Auction Archive

Our June auction has something for everyone – from modern luxury to fine and rare antique dress. This sale also includes three very special but very different collections.  The first collection we present is 20 lots from the wardrobe of the late Marianne Faithfull. Renowned for her haunting voice, bold spirit, and enduring influence on music and culture, Marianne Faithfull also left an indelible mark on the world of fashion. Emerging in the 1960s as one of the era’s most captivating performers, she became known for her distinctive style — often dressed in dramatic, monochromatic black ensembles that reflected both elegance and edge.

We are also offering a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to acquire pieces from Zandra Rhodes’ personal archive. The collection comprises 92 lots ranging from her 1969 black felt ‘Circle’ coat, through to designs of the 2000s, including one important dress which was worn by Diana, Princess of Wales. These joyously colourful dresses include iconic designs from Dame Zandra Rhodes’ illustrious career. The sale will benefit the Zandra Rhodes Foundation: “I formed the Zandra Rhodes Foundation to carefully catalogue the momentous dresses I have designed over the last 60 years — each one hand-printed and handmade in my London studio. Now, for the first time, I am opening up my archive and offering a rare chance to own pieces from my life's work. With the expert guidance of Kerry Taylor, a curated selection of my most treasured, statement garments will find new homes around the world. Kerry’s exceptional eye has found chiffon kaftans from my very first collection, beaded evening gowns worn by Hollywood icons and royalty, experimental coats, pleated satin jackets and wonderful Boho pieces made in my renaissance period in the early 2000s.” - Dame Zandra Rhodes.

The third collection featured in this auction is that of the late Anne-Marie Sherwood, a lifelong collector of historic dress. Part I of her collection is included in this sale comprising 26 lots dating from the 18th to the early 20th centuries. Included are sumptuous Spitalfields and French brocades,18th-century stays, and mid-19th century printed cottons.

In addition to the three collections that we’re featuring in this auction, we begin the sale with a strong selection of Lagerfeld-era Chanel, particularly from the Métiers d'Art collections, which showcase the craftsmanship and skills of the artisans employed by Chanel. Modern fashion is well-represented, with rare examples by Alexander McQueen, Vivienne Westwood, and John Paul Gaultier all making appearances in the catalogue. Icons of twentieth-century haute couture also have their place in the sale, from Schiaparelli haute couture to stunning silhouettes by Christian Dior. 2025 marks the 200^th anniversary of Charles Frederick Worth’s birth, and we are pleased to present seven lots from the fashion house, dating from circa 1885 to 1908. Our earliest and perhaps most rare item in the sale is the gentleman’s ruffler worn by Sir Edwin Rich in the 1620s. Additionally, we have some further exceptional examples of 18^th century dress, including a wonderful historicist oxblood silk gown dating from the 1780s, a rare 1790s hat, and a fabulous pair of silk damask high-heels from the early 18^th century.

This is arguably the finest private collection of Napoleonic and Regency period dress in the world. It stands out not only for the range of clothes (1790s to 1820s) but also for the individual beauty of the garments and the remarkably good overall condition.  Cristina Barreto and Martin Lancaster have painstakingly put together this collection over the last two decades, their interest sparked by the discovery of fashion plates from ‘Costume Parisien’ and later the same day finding garments of the same period in a flea market.  

‘Our collection started because we wanted to fully understand the clothes that people wore in the Napoleonic and Regency period. Each dress tells a story about the owner, the activity and the time of day it was used. The collection grew larger as we tried to incorporate items that represented the development of cut and methods of construction during the period from 1795 to 1820’,

This is the first auction dedicated to the clothing of this era, ranging from adapted transitional post French revolutionary dress of the 1790s to the French first empire (1805-1815) and the period in England when Prince George ruled as Regent (1811-1820). The majority of these exceptional garments have been exhibited across Europe and the USA in the past, 

Cristina Barreto and Martin Lancaster, whilst sad to see their collection dispersed, state: ‘Our passion for the clothing and fashions of this fascinating period of history is undiminished, but we hope that the new caretakers of these historic artefacts, be they people with a passion, collectors or institutions, will take care of them and love them as much as we did’.

For more information please click here

Shirley and Charlie Watts first met as students at the Royal College of Art in 1964 - before the Rolling Stones shot to stardom. Shirley was an accomplished sculptress and produced numerous artworks throughout her lifetime usually inspired by the animals she loved - dogs and horses. Shirley spent most of her time on their country estate in Devon where she established a renowned Arabian stud. Perhaps unsurprisingly she collected equestrian themed fashion items, for example an early 19th century purse beaded with an Arab stallion and assorted handbags from the 1950s onwards woven or embroidered with horses.

