Anna Harvey, the editor at British Vogue who had earlier been of tremendous help to the young Lady Diana Spencer in acquiring the voluminous wardrobe required of a Princess of Wales, gave her this gown as a gift. During her first major overseas tour, Australia in 1983, there were some disappointed grumblings about the general dowdiness of Diana's wardrobe, which were instantly stilled on the last night there when she appeared in this gown at a Melbourne gala. The combination of the sleek narrow shape, soft flowing silk chiffon fabric gathered around her body to a T, and extravagant crystal beading was a rare mix of elegance, sensuality and glamour. (It also in this period showcased the thinness brought on by her eating disorder.)

Diana wore this repeatedly over a 6 year period, including two James Bond premieres from 'Octopussy' in 1983 to that of 'License to Kill' in 1989. In addition to Australia, she wore it a month later in June to a dinner dance at Broadlands (the Mountbatten home where she had spent part of her honeymoon), in 1985 to Washington DC, and in 1989 to her stepmother Raine s 60th birthday celebration as well as her father's 65th. When Diana auctioned 79 of her gowns for charity in 1996, this was Lot 20, and fetched $75,100. It was sold to "You" magazine, who used it as a contest prize in their August, 1997 issue.(below)