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We have saved the best until last. For our final auction of the year, we are delighted to present this superb array of spectacular fashion. One of the highlights without doubt is the Givenchy haute couture ball gown screen-worn by the incomparable Audrey Hepburn in the 1957 film ‘Love in the Afternoon’ (lot 79). The 20.5in waist is perfectly accentuated by a pretty, pale-blue bow and layer upon layer of white silk point d'esprit - it is truly a dress of dreams. And if Hollywood royalty isn’t quite your cup of tea, then you may be enticed by another film-worn costume in this sale: the ‘Roman’ tunic worn by Kenneth Williams for his leading role as Julius Caesar in ‘Carry On Cleo’, 1964, in which he utters those immortal words: ‘Infamy, Infamy- they’ve all got it in for me!’ (lot 103).
At the heart of this sale - as always - is haute couture and this does not disappoint. We are honoured to introduce yet more treasures from the legendary Sandy Schreier collection, including superb museum quality Balenciagas from the 1940s to 60s (lots 71, 73, 76 and 88), a fabulous sequined Paul Poiret evening gown, circa 1928, that looks as though it was made yesterday (lot 64) and a very early Alix Barton (Madame Grès) draped jersey gown, circa 1936 (lot 67), to name just a few.
Lot 218 is a Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel gold embroidered 'leopard' dress, Spring-Summer 1996. Smothered in gold sequins and embroidered with running leopard motifs formed from gold and black beads, at the time of commission, it was reputedly the most expensive couture gown in history - costing $200,000, the Lesage embroidery alone having taken 1280 hours. Also featured are fine examples from John Galliano’s tenure at Christian Dior, including a magnificent ensemble from his 'Madame Butterfly' collection, Spring-Summer 2007 (lot 246). And from Yves Saint Laurent’s time at the house, we have the coral silk-faille evening gown, model 'Rose de Feu', Spring-Summer 1959, once worn by leading Argentine model Kouka Denis, one of the top mannequins for the house of Dior during the late 1950s and 60s (lot 84).
Keeping with the theme of Galliano, we include sketches he drew as a young student for his ‘Incroyables’ degree show at St Martins in 1984 (lot 167) as well as rare early London labelled examples from the 1980s and show pieces from the early 90s (lots 168-173, 207-210).
For our 80s lovers, we have a fun-filled selection of eye-catching fashion from this heady decade: lot 176 is a rare Issey Miyake breastplate from his Autumn/Winter 1980-81 collection, still with its original ‘Miyake’ shop sticker to the underside. Lot 155A is the Judith Frankland hat worn by Steve Strange in David Bowie’s ground-breaking music video for his single ‘Ashes to Ashes’, 1980. Other ‘greatest hits’ from this decade include designs by Kenzo, Body Map and Vivienne Westwood, including a complete ‘Pirate’ ensemble from the Autumn-Winter 1981-82 collection (lot 156).
We continue to delight the boys with our selection of jaw-dropping menswear. From the earlier centuries we have a fine gentleman’s banyan, circa 1830 and constructed from reused 18th-century dress silk (lot 37). This piece is perfectly complimented by dandy fashions of the 60s such as lot 104, the Brent & Collins for Take 6 men's jacket and lot 105, the rare John Stephen of Carnaby Street men's William Morris print jacket, circa 1967 - both cut from floral upholstery fabric. From more recent decades we have eye-catching designs by John Richmond and Vivienne Westwood from the wardrobe of John Cowell.
It would not be Christmas without a few stocking fillers, and this sale is full to the brim with covetable gifts, including the finest examples of vintage costume jewellery by Dior, Chanel and Coppola e Toppo; luxury handbags, accessories by Westwood and wearable, joy-giving fashion by the likes of Biba, Thea Porter, Ossie Clark, and many more.
Wishing you all a merry festive season, and happy bidding!
