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How much would you pay for a sweater? If you’re one Sotheby’s bidder, the answer is a cool $1.1 million.
Princess Diana’s famed black sheep sweater from British brand Warm & Wonderful was subject to a fierce bidding war at the auction house today. In the final 15 minutes, the sweater’s price tag jumped from $190,000 to $1.1 million, 14 times higher than its original estimate of $80,000.
Lady Di first wore the red sweater patterned in white sheep—and one, crucial black sheep—in 1981. The then-19-year-old watched Charles’s polo match from the sidelines but quickly made headlines of her own thanks to her cheeky jumper. Diana had it replaced by Warm & Wonderful founders later that summer after the sweater was damaged. The founders, Joanna Osborne and Sally Muir lost track of the original, until Osborne unearthed it in her attic earlier this year.
Today’s sale eclipses the previous record for most expensive sweater sold at auction. In 2019, Kurt Cobain’s muted green cardigan—which he wore for Nirvana’s MTV Unplugged concert—fetched $334,000. It also breaks the record within Diana’s own collection. Earlier this year Sotheby’s sold the princess’s plum Victor Edelstein “Infanta” dress for $604,800. In fact, several of Diana’s items have been in the news this year. In January reality star and (apparently) auction enthusiast Kim Kardashian purchased Diana's amethyst Attallah Cross for $197,453.
The sweater has become one of the most emblematic of the late royal’s personal style, as well as a representation (maybe even an omen) of her place in the royal family. Even over 25 years after her untimely death, it still has massive staying power. In 2022, Rowing Blazers launched a reedition of the sweater to much fanfare, and Warm & Wonderful also still sells them. No need to spend $1.1 million for Princess Diana’s sweater when you can have your own for $248.
Shop Rowing Blazers’ reedition of the iconic sweater, below. Plus, more red jumpers.
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