Throughout her life Shirley showed a keen interest in fashion. She memorably turned up to Brian Jones funeral in 1969 dressed head to toe in white – hat, mini dress, tights, platform shoes. Her marriage to Charlie was initially kept a secret (even from the other band members) as the management felt it would be detrimental to the group press-wise. In the late 1960s and early 70s Shirley frequented the Biba store and other cool high street shops in both London and Paris, also wearing Emanuel Khan and Cacharel.

She kept very few garments from her younger days – but one piece – a pretty Cacharel floral printed dress - she was photographed wearing in 1971 in San Tropez, accompanied by Charlie and Ringo and Maureen Starr. Although Charlie was renowned for his sartorial style (usually immaculately turned out in Savile Row elegance)Shirley had a more relaxed, eclectic, bohemian approach to fashion. She was very independently minded and was never guided in her fashion choices by her husband.

Designer Basia Zarzycka knew Shirley Watts from the 1980s when she opened her first shop on the King’s Rd. She recalls, ‘Shirley was a lovely client and over the years we became friends. She could spend hours at a time inside my shop – carefully examining the hats, shoes, ribbons, flowers, and buttons. She had an incredible eye for detail and really enjoyed choosing the fabrics and trimmings . Amongst the many creations I made for Shirley are the two-18thcentury inspired fancy dress outfits she wore for Sir Mick Jagger’s 50th birthday party (where she also made costumes for Charlie and daughter Seraphina) and Sir Elton John’s 50th birthday party in the 1990s. Shirley loved the historically-influenced construction of the clothes. For the silver ensemble I remember she specified she wanted something very feminine, very boudoir which I think we achieved.’’

Shirley also collected a small group of antique garments ranging from bodices made from early 18th century silk brocades, an 1880s satin bridal gown and antique lingerie. These were acquired not to wear but to study and admire in terms of fabrics and fine detailing. Shirley loved hats. She owned dozens of them; a hat and sunglasses were something of a signature look for her. We include examples by Prada, Chanel and others, some of which she was photographed wearing when she attended Royal Ascot with Charlie. Shirley chose to wear a particularly pretty straw hat by Basia Zarzycka, covered in silk blossom to the christening of Georgia May Jagger in 1992.

Shirley and Charlie opted to live a quiet life in the countryside where she could focus on on her beloved Arabian horses. However, she still found time to nip to London or Paris for shopping trips to her favourite stores - Chanel, Loewe, Lanvin, Etro, Ralph Lauren, Celine, Loro Piana, Bottega Veneta, Prada, Balenciaga. Her wardrobe latterly could be best described as understated luxury. Comfort and practicality were important. One stand out piece is  an exquisite Loewe cocktail dress designed by Narciso Rodriguez, A/W 1999-2000. The seemingly simple slip-style nude tulled dress is entirely entirely covered in a shimmer of approximately 10,000 carats of rough-cut drilled real peridot beads. It is the perfect example of understated elegance.

We are delighted to return with our second edition of the Male Sale; an auction focussing on masculine fashions throughout the ages. This auction starts with modern wearables from Westwood, Tom Ford and Louis Vuitton. There are several interesting collections on offer, such as that of Tomoyasu Hotei (lots 12-20) - the Japanese rockstar perhaps best known outside of Japan for his contributions to the soundtrack of Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill. We are also delighted to have the second instalment of 'Parisian Sweet: The Jackariaeh Francis Collection' (lots 100-119) whose nineteen lots include several iterations of Jean Paul Gaultier's hybrid trouser-skirts as well as remarkable John Galliano designs. We are again offering items from the personal wardrobe of Ian Garlant (lots 52-54 and 120-130) who headed Hardy Amies in the 1990s. Here we have several special and finely tailored designs from the famed fashion house, and interesting ensembles from Japanese designers that Ian wore throughout his career.

The 1980s are well represented by familiar names such as Gaultier and Westwood, but also unusual and rare pieces from cult designers such as John Crancher, Christopher Nemeth, BodyMap and English Eccentrics who are quite rightly being celebrated at the Fashion and Textile Museum's current exhibition 'Outlaws: Fashion Renegades of 80s London'. 

