- The original sheepsprint sweater worn in 1981 by Princess Diana will be sold at auction this autumn.
- Sotheby’s estimates the Warm & Wonderful garment will be listed between $50,000 and $80,000.
- This piece was discovered in an attic by the original designers Sally Muir, and Joanna Osborne. They found it this past March.
You could own a piece of Princess Diana’s famous wardrobe this fall.
Sotheby’s, the auction house, revealed on Instagram Sunday that it will be selling the sweater with the sheep print worn by the late British monarch to a 1981 polo match.
Designed by the British brand Warm & Wonderful, the red garment is widely recognized thanks to its vibrant colors, its bold animal print, and its whimsical nature that helped lead Princess Diana to fashion-icon status.
Bidding begins on August 31, and will remain open through September 14. Sotheby’s estimates the price to be between $50,000-$80,000.
This particular garment has a rich history. While Princess Diana’s clothing is admired by many, it also has its own unique story.
According to a press release from Sotheby’s, the original sweater was damaged by the princess and sent back to Warm & Wonderful weeks after she first wore it with a request for repair or replacement.
Diana’s secretary thanked Sally Muir, Joanna Osborne and their team for designing a brand new one.
The princess wore the second piece on multiple occasions, helping craft her image as a relatable black sheep, no pun intended — something other royals had never done as successfully.
Diana’s style, which combines high-end designer items with everyday clothing that is more affordable, has led to an imitation wave
and admiration — which remains steadfast to this day — leaving an indelible mark on the fashion world and solidifying the Princess as an icon in fashion history,” Cynthia Houlton, Sotheby’s global head of fashion and accessories, said in the press release.
Sotheby’s listed in January the most expensive item of clothing Princess Diana ever owned: a velvet dress she wore for a royal portrait as well as a magazine feature. The gown sold for $604,800.
Jayne Fincher/Princess Diana Archive/Getty Pictures
Sotheby’s reported that the original knitwear was only rediscovered this year by its designers in an unlikely place.
In a press release, Muir and Osborne stated that “this past March, while we were searching through the attic for an old pattern we found a small package.” Inside, hidden behind a cotton bedsheet was Diana’s 1981 red sheep sweater.
They added, “Now, nearly four decades later this unique sheep sweater is waiting to be in the hands of an lucky collector.”