In a world where the wardrobes of the celebrity style set are perennially on display, closet envy has never been so widespread. Yet, the constant documenting and archiving of one’s wares has also made purchasing identical pieces an accessible pastime.
For the majority, this typically involves trawling SSENSE or NET-A-PORTER for products beloved by our favourite fashion savants. But for the elite, sharing clothing extends far beyond buying replicas. Rather, the mode is to own the exact piece previously worn by the person of your sartorial covetous.
Princess Diana is one such person whose clothing is not only imitated, but auctioned off for the upper echelon to adore and wear. Over the weekend, one of the late Princess of Wales’ most recognisable items went under the hammer, selling to the highest bidder for an eye-watering figure of USD $100,000. The look in question? A duplicate recreation of the former Lady Spencer’s green and grey Philadelphia Eagles Varsity Jacket.
The replica was auctioned for charity, with the proceeds donated to the Eagles Autism Foundation, a not-for-profit focused on supporting autism research and care programs across Pennsylvania.
Princess Diana famously wore the oversized jacket on two occasions. The first was in 1991 to drop her son, Prince Harry, off at his London-based private nursery school. Defying royal protocol, the Princess adorned her otherwise conservative 90s minimalist ensemble with the statement all-American outerwear.
The second, and possibly the most recognisable, was to visit the Alton Towers Theme Park in 1994.
According to Women’s Wear Daily, Princess Diana first acquired the piece after connecting with the Eagles’ statistician, Jack Edelstein, at Grace Kelly’s funeral in 1982. “She thought football was like soccer,” Edelstein told the Philadelphia Daily News following the Princess’ passing in 1997. “She asked, ‘What are your colours?’ I said, ‘Green and silver.’ She said, ‘Those are my favourite colours.’”
WWD reported that It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia actor Rob McElhenney, who also co-owns Welsh soccer team Wrexham A.C with Ryan Reynolds, bid AUD $94,100 for the jacket. The piece sold for AUD $151,844 to an unknown figure.
Bringing a home-grown touch to the item, the wife of Eagles’ centre Jason Kelce, Kylie Kelce, also signed the jersey. The Princess of Philadelphia, perhaps?
Jason Kelce is the brother of Kansas City Chiefs tight end, Travis Kelce. Taylor Swift might be “going home with the guy on the Chiefs”, but one fortunate bidder is walking home with a piece of royal history.