The 1960s and 70s were an extraordinary and dynamic time for men's fashion, as the monochrome suits that typified the early 20th century gave way to colourful and eccentric designs from small boutiques that put London on the map. Stand-out examples from Biba and Mr Freedom typify this radical change with wild tiger print faux-furs, glimmering sequins and groovy patterns.  

The sale ends with antique fashions from the late 18th and 19th centuries that remind us of the elegance and quality of menswear throughout history.

Our Autumn vintage fashion and textile sale this year provides a bumper vintage harvest. Comprising 548 lots with pieces dating from the 18^th century to modern designer wear it will be an action-packed day of bidding - make sure to get your energy drinks and protein bars ready!

We start with a large selection of luxury accessories, costume jewellery and designer wear from all your favourites – Chanel, Gucci, Dior, Celine, Prada, Balmain, McQueen. John Galliano’s deft sartorial hand is exemplified by lots Lots 84 and 85 -  a dress and belt for his Esquimeau collection, A/W 2002-3.

The sale is packed with cocktail and evening wear for the party season by Yves Saint Laurent, Jenny Packham, Roberto Cavalli, Dolce & Gabbana and others. We have strong Westwood sections from the 1980s right up to the 2020s and other Cool Britannia designers – Ossie Clark and Bill Gibb to name just a few. Every decade of the 20th century or well and truly covered. 

The afternoon session kicks off at 2pm with part 1 of Parisian Sweet: The Jackariaeh Francis collection. This collection, built from Jackariaeh’s own wardrobe and extensive global travels, will be sold across three auctions, curated by Kerry Taylor. In this first auction, it focusses on ready-to-wear pieces from Galliano and Gaultier as well as stage-worn celebrity costumes. (lots 246 to 334)

The session ends with antique costume, European and Islamic shawls, textiles and Chinese robes.

Our team looks forward to receiving your condition reports and enquiries.

To mark the 60th anniversary of the opening of Biba’s first boutique on 87 Abingdon Road, this September Kerry Taylor Auctions celebrates all things Biba. We feature a week-long online-only auction and exhibition of Biba clothes, accessories and ephemera, and will be hosting and collaborating on several special events throughout the week.

The auction opens for bidding at 9:00 am on Monday the 9th of September and will begin closing at 7:00 pm on Monday the 16th. Comprising over 160 lots the sale spans Biba’s history– from its inception as a mail-order boutique to the multi-sensory extravagance of the Big Biba store on Kensington High Street.

Biba is regarded as one of Britain’s most important fashion brands, not only because of the innovative L-darted busts, unusual sleeve shapes and dazzling fabrics that illuminated the British fashion scene at such a vital time of change but also due to its influence on how fashion companies conduct business that is still reflected in the high street today.

After starting a mail-order boutique in 1963 (named Biba after the designer’s sister), Barbara Hulanicki was featured in the Daily Mirror alongside one of her dresses. A simple gingham design with a matching headscarf. This outfit captured the imagination of a generation, eventually amassing a staggering 17,000 orders. Hulanicki opened the first Biba store in September 1964 on 87 Abington Road and within 16 months had moved to a larger premises at 19-21 Kensington Church Street (where Vogue editor Anna Wintour famously used to work on Saturdays). The clothes were imaginative, colourful, young, and affordable – a democratizing force in fashion that shaped the way people of all backgrounds could suddenly choose to dress. Hulanicki’s designs had broad references taken from Edwardian night shirts, to Cossack uniforms and the Renaissance, yet she kept them exuberantly contemporary – her clothes were ‘happening’. And while other copycat boutiques began to pop-up all over London, Barbara stayed ahead of the curve.

On the 10th of September 1973 Barbara opened Big Biba, a vast and ambitious project that spanned the 100,000 square foot, seven-floor building of the old Derry & Toms department store at 99-117 Kensington High Street. The space transcended the prevailing ideas of what a clothing store was, instead becoming a multi-sensory experience and destination. The original building was created in the Art Deco style but the interiors, designed by Tim Whitmore and Steve Thomas, drew from various sources such as Victorian, Art Nouveau, Art Deco, pop art and post-modernism, the lighting was low and each floor became an immersive environment that complemented its specific contents. There was a ‘Lolita’ children’s floor replete with toadstools, a maternity section featuring comically outsized furniture and for menswear they included a ‘mistress’ area where men could discreetly peruse more sensual items. And then there was the dazzling multi-coloured rainbow room – a celebrity hotspot billed as a place to ‘eat, drink, meet friends, dance and be happy in’, that attracted the likes of David Bowie, Mick Jagger and Bryan Ferry. It was the first ‘lifestyle’ store in London selling everything from cane furniture and slippery satin sheets to dog food. On top of the building stood an immense roof garden, which (thanks to it becoming Grade II listed) still retains many of its original features today. Sprawling over 1.5 acres, well-heeled guests relaxed there for afternoon tea amongst the resident flamingos and against the iconic skyline of the Swinging City. Big Biba was not a shop, it was an entire universe, and being a ‘Biba Girl’ became a full-time lifestyle.

