From Duchess to Princess: Diana's gowns to go on show

Opening in March 2012, the display will survey five of Diana’s dresses. The highlight of the exhibition will be the black taffeta gown Diana wore for her first official engagement with Prince Charles, in 1981. Created by the Emanuels, the designers behind the Princess’s opulent wedding gown, the dress sold at auction for £192,000 in London last year.

‘It caused a sensation because it was very glamorous, it was very sexy, it was very low,’ auctioneer Kerry Taylor said in 2010. ‘The world got a surprise when they saw her because she was so young and so beautiful.’

For many royal watchers, the black velvet Alexander McQueen gown the Duchess of Cambridge chose for a military awards ceremony this week recalled Diana’s Emanuel gown. The Emanuel dress ‘starts off the story,’ Kensington Palace Curator Deirdre Murphy told the Evening Standard. ‘Diana promoted British designers very well, something that carries on with members of the royal family today.’

A black silk shift dress from Versace, a white cocktail dress by Bellville Sassoon Lorcan Mullany and two Catherine Walker gowns complete the exhibition. Interior designer Finola Inger created the exhibition set, whilst fashion illustrator Julie Verhoeven designed custom wallpaper to complement the display.

Most of the pieces in the display are owned by the Museuo de la Moda in Chile, which has shown its acquisitive bent through purchases of noteworthy pieces worn by Diana,