"Caring Dress" Sells for 700 Million KRW
Fetches Highest Price at Princess Diana's Collection Auction
Evening Dress and Dior Bag Also Record 600 Million and 400 Million KRW
The floral dress frequently worn by the late Princess Diana during hospital visits and other occasions?earning it the nickname "caring dress"?was recently sold at a U.S. auction for approximately 700 million KRW, according to a June 28 report by Yonhap News citing international outlets such as CNN.
This dress fetched the highest price at the auction of Princess Diana's personal collection, held on June 27 (local time) in Beverly Hills, United States, selling for $520,000.
The dress was designed by the British luxury brand Bellville Sassoon and became widely known as Princess Diana frequently wore it during overseas tours, hospital visits, and various official events between 1988 and 1992. Princess Diana herself called it the "caring dress," noting that its bright and cheerful colors could leave a positive impression on patients.
Julien's Auctions, the auction house that organized the sale, stated that the winning bid far exceeded expectations. This dress, imbued with Princess Diana's warm image and social message, is regarded as a garment of special value, reflecting her empathy and popularity during her lifetime. The auction house added that a portion of the proceeds will be donated to Muscular Dystrophy UK, a British organization supporting patients with muscular dystrophy.
In addition to the dress, over 100 personal items belonging to Princess Diana?including handbags, shoes, and suits?were also auctioned that day. An evening dress and a suit designed by her exclusive designer Catherine Walker each sold for approximately 600 million KRW, while a Dior handbag gifted by a former French First Lady found a new owner for about 400 million KRW.
Items once worn or owned by Princess Diana continue to attract global attention and consistently achieve high auction prices. In 2023, the "Black Sheep" sweater she wore at a polo match shortly after her engagement to King Charles III (then Prince of Wales) in 1981 was sold at a Sotheby's auction in New York for about 1.5 billion KRW. The sweater, featuring a unique design with a single black sheep among white ones, has been interpreted as symbolizing her complex relationship with the royal family. Its value was further enhanced by the fact that it was the original piece that Princess Diana herself requested to be repaired after it was damaged.
Additionally, in 2022, the Ford Escort RS Turbo that Princess Diana personally drove was sold at a British auction for about 1.1 billion KRW. While this model was originally produced only in white, a special black version was created at Princess Diana's request. She owned and drove this car from 1985 to 1988.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