While Biba closed its doors in 1975 after changes to the management structure of Biba Ltd, the spirit and innovations of Hulanicki’s work live on. In 2010 she was acknowledged by the New York Times as being the inventor of fast fashion and it has often been noted that major brands such as Topshop and Zara owe the ambitious nature of their business models to her. The recent retrospective curated by Martin Pel at the Fashion and Textiles Museum in Bermondsey has seen record numbers coming through their doors and as testament to the prevailing allure of the designs, many people continue to collect Biba clothes today. Viva la Biba!

The Pari Collection

Pari first came across Biba in the 1980s at a stall on Portobello Road Market. She was held spellbound by the striking cut of a 1974 brown double-breasted jacket with exaggerated shoulders and saved up to pay for it in instalments every week. What began as fascination soon grew into an obsession and Pari has since amassed one of the largest private collections of Biba clothes, shoes, accessories, cosmetics and ephemera in the world; even becoming the subject of books, newspaper articles and TV-shows. We are delighted that 147 of the lots in this auction come from her world-renowned wardrobe.

Public Viewing times

Monday 9th September – 11am-5pm

Tuesday 10th September – 10am-5pm

Wednesday 11th September 10am-5pm

Thursday 12th September - Closed for School of Historical dress event

Friday 13th September 10am-5pm (some items may not be viewable on this day)

Saturday 14th September - Closed

Sunday 15th September – 12pm-5pm

Monday 16th September – 10am-5pm

Special Events

To coincide with the historic Biba anniversary and to celebrate Barbara Hulanicki’s brief return to London we have organised and collaborated on the following events:

An Evening With Barbara Hulanicki, Biba book preview and Biba Girl! exhibition
Tuesday 10th September, 6-9pm (anniversary of the opening of Big Biba on Kensington High Street)
A private reception at our saleroom where the Biba designer will converse with curator and author Martin Pel, discussing some of her favourite pieces from the Biba Girl! Auction. Copies of Barbara and Martin’s new book, Biba: The Fashion Brand that Defined a Generation, signed by the authors, will be available to buy on the night. Pari will also be available to discuss aspects of her collection. This event is by invitation only and is now full.

The content, cut, construction & context of Biba garments, 1968–73 
Thursday 12th September, 10am-6pm
Join Jenny Tiramani and Claire Thornton from The School of Historical Dress at the KTA saleroom to learn about the innovative techniques employed to make iconic Biba garments and acquire the knowledge to make your own. Tickets Available HERE

This year’s June auction is one of the most comprehensive Passion for Fashion sales that we have ever put together! We are honoured to not only have been trusted with the Mr Steven Philip Collection Part 2, but the collections of several important owners, many of whom worked closely with the designers, be it through modelling or working with them behind the scenes.

The Mr Steven Philip Collection: Part 2

This time last year we presented the Mr Steven Philip collection Part 1, which rightly demonstrated how a lifetime of shrewd collecting and a fastidious eye for detail can result in extraordinary auction results. We are delighted to offer the second chapter of this prestigious collection with over 90 carefully curated lots that will kick off the afternoon session (lots 236-319) of our Passion for Fashion auction on the 11th of June. This instalment continues to reveal Mr Steven Philip’s expertise for important British and international fashion with a focus on John Galliano, Vivienne Westwood, Alexander McQueen and Bill Gibb.

The Lisa Scales Collection

Lisa Scales was model and muse for John Galliano and walked in many of his most memorable runway shows. We are pleased to present 15 lots (nos. 207-221) from Lisa’s personal collection that she acquired during her long friendship with the designer, in some cases, Galliano giving items from his own collection so that she could complete a look.

