Two dresses worn by the late Princess Grace of Monaco, born Grace Kelly in l929 in Philadelphia, have been purchased at Sotheby's gala auction in New York last night by William Doyle of Newbridge Silver for €250,000, writes Deirdre McQuillan, Fashion Editor
The pieces will go on display in the Museum of Style Icons which opened last June at the company's visitor centre in Co Kildare, alongside the dress worn by Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany'spurchased for $160,000 by Mr Doyle last year.
"It's an investment for us and raises the profile of our company both at home and internationally, but I am finished now with buying dresses," he said.
One of the dresses worn in the 1956 musical High Societyis a layered grey over rose chiffon gown appliqued with rhinestones and embroidered flowers designed by Helen Rose, chief costume designer for MGM studios, who was also responsible for creating Princess Grace's wedding dress.
The second item is by Givenchy, a green sleeveless dress with matching bolero and hat, worn on a 1961 official visit with Prince Rainier to lunch at the White House with president John F Kennedy and Jacqueline Kennedy.
It was also worn that same year by Princess Grace on an official visit to her ancestral home in Ireland with her husband.
The auction was conducted by a long-time family friend, James G Niven, son of the late actor David Niven and vice-chairman of Sothebys, with all proceeds going to the Prince Grace Foundation in the US which assists emerging talents in theatre, dance and film.
The Oscar-winning actress, famous for her roles in movies such as High Noonand To Catch A Thief, who died in a car crash in Monaco 25 years ago, remains an enduring style icon.
A 12-day series of events celebrating her life which included six prominent US designers creating one-off items inspired by her elegance, ended yesterday in New York.