LONDON — A collection of some of Princess Diana’s most memorable evening gowns, including one she wore to a White House dinner where she danced with John Travolta, fetched over $1.2 million at a London auction Tuesday.
Diana famously wore the deep navy, figure-hugging velvet gown to a gala dinner hosted by President Ronald Reagan, during her and Prince Charles’ first joint state visit to the U.S. in 1985. Photographs of her taking to the White House dance floor with Travolta have become some of the most celebrated images of the princess.
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The Victor Edelstein gown was sold for $360,000, Kerry Taylor Auctions said, coming in below the expected maximum price of $450,000.
The auction house did not disclose the identity of the buyer, only saying it was sold to a “British gentleman as a surprise to cheer up his wife.”
Nine other of Diana’s dresses were sold to bidders, which came from around the world and included three museums, the auction house said.
Two dresses by Catherine Walker, one of Diana’s favorite designers, went for $162,000 each. They were a black velvet and beaded gown worn for a Vanity Fair photo shoot by Mario Testino at Kensington Palace in 1997, and a burgundy crushed velvet gown the princess wore to the film premiere of “Back to the Future” in 1985.
Diana sold dozens of her dresses at a New York charity auction at the suggestion of her son, Prince William, in 1997 – three months before she died in a Paris car crash. Florida-based socialite Maureen Dunkel bought about a dozen of the dresses – including the 10 to be sold next month – and put them up for auction in Canada in 2011, but the prices were set too high and many dresses didn’t sell.
Writer’s fans tour his adolescent foundations
NEWARK, N.J. – Fans of author Philip Roth have joined scholars on a tour of Newark, N.J., on the occasion of his 80th birthday.
Three buses wound through Roth’s birthplace Tuesday, stopping at locations he wrote about in his novels.
The buses emptied and attendees snapped pictures outside Weequaic High School – the school featured prominently in “Portnoy’s Complaint” and “American Pastoral.”
The tour also stopped outside the author’s childhood home.
An exhibit at Newark Public Library showcases photos of Roth’s life. Roth, who now lives in Connecticut, is speaking at an event at the Newark Museum.
Katie: Suri sibling is a possibility
NEW YORK — Katie Holmes doesn’t talk about her split from actor Tom Cruise but she does say she hopes this year is better than the last.
The actress tells Allure magazine she wants 2013 to be “a peaceful year for a lot of people.”
She goes on to cite some of 2012’s major headlines like Hurricane Sandy and the Newtown, Conn., school shooting, adding she hopes “it’s a good year for everyone.”
The 34-year-old, who has a 6-year-old daughter named Suri with Cruise, does say she’s “open” to the idea of expanding her family in the future.
Katie Holmes filed for divorce from Tom Cruise last June after five years of marriage.
Allure’s April issue goes on sale nationwide March 26.
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