 The Trino Verkade Collection

Trino Verkade was Alexander McQueen’s first employee in 1994 and continued to work with him in various roles until his death in 2010. She worked as a consultant for the Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 2011 and is now CEO of ‘Sarabande’; the charitable foundation set up by Alexander McQueen in 2006. Due to her close connection to both the designer and the brand, we are delighted to offer over 50 lots (nos. 72-124) spanning rare early showpieces such as an ensemble from ‘Highland Rape’, and a Givenchy haute couture by McQueen dress from Spring-Summer 1997, to powerful later works such as sequinned Isabelle blow portrait dress from ‘La Dame Bleue’ S/S 2008, as well as key pieces form his final shows ‘Plato’s Atlantis’ and ‘Angels and Demons’.

Isabella Tonchi

There are plenty more treasures to sift through and with an auction of this scale it is important to get your condition report requests in as early as possible. Our next sale in Paris will be on June 23rd so keep a lookout for updates that will be on their way to you soon!

For more information on how to bid, please click here. Live bidding is now possible via our website on sale day. In order to bid online, please ensure you have created an account with us and that your account is enabled for live bidding - new clients will need to email us a form of photo ID, proof of address and paid invoices from other auction houses where appropriate. Once you have created an account and have been approved to bid, please click the purple 'Pre-register for live bidding' button which will appear on the online catalogue before the sale. You then need to accept the terms and conditions to proceed. On the day of the sale, a button marked 'Bid live' will appear on the website and clicking this will allow you to access the live bidding platform. Please note that there is an additional 1.5% charge plus VAT for any lots won via our online bidding platform. Please also note that online bidding is automatically capped at £6,000 in total - if you envisage that you will exceed this amount, please contact us directly so we can remove the bidding cap - we may ask for further information from you before doing this.

Clients who prefer to bid via Invaluable or Drouot still have this option. Please note the charge for bidding online via these platforms is 3% plus VAT. We strongly advise that you register to bid in advance of the auction and not the day of, as we cannot guarantee approval once the auction has begun.

Viewing Times

June 7th: 09:30-17:00

June 9th: 11:00-17:00

June 10th: 09:30-15:00

With two sales in Paris and three in London under our belt already this year, the excitement doesn't stop at KTA with another extraordinary offering in our Spring auction.

Amongst exquisite lots like the Christian Dior camelia blossom hat on the cover page (lot 321), we have a fantastic selection from some of our favourite names such as Vivienne Westwood (including a great 'Harris Tweed' crown - lot 198), Ossie Clarke and Chanel to name but a few - and for the budding archivist, there's also (nearly) every issue of British Vogue from 1980 to 2003 (lots 91-114).

Few dresses can claim to be as iconic of an era as the sheer metal Liza Bruce number Kate Moss wore to the Elite Model's 'Look Of The Year' party in 1993. The flash photography rendered the dress more see-through than had initially been anticipated and the titillating images that resulted have become some of the most reproduced candid fashion shots of the 1990s. That Liza Bruce purportedly only ever made a handful of these dresses (one of which is in the collection of the Victoria & Albert Museum, London) makes it all the more extraordinary to have one available in our sale (lot 170). And if that wasn't enough, we also have the actual Judy Blame-designed t-shirt that Kate wore on the cover of ID Magazine in 1991 (lot 128). And for even more celebrity glamour we have the pretty pink printed Ingeborg blouse worn by Barbera Streisand in the film 'For Pete's Sake' in 1974 (lot 291).

Our auctions are never short of museum-quality offerings and what better than those that have come straight from the designer's own archives? We have included the final part of the wonderful Sue Clowes collection which over the past year has proven how her powerful designs have more than stood the test of time. But we are also excited to introduce a selection of gorgeous knitwear from the Spaghetti Archive designed by Nadia la Valle - a collection of supreme quality that, while still very wearable, is so evocative of late1970s style.

The 1960s and 1970s are well represented generally with especially important pieces such as a Pierre Cardin 'Bone' dress (lot 310) a Biba black lace ensemble (lot 313), a fine Thea Porter kaftan (lot 290), and an Yves Saint Laurent lace up maxi dress (lot 262). But the other end of the 20th century is equally as impressive with flapper dresses which you would be very hard-pressed to find better examples of.

The sale ends with a strong Chinese section, including several 'Horse Faced' skirts, finely embroidered chang-fu and unusual cross-cultural items including a cheongsam made of Western Art Deco silk (lot 459), and a Western Opera jacket made from repurposed Dragon Robe silk (lot 454). 

