A stroke of luck has inspired one of the creators ofPrincess Diana’siconic wedding dress to reunite a 120-year-old gown with the Hearst family.
Elizabeth Emanuelwas gifted the antique pale peach dress so that she could cut it up and use parts in her own imaginative and romantic designs.
Emanuel posted the image on herInstagramand now members of the famous family have been in touch.
Alamy Stock Photo
There is some symmetry to the story of Emanuel, who worked with Diana —most memorably on the dressthat she wore as she launched her royal life — coming across the outfit of another formidable woman of history. Phoebe Hearst is famous for being the mother of the newspaper baron, but was also said to be a leading feminist who campaigned for women’s suffrage.
David M Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images for Maddox Galleryq
He sent it over to London with one of his students.
Emanuel tells PEOPLE, “It came in two pieces, it was really pretty. I don’t know why but I just had to find out.”
Elizabeth Emanuel
She typed in a search for “Hearst family” and “evening dress” and the image of Phoebe Hearst came up. “She was wearing the dress! It was just luck – like it was meant to be,” an overjoyed Emanuel says. “This is so important that I said to Jeffrey that I will send it back.”
She is convinced it is the same gown and believes it was bought around 125 years ago in Paris. It was handmade in duchesse satin. “That is a gentle color and it has lace and these little pearls and embroidery and is really delicate — but she sounds like a very strong woman,” she says.
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There were lace sleeves in the picture and they appear to have been removed over the last century. “They often made modifications, but you can tell it is the actual dress.”
“I’d love to show it to the Hearst family,” she adds. “First of all, it ends up here and now it can go back to the Hearst museum — and be part of the family again.”
source: people.com
