Lady Kitty Spencer reinvents aunt Princess Diana's £400k red dress

On Saturday evening, the British Museum Ball took place in London. The glamorous soirée welcomed over 850 guests from the worlds of art, fashion, music and culture and had a glittering guest list, from Wyclef Jean to Benedict Cumberbatch and Jude Law.

Lighting up the red carpet in style was the always gorgeous Lady Kitty Spencer, who looked elegant and poised in a decadent ruched red gown. 

The sumptuous, satin design also featured a billowing cape, and she accessorised this statement look with a diamond choker and matching earrings. Her makeup appeared flawless, and her trademark blonde mane was teased into a beautiful updo.

As soon as we saw the breathtaking red ensemble, though, we couldn't help but be reminded of the sensational dress that the late Princess Diana, Lady Kitty's aunt, wore in the '90s.

Diana's £400k dress

In 1991, the mother of Prince William and Prince Harry donned this eye-catching ruched design in a ravishing red hue by Bruce Oldfield, one of her known favourite fashion designers.

The astonishing dress, which featured gold detail running through the fabric, also had a plunging neckline and slightly voluminous sleeves. One of her best-loved red-carpet looks, Diana wore it more than once, but most notably at the premiere of When Harry Met Sally in 1989.

In 2023, auction house Julien's hosted a three-day event named 'Legends: Hollywood and Royalty', in which Diana's red number sold for £458,484, almost three times more than the original £160,000 estimate.

Although there are distinct differences between Kitty and Diana's gowns, notably Kitty's cape sleeve detail, the similarities are clear to see; specifically the unique ruching at the torso and, of course, the bold red colourway.

What has Lady Kitty Spencer said about Princess Diana?

Model Kitty was just six years old when Diana passed away. Previously speaking to our sister title, HELLO! Fashion, she touched on her late aunt's influence in the fashion industry. "I think she’s iconic, and I suppose it’s such a wonderful thing that her fashion influence is still enduring today. She was a great ambassador for British fashion."