Get us your condition report requests ASAP and good luck bidding!

Kerry Taylor Auctions is delighted to present our inaugural menswear auction: The Male Sale. Comprising 173 lots that span over 250 years of men’s fashion, there is something for gentlemen of every sartorial persuasion.

The 18^th century was perhaps the pinnacle of male opulence, and it is easy to understand why with the first lot in the auction: an extravagant sleeved waistcoat ornately brocaded with floral motifs in floss silks and silver threads on sumptuous crimson satin. Or lot 2 - an embroidered waistcoat whose rhythmic foliate sprigs appear to dance on the elegant ivory ground.

However Men’s fashions have often necessitated certain practical elements, and the striking 1930s motorcycling coat (lot 13) is exemplary of just that. Made of rubber to shield from the elements, a hidden flap can be strapped between the rider’s legs for additional protection – while giving the wearer a rather spectacular look! Lot 10, a 1912 stalking ensemble, similarly matches form and function with specially branded outsized pockets to store birds and game.

For the Dandies out there we have a groovy selection of 1960s ensembles perfect for peacocking down the King’s Road(lots 15-21) including a dazzling multicoloured leather Mr Fish outfit and archetypical looks from the likes of Brent & Collins and Hung on You.

Vivenne Westwood is well represented through the decades – from important earlier pieces like an original World’s End Buffalo sheepskin coat (lot 30) and a risqué Seditionaries ‘Dancing Cowboys’ t-shirt similar to the one that was responsible for getting the artist Alan Jones arrested in 1975 - and which suitably comes from the collection of another renowned artist: A.A. Bronson. For some less provocative options, there are a plethora of wonderful tartan suits as well as rare, printed denim ensembles from iconic collections such as ‘Always on Camera’ A/W 1992/93 (lot 78) and ‘Mini Crini’, S/S 1986 (lot 41)

The auction contains a huge variety of Jean Paul Gaultier items that demonstrate how the designer helped to redefine masculinity in the 1980s and 90s, a large number of which are unique pieces that never went into production due to either the high manufacturing cost, or the outrageousness of the designs making them unsuitable for retail. Included are rare pieces from important collections such as ‘Chic Rabbis/Vikings’ A/W 1993/94; ‘Tatoos/The Raw and Refined’ S/S 1994, ‘Grand Voyage’ A/W 1994/95, ‘Mad Max/Riders and Horsemen of the Modern Times’ A/W 1995/96 and ‘Tribute to Frida Kahlo/Flamenco’ S/S 1998. Gaultier would often exhibit his men’s and women’s lines at the same time and on the same catwalk, but each collection had distinct names so in these instances we have tried to provide the names of both collections for clarity. In 1993 Jean Paul Gaultier launched his androgynous ‘Jean’s’ label which saw incredible silhouettes marketed at a cool young crowd who were happy to eschew normative forms of menswear and womenswear. From the launch show are several one-of-a-kind pieces such as lots: 80, 81, 84, 85, 86 which you will likely never have a chance to purchase again.

So many important Gaultier themes are represented, such as his Breton striped sailors with fall front trousers (lots 53, 75, 77, 79, 82, 84, 85, 111, 125, 130, 131, 153), as well as the various cultural influences (religion, artists, dance, industrialism, fantasy, futurism) that thematically underpinned his best-loved shows. Gaultier loved seeing men dressed in clothes that had traditionally been reserved for women, and there are excellent examples here such as the 1993 denim corset (Lot 83), or the unbelievably rare 1987 leather waist cincher (Lot 47) – or for a slightly brighter approach we have Converse All Star style waistcoats with corsetry lacing at the back in both red and black colourways (Lots 73 and 76). Male skirts come in the form of kilts such as lot 84’s denim example which is a one-of-a-kind prototype for similar examples worn a year later on the runway for the Tattoos collection. Or another from the Tattoos collection itself printed with the iconic imagery from the show (lot 92). For one of his most iconic creations – the trouser skirt – look no further than lot 154, and for a deconstructed tiny ‘mini’ skirt/loin cloth see lot 79 – an ensemble best suited to only the bravest (or perhaps the proudest) of men.

But Gaultier was not alone in blurring the lines between stereotypically male and female garments. A group of Hardy Amies clothes (lots 139-141) includes a leather waist cincher among several tailoring masterpieces such as a bespoke fur-trimmed coat made specifically for the house’s then-creative director Ian Garlant.

