Princess Diana’s Chelsea Design Co. Navy Wool Blazer from 1990’s up for Auction in London

Diana, Princess of Wales was on the podium to present Damon Hill with his trophy at the British Grand Prix, Silverstone, 10 July 1994

 

Princess Diana’s Chelsea Design Company navy wool blazer, late 1980’s-early 90s. labelled, double-breasted with sharp lapels, gilt metal buttons each bearing the Royal Arms of England – three cast lions passant gardant, with diagonally slanted pockets, lined in blue acetate, chest 92cm, 36in; together with an affadavit, signed by the vendor, confirming the provenance.  Throughout the 1990s the blazer became a staple of Princess Diana’s off-duty wardrobe. Combined with tight jeans the look achieved was both smart and casual. She is photographed wearing a very similar blazer to the Silverstone races in 1994 above.

Provenance: Purchased by the vendor from the Chameleon second-hand shop in Hereford in 1996 where she worked as a part time assistant at the same time as the white crepe Emanuel dress, lot 252 was acquired. It was worn once or twice by the vendor before being stored away in a stable loft and only recently re-discovered. The housekeeper of Mynde Park (see lot 252 footnote) Mrs C.Brinton confirms that she took the blazer into the shop to be sold on behalf of Princess Diana, on 10th July 1996.

Mr. Said Ismail of Catherine Walker remembers making a number of these blazers for the Princess over the years. Stylistically, it is similar to a model reproduced in Vogue from the SS 1989 collection, with elongated body and relatively low-set gilt buttons.

See ‘Catherine Walker An Autobiography by the Private Couturier to the Princess of Wales’, p.120 for a similar blazer.

Kerry Taylor Auctions, London; 10 December 2018