24, 1981.

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A blush pink crepe silk chiffon blouse worn by Princess Diana in a 1981 engagement portrait photographed by Lord Snowdon goes up for bids next month, according to Julien’s Auction’s, who is hosting the sale.

Julienâs Auctions

The “romantic” blouse features a ribbon “that ties under the collar into a bow.”

Julienâs Auctions

The “romantic blouse features flowing sleeves that are gathered at the shoulder and finished with flounced cuffs,” the auction house gushed, and “comes with a satin ribbon that ties under the collar into a bow. There is a single-button closure at the back of the neck and a single button at each cuff. The blouse has a light pink silk lining, no label or size is present.”

The blouse was created by designers David and Elizabeth Emanuel, who would famously later design Princess Diana’s wedding gown.

The fashion team at Vogue assembled a rack of clothing from a variety of designers to present to Diana, Elizabeth Emanuel wrote in her book, “A Dress for Diana.”

Princess Diana was snapped by Snowdon as an “upcoming beauty” for the February 1981 issue of “Vogue” magazine.

AP

Princess Diana in her wedding dress, which was designed by David and Elizabeth Emanuel.

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How Diana came to wear the blouse is also a bit of a fairytale.

A client was trying on one of their custom-made gowns and left a black mascara stain on the skirt when taking it off, Emanuel recounted. The couple salvaged the remains of the dress, using the fabric to make the blouse which found its way to the rack of clothing presented to Diana at Vogue.

“When she saw our blouse on the rack she fell in love with it, asked who had made it and was directed to us,” Emanuel wrote.

British fashion designers David and Elizabeth Emanuel at their Mayfair salon, London, in 1981. They designed the blouse and Princess Diana’s wedding dress.

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Emanuel sold the blouse from her archive in 2010. The top was previously on display at Kensington Palace in London as part of the exhibition “Diana: Her Fashion Story,” which ran from February 2017 to February 2019.

The current consigner wishes to remain anonymous.

In the early morning of Aug. 31, 1997, Princess Diana died in a Paris car crash.

REUTERS

Princess Diana was killed in a car crash in the Pont de l’Alma tunnel in Paris In the early morning of Aug. 31, 1997.

She was 36.