Princess Diana David Sassoon’s couturier dies at 92

David Sassoon, a London designer who frequently dressed Princess Diana, died at the age of 92.

Sassoon – which designed for Diana and other Royals alongside her creative partner Belinda Bellville – was “a warm and charming man with a sense of ironic humor” who “never left his list of starred customers to go to his head”, according to Wwd.

Famous to have entered “through the side door of the palace, just like all other business species”, Sassoon has kept its humility even if its pink star. Her first royal commission took place in 1960, when he and Bellville made a dress for a 10 -year -old princess, whom she wore to serve as a bridesmaid in the marriage of Lady Pamela Mountbatten in David Hicks. Once inside Anne’s nursery – “with her carpet stained with ink”, according to Wwd– Sassoon tried to bow before Anne’s mother, Queen Elizabeth, and accidentally stumbled in one of the bowls of her corgi.

“A hero page appeared, wiped my shoes and the carpet, and left,” said Sassoon later. “It was not exactly what I had planned for my first visit to the palace.”

Sassoon – Known for his embellished evening dresses – made more than 70 outfits for Diana, including her Cantaloup outfit, the wedding day of July 29, 1981 with Prince Charles. A dress of the floral day that Bellville Sassoon designed in 1989 will soon be up for auction, as well as 200 other articles, in the largest sale of the Diana wardrobe; It will take place on June 26 in Beverly Hills and will be set up by the auctions of Julien.

Once, during an adjustment at Diana, the Palais de Kensington, Sassoon opened the door of the Diana show and overthrew Prince William of 3 years. “Oh, my God, I killed the future king of England,” recalls Sassoon later. (In the end, it only led to a bump on the forehead.)

Sassoon described Diana as “Miss Buckingham” to help keep the identity of his secret client. “David was vital to shape the image of Diana as a fairytale princess for the modern era, creating clothes that embodied the maximalism of the 80s”, Bethan Holt, author of The Queen: 70 years of majestic style And The Duchess of Cambridge: a modern royal style decadesaid Wwd.

“His work was just in line with the expectations of royal dress codes while pushing them in a slightly daring and fresh direction,” she added.

In addition to Diana, Sassoon also dressed Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, Princess Margaret and, interesting, Mondaine Camilla Shand (later Camilla Parker Bowles). His first royal commission, the royal princess, also remained a longtime client.

Sassoon was part of an inner circle of London designers who shaped Diana in a global style icon and showed how British designers could compete with creators in big capitals, “said Holt Wwd.

He stopped sewing in the early 2000s and finally retired in 2012, 13 years before his death, the cause of which was not reported.