Di’s dresses coming to Naples

An exhibit showing the dresses of Princess Diana will be shown at The von Liebig in Naples. COURTESY PHOTO She was the people’s princess, and more than a decade after her death, Princess Diana lives on in the minds and hearts of people around the world. The Naples Art Association and The von Liebig Art Center expect thousands of admirers from near and far will come here next spring and summer to see an exhibit of 20 of Diana’s dresses, some of her shoes and handbags and an assortment of royal memorabilia.

“Princess Diana: Dresses of Inspiration” opens at The von Liebig on Saturday, March 13, and will remain there through June 27. A portion of ticket sales will benefit the Pink Ribbon Crusade for breast cancer awareness and research.

The collection includes several gowns that were auctioned for charity at Sotheby’s just weeks before the princess died. At least two of the dresses have never been exhibited in America.

During their official Canadian Royal Tour in June and July 1983, the Prince and Princess of Wales visited Edmonton, Alberta. Two days before Diana’s 22nd birthday, the Royal Couple were guests of honor at an evening barbecue at the historic recreation of Fort Edmonton. The invitation requested “Dress semi-formal, Klondike Era” reflecting the annual celebration of the 1898 Klondike Gold Rush. Both royals wore period ensembles. Diana chose this beautiful pink/peach silk 1880s period day dress and hat. This unique outfit will be publicly displayed for the first time in the United States at The von Liebig Art Center in Naples as part of its exhibition titled “Princess Diana: Dresses of Inspiration” (March 13 - June 27). It belongs to Dr. Michael Smith of Laguna Beach, Calif. COURTESY PHOTOS/ BDG PUBLISHING INC. “I think it will be a blockbuster,” Joel Kessler, CEO and executive director of the NAA, predicts about the exhibit. “Diana may have been a royal princess, but she’s also the world’s princess. The whole world adopted her as princess.”

And the whole world saw her in just about everything she wore.

Several of the dresses coming to Naples are from the private collection of Ocala, Fla., resident Suzanne King, whose husband has presented her with Diana’s gowns and other royal memorabilia for gifts over several special occasions.

“Diana raised a great deal of money for breast cancer research in the two years before she died, and these dresses are a continuation of her charitable activities,” Mrs. King says, adding, “These are working dresses — they don’t just sit around.”

The community of people who own a gown that once graced Princess Diana at a social, commemorative or royal function is rather small, and Mrs. King knows several of them here in the United States.

“Some people bought Diana’s dresses to actually wear and others to add to their collections,” she says. Although most did not buy a dress for charitable purposes, she adds, “When Diana died, everyone who had a dress had to rethink what they were going to use it for.”

Mrs. King decided to do something positive with her Diana dresses and other royal items, as a way to honor both the princess and honor her own family. She was named for a grandmother she never knew who died of breast cancer. Her father, Dr. William Shields, was a well-known breast surgeon in Texas.

Among the dresses in the exhibit, Mrs. King adds, are some by Diana’s favorite designer, breast cancer survivor Catherine Walker.

Fashionable fundraiser

This isn’t the first time owners have loaned out their royal fashions to raise funds for breast cancer, but many of the gown in “Princess Diana: Dresses of Inspiration” have never been shown together as a group. Several photos and historical items never before displayed will also be included, including Christmas cards Diana sent from 1981 to 1996, a collection belonging to Wendy Rogers-Morris.

“It’s evokes tremendous emotion when you see all of Diana’s clothes and memorabilia,” Mr. Kessler says. “Everyone I’ve talked to is so excited and wants to be part of this exhibit, especially with the charity aspect involved.”

Prior to the public exhibit opening, The von Liebig Art Center will present “Princess Diana: Dresses of Inspiration, Legacy of Giving Gala” on Wednesday, March 10. Sharon R. Treiser, senior director of BNY Mellon Wealth Management, is co-chairing the black-tie affair. Guests will have the first peek at the exhibition before adjourning for dinner under a tent on the grounds.

Dresses worn by Diana, Princess of Wales, will be featured in The von Liebig Art Center’s exhibition, “Princess Diana: Dresses of Inspiration,” from March 13 to June 27, 2010. The dresses were created for Diana by some of her favourite designers including Catherine Walker, David and Elizabeth Emanuel, Victor Edelstein and Gianni Versace. Gala tickets are $250 per person or tables of 10 for $3,500 per table. Each 10-top table will seat a dress owner, and everyone at the table will receive a signed copy of “Eating Royally,” the cookbook by Princess Diana’s personal chef, Darren McGrady.

Two local breast cancer charities, Bosom Buddies and the NCH Hospital Foundation Mammogram Fund, will share as beneficiaries of the gala, Ms. Treiser says.

Enduring fascination

Nicole DuPont Strub is in charge of the docent program at The von Liebig Art Center and says several core docents have already started their training to be guides for “Princess Diana: Dresses of Inspiration.” After their training, the core docents will assist in training new docents recruited specifically for the exhibit.

Docent Susanne Kuhn believes the exhibit will require all hands on deck due to Diana’s popularity. “I think it will bring in lots of kids who perhaps don’t know who Princess Diana was, the way she lived and led her life, and her great charitable interests.”

Mr. Kessler and Mrs. King also believe the exhibit will benefit youngsters as they bear witness to what Diana did for the world.

“It’s important not to be sad, but go out and be motivated by this exhibit,” Mrs. King says. “Young people aren’t as familiar with Diana, but just look at what she did… and she was just one person. Wouldn’t it be great if everyone who attends can just do one thing?” 

the royal details

>> What: “Princess Diana: Dresses of Inspiration,” an exhibit of 20 gowns worn by Princess Diana >> When: March 13-June 27 >> Where: The von Liebig Art Center, 585 Park St., Naples >> Gala benefit: For more information about the March 10 gala benefit, call 262-6517, ext. 115. >> Preview reception: 5:30-7:30 p.m. March 12, along with the Naples Art Association’s Members Gallery Final Show of the Season; free for NAA members, $12 for nonmembers and $5 for children under 10. >> Exhibit admission: $10 for NAA member, $12 for non-members, $5 for children under 10 >> Info: Call 262-6517 or visit www.naplesart. org. >> More: For more information about the dresses in the collection or about the Pink Ribbon Crusade, go to www.DianaDresses.org.