Princess Diana's Iconic Black Sheep Sweater Up for Auction at Sotheby's

Calling all Princess Diana fans! Get ready to make your bids on a piece of fashion history as the late royal's renowned black sheep sweater is set to go up for auction in August, as announced by Sotheby's.

Headlining the auction house's inaugural "Fashion Icons" sale this fall, Princess Diana's beloved Warm & Wonderful sweater, adorned with a playful pattern, has been discovered in a serendipitous manner. Designers Sally Muir and Joanna Osborne of Warm & Wonderful shared the story of its retrieval, revealing, "This past March, as we were rummaging through the attic searching for an old pattern, we spotted a small box. Inside, tucked away beside a cotton bedspread, was Diana's original red sheep sweater from 1981."

Originally worn by Princess Diana to one of Prince Charles' polo matches in 1981, the bright red crewneck sweater garnered attention from the media, fashion critics, and the public due to its symbolic black sheep motif. Many interpreted the presence of a single black sheep on the sweater as an expression of Diana's feeling like an outsider in the royal family.

Diana paired her Warm & Wonderful jumper with jeans, red pumps, and a white pie-crust-collar blouse underneath. After the sweater suffered some damage, Diana sent it back to the label for repair, but instead, she received an entirely new sweater knitted and returned to her.

In 1983, Diana wore the new version of the sweater to another polo match, this time accompanied by Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York. She styled it with white trousers and a stylish tie-neck top underneath. The original sweater, slightly damaged, will be the one put up for auction, attracting significant interest and a substantial bid due to its royal history.

The popularity of the sheep sweater endured throughout the years, leading to a relaunch of a version in 2020, now available in lighter-weight cotton. If you wish to add the original sweater to your personal collection, start saving up as online bidding will be open from August 31 to September 14. The piece is estimated to fetch between $50,000 and $80,000, making it a coveted item among Princess Diana enthusiasts and fashion collectors alike.