A unique ‘black sheep’ sweater once donned by the late British royal, Princess Diana, is poised for an upcoming auction this summer, with expectations that it could fetch up to $80,000.
Created by the knitwear brand Warm & Wonderful, the red sweater is set to be the star attraction of Sotheby’s Fashion Icons online sale, which runs from August 31 to September 14. One of the brand’s founders recently unearthed the piece in an attic.
Princess Diana was first seen wearing the sweater, adorned with a lone black sheep amidst a flock of white sheep, at a polo match in which Prince Charles participated in June 1981. This event occurred just one month before their marriage, leading to speculation about its symbolic meaning.
After the sweater sleeve suffered some damage, Diana’s private secretary, Oliver Everett, contacted Warm & Wonderful co-founder Joanna Osborne to inquire about repairs. The shirt was returned for restoration, and later, Princess Diana received a replacement, which was spotted on her in 1983.
Osborne discovered the original piece in a box in her attic in March. She says, “The fact that Diana requested a replacement and then was seen in it again two years later… truly underscores how much this piece meant to her.”
Two letters from Everett to Osborne are included in the sale of the sweater, pushing the estimated price range to between $50,000 and $80,000.
Earlier this year, Sotheby’s auctioned off a purple, velvet, strapless evening gown from the autumn 1989 collection of designer Victor Edelstein, worn by Princess Diana. The dress fetched over $600,000, an astounding five times its pre-auction estimate.
The iconic ‘black sheep’ sweater and the accompanying letters will be displayed at Sotheby’s London until Wednesday and will be exhibited in New York in September.
The iconic ‘black sheep’ sweater holds significant monetary value and is a precious piece of royal history, revealing a glimpse into Princess Diana’s personal life and style. With her influence still resonating in the fashion world and beyond, the sale of this piece is anticipated to attract an array of interested collectors and royal enthusiasts. This relic of Diana’s wardrobe will remind the world once again of her unique style and the legacy she left behind.
