Princess Diana's Iconic Sheep Sweater Will Be Auctioned — Shop the Look

Updated on 6/26/2023 at 6:27 PM

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Princess Diana's sheep sweater is one of her most recognizable style moments. The late Princess of Wales first wore it in June 1981 at one of her then-fiancé Prince Charles's polo matches, and then again in June 1983, at the Guard's Polo Club. Created by Joanna Osborne and Sally Muir of Warm & Wonderful, the sweater immediately grabbed the public's attention, with many speculating that the lone black sheep on the front signified that Princess Diana felt like an outsider within the royal family.

While a replica of the Warm & Wonderful sheep sweater belongs to the permanent collection of London's Victoria and Albert Museum, the location of the exact item Princess Diana wore was unknown until recently. Princess Diana's sheep sweater was rediscovered in March 2023, when Muir and Osborne found it tucked away in their attic. Now, it will go up for auction in September at Sotheby's Fashion Icons auction with an estimate of $50,000 to 80,000. Online bidding for the sweater will open from August 31 to September 13, during New York Fashion Week, and the item will be on display starting September 7.

Over the nearly-40 years since Princess Diana first stepped out in the sheep sweater, the public has been able to shop the style in various iterations. Warm & Wonderful sold the initial black sheep version until 1994. Then, in 2020, they rereleased it as part of a limited-edition collaboration with Rowing Blazers. Their offering also included a version of the late royal's Gyles & George "I'm a Luxury" sweater.

Keep scrolling to see photos of Princess Diana wearing the famous black-sheep jumper, and shop the pieces ahead to get her iconic look for yourself.