After having thought the original to be the lost, the black sheep sweater famously worn by Princess Diana, arguably as emblematic of her style as the “Revenge Dress,” will be auctioned off by Sotheby’s New York from August 31 to September 14 this year. The sweater will be part of the inaugural Fashion Icons auction and expected to go for $50,000 to $80,000.
The Princess was first seen wearing the red and white sweater when she was 19 years old at one of King Charles’s polo matches, just one month before their marriage. It was only revealed to the designers of the sweater, Sally Muir and Joanna Osborne of Warm & Wonderful, that Princess Diana owned one of their products after photos from the events circulated from the Sunday Times. The power of the press catapulted the then-small business Warm & Wonderful into stratospheric popularity.
“Princess Diana’s wardrobe often pushed the boundaries of societal norms at the time and had a unique way of transcending her personality through to the public,” Cynthia Houlton, Sotheby’s Global Head of Fashion & Accessories tells T&C. “The second she was captured donning this sweater, it immediately sparked a conversation amongst both the media and the general public, speculating what message she was trying to send to the world.”
In 1983, the two designers received a letter from Buckingham Palace explaining that Princess Diana had damaged her original sheep sweater, and requested for it to be repaired or replaced. An entirely newly knitted sweater was sent to her, and Muir and Osborne received a thank you letter from Princess Diana’s private secretary, Oliver Everett CVO. Shortly after, Princess Diana wore the sweater again, this time with white jeans, a large white collar, and a black ribbon tie.
Princess Diana wearing the black sheep sweater for the second time at a polo match in 1983.
The production of the…
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