Christie's has announced fashion and accessories highlights from the four-day series of landmark sales devoted to the iconic Collection of Elizabeth Taylor, the celebrated film star, fashion icon, and humanitarian.
Collected over five decades, Elizabeth Taylor's fashion wardrobe features scores of museum-quality ensembles fashioned by Chanel, Christian Dior, Gianfranco Ferré, Givenchy, Halston, Tiziani, Valentino, Versace, and Yves Saint Laurent, among others.
As Hollywood's leading lady for decades, Elizabeth Taylor often worked directly with designers to create the stunning looks that the cameras immortalized - from the ethereal silver Chanel ballgown and cape she wore to the Royal Film performance of The Taming of the Shrew in London in 1967, to the stunning ivory silk Valentino Couture gown she wore to the 64th Annual Academy Awards in 1992.
 Valentino Red Velvet Satin Ball Gown Listed at $4,000-$5,000 |
Nearly 400 items comprise this broad collection, which includes a lifetime of one-of-a-kind haute couture gowns, prêt-à-porter fashions, coats, and capes, as well as scores of handbags, costume jewelry and shoes.
Christie's New York will present 68 of Ms. Taylor's most iconic looks in a black-tie Evening Sale of fashion and accessories on December 14, followed by 326 additional items in three consecutive Day Sale sessions on December 15.
"One of the many great treasures within Elizabeth Taylor's vast collection is her extraordinarily well-preserved wardrobe.
"The stunning outfits she wore to galas, award ceremonies, AIDS benefits and even her own weddings to Richard Burton are all here, lovingly maintained along with the handbags, shoes, hats and other accessories that completed her superstar looks.
"Just as the unveiling of her iconic jewelry collection has dazzled fans and collectors the world over these last few weeks, this exceptional collection of Ms. Taylor's fashion is sure to inspire and delight all who come to see it during our global exhibition tour this fall," commented Marc Porter, Chairman and President of Christie's Americas.
 Sunflower Yellow Silk Chiffon Wedding Dress by Irene Sharaff Expected to sell for $40,000-60,000 |
"Spanning over fifty years of fashion, this is a highly personal collection, every stitch of which is reflective of Elizabeth Taylor's sense of fashion and the development of her distinctive style. This is not a red carpet wardrobe edited by stylists but a treasure trove of looks chosen by the last of the great movie stars.
"Many of the pieces in this lifetime collection were couture, custom made for Ms. Taylor by designers who became her close friends, including Valentino Garavani, Gianni Versace and Gianfranco Ferré," noted Meredith Etherington-Smith, Christie's curator for the fashion portion of the Collection.
"In life, Elizabeth Taylor was delightfully fearless in her fashion choices and it is her joie-de-vivre, sense of play and megawatt stardom that shine through for anyone who sees this fabulous collection."
Select highlights from Elizabeth Taylor's collection of fashion and accessories have joined the three-month global touring exhibition, which arrives at Christie's London on September 23.
Nearly 6,000 people viewed the inaugural two-day public exhibition at GUM on Moscow's Red Square, held September 15 and 16. Additional tour stops for the jewelry and fashion collections will include Los Angeles, Dubai, Geneva, Paris, Hong Kong, and New York.
The complete collection will be offered for sale at Christie's New York from December 13-16. Check back soon for more on the memorabilia of Liz Taylor and her fellow stars such as Marilyn Monroe.