Lot 145 - An Yves Saint Laurent couture lace-backed evening gown, Autumn-Winter 1979-80
Sold for £13,000
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 146 - An Yves Saint Laurent black silk cloqué evening gown, Autumn-Winter 1987-88
Sold for £380
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 147 - An Yves Saint Laurent 'Le Smoking' skirt suit, 1980s
Sold for £280
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 148 - A fine Bill Blass 'Matisse' cocktail ensemble, Spring-Summer 1988
Sold for £550
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 149 - A Tan Giudicelli 'champagne' dress, 1980s
Sold for £300
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 152 - A good BodyMap ensemble, Spring-Summer, 1985
Sold for £1,600
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 153 - A BodyMap striped cotton dress, probably 'Cat in the Hat...', Autumn-Winter 1984
Sold for £550
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 154 - A group of BodyMap clothing, circa 1984
Sold for £550
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 155 - A rare Helen Robinson for PX cotton ensemble, early 1980s
Sold for £280
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 155A - The hat worn by Judith Frankland in David Bowie's 'Ashes to Ashes' music video, 1980
Sold for £700
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 158 - A Vivienne Westwood all-white Pirate ensemble, Autumn-Winter 1981-82
Sold for £950
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 159 - Two Westwood/McLaren cotton sashes, 'Pirate' collection, Autumn-Winter 1981-82
Sold for £700
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 160 - Two Westwood/McLaren cotton skirts, 'Savage' collection, Spring-Summer 1982
Sold for £650
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 161 - A Westwood/McLaren 'Nostalgia of Mud' (Buffalo) toga dress, Autumn-Winter 1982-83
Sold for £1,600
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 163 - A Westwood/McLaren 'Punkature' collection ensemble, Spring-Summer 1983
Sold for £1,400
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 168 - A John Galliano black wool gabardine jacket, 'The Rose' collection, Autumn/Winter 1987-88
Sold for £800
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 169 - A John Galliano high-waisted skirt, 'The Rose' collection, Autumn/Winter 1987-88
Sold for £350
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 171 - A John Galliano dark-aubergine wool jacket, 'Hairclips' collection, Autumn-Winter 1988-89
Sold for £600
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 172 - A John Galliano bias-cut evening gown, 'Charles James' collection, Spring-Summer 1989
Sold for £1,200
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 173 - A John Galliano pale-pink silk dress, late 1980s
Sold for £480
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 174 - A Franck Joseph Bastille 'Heart' dress, 1988
Sold for £250
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 175 - A Franck Joseph Bastille 'Ghost of the Titanic' evening dress and stole, circa 1991
Sold for £600
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 176 - A rare Issey Miyake moulded acrylic breastplate/bustier, Autumn-Winter 1980-81
Sold for £32,000
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 178 - An Issey Miyake 'mushiro' cotton/wool waistcoat, Autumn-Winter 1984
Sold for £600
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 179 - An Issey Miyake 'mushiro' cotton/wool jacket, Autumn-Winter 1984
Sold for £400
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 180 - An Issey Miyake lattice-weave silk-cotton-blend jacket, probably Autumn-Winter 1986
Sold for £260
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 181 - An Issey Miyake striped cotton dress in shades of blue, 1980s
Sold for £320
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 182 - A rare Kansai Yamamoto purple satin bomber jacket, 1980s
Sold for £950
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 183 - An interesting group of catalogues by Yamamoto and Gigli, late 1980s-early 90s
Sold for £100
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 184 - An Issey Miyake 'Flying Saucer' dress, Spring-Summer 1994
Sold for £2,200
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 186 - A Comme des Garçons/ Rei Kawakubo shirred jersey 'glove' dress, Spring-Summer 1990
Sold for £900
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 188 - A rare Yohji Yamamoto voluminous striped knitted jumpsuit, Autumn/Winter 1998-99
Sold for £850
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 189 - A Yohji Yamamoto black silk suit with padded cuffs, 1990s
Sold for £750
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 190 - A Martin Margiela 'Semi Couture' linen bodice, Autumn-Winter 1997-98
Sold for £3,600
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 191 - A rare and early Martin Margiela chiffon tabard dress, Autumn-Winter 1991-92
Sold for £500
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
