Auction of Princess’ Gowns Tops $3 Million
An auction of 79 of Princess Diana’s glamorous cast-off gowns raised more than $3 million for charity Wednesday night.
A blue silk velvet dress the princess wore for a state dinner hosted by President Reagan at the White House, in which she danced with film star John Travolta, sold for $222,500, a record price for a costume.
Coincidentally, it surpassed the previous record of $145,000 paid for the costume Travolta wore in the hit film “Saturday Night Fever.”
Lord Hindlip, the chairman of Christie’s auctioneers, said the buyer of the dress was an anonymous American male collector who he said is “a great fan of the princess.”
The second-highest price of the evening was $151,000 for a long strapless evening dress and cropped jacket that the princess wore on a state visit to Hong Kong and to film premieres.
Fashion commentators called it her Elvis dress because of the white jacket’s high collar. It was bought by the Franklin Mint, which specializes in selling replica items.
Proceeds from the sale will go to the princess’s favorite charities, including breast cancer research and the fight against AIDS.
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