Finishing the sale off are bold modern designs by the likes of Walter van Bierendonck and Charles Jefferey whose joyful colourful creations demonstrate how men’s clothes continue to be a conduit of fun, creativity and ever-evolving style.

Please note that there is an additional 1.5% charge plus VAT for any lots won via our online bidding platform. 

Fancy lunch with Hugh Bonneville, an after-theatre meet and greet as a guest of Ralph Fiennes (yes please!)– or a smashing  day out at the Goodwood Revival?

These are just a few of our fabulous online lots. To accompany our stellar costume auction kind donors and celebrity Ambassadors of the Bright Foundation have supported this charity auction with gifts of personal items, signed books and photographs and incredible one of a kind experiences that normally money cannot buy!

You can spoil yourself with a luxurious hotel break or vineyard tour; groove at a music festival, watch ‘The Killers on stage or while away an afternoon browsing the incredible workrooms at Cosprop where so many of the fabulous costumes were made.

All sale proceeds will go towards the charity and bidders can be secure in the knowledge that their purchases will assist The Bright Foundation’s art-based projects for disadvantaged young people. Kerry Taylor is donating the buyer’s premium to this just cause.

John Bright: “My life’s work has been committed to costume design for film, tv and theatre and I feel incredibly fortunate to have been able to pursue this path. It is my firmly held belief that the arts and creativity can shape happier and healthier children and enable young people to reach their full potential.” (Click here to watch John Bright A Life In Costume) 

We would like to take this opportunity to thank Bidpath (KTA live) for providing a live bidding platform free of charge and to all the generous donors in this sale.

If you are the successful bidder, please note that we accept remote card payments up to £2,000 and card payments in person up to £10,000. If your invoice exceeds these amounts, you will have to arrange a bank wire. We expect payment as soon as you receive your invoice. 

Last year, Bafta & Academy award winning costumier and designer John Bright invited Kerry Taylor to visit the renowned Cosprop store to select costumes for this special charity auction in aid of The Bright Foundation. The sale proceeds will go to this arts-based education charity based in Hastings, which provides free access to creative activities, visual and performance arts for children and young people facing disadvantage. 

This is your opportunity to own a piece of screen history with 69 lots featuring costumes worn by screen legends including: 

MADONNA • JOHNNY DEPP • HEATH LEDGER • ELIZABETH TAYLOR • MERYL STREEP • KEIRA KNIGHTLEY •  MARGOT ROBBIE • GWYNETH PALTROW • UMA THURMAN • RENEE ZELLWEGER • COLIN FIRTH • HELENA BONHAM CARTER • JULIE ANDREWS  • JUDI DENCH • EDDIE REDMAYNE • DANIEL RADCLIFFE • KATE WINSLET and also starring costumes from TV dramas including: DOWNTON ABBEY • PEAKYBLINDERS • POLDARK • POIROT • PRIDE & PREJUDICE 

The costumes range in style from fantasy Renaissance creations to more wearable 20th century silhouettes and will appeal to serious Hollywood and tv period drama costume collectors, or those who just like to dress up!  Cosprop is renowned the world over for its historically accurate and detailed costumes. For nearly 60 years, John Bright has brought characters and moments in time vividly to life on stage and screen helping to realise the creative visions of generations of award-winning costume designers. He is equally revered and respected by actors grateful for the fine costumes provided to assist them create their characters.  

Other actors represented include Gwyneth Paltrow (Emma), Nicole Kidman (The Portrait of a Lady, The Others), Cate Blanchett (Elizabeth), Dame Judi Dench (Murder on the Orient Express), Dame Julie Andrews (Victor Victoria), Aidan Turner (Poldark), Suranne Jones (Gentleman Jack), Alan Rickman (The Demon Barber of Fleet Street), Carey Mulligan (Far From the Madding Crowd), Robert Downey Junior and Jude Law (Sherlock Holmes), Ann Margret (Scarlett), Kate Winslet (Finding Neverland), Emily Blunt (The English), Emma Thompson (Howard’s End), Vanessa Redgrave (Mrs Dalloway),  Emma Hall (Parade’s End), Margot Robbie (Goodbye Christopher Robin), Dougray Scott (Ever After), Alicia Vikander & Eddie Redmayne (The Danish Girl), Helen McCrory, Tom Hardy & Paul Anderson (Peaky Blinders), Amy Adams (Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day),  Edward Fox (Edward & Mrs Simpson) , Marion Cotillard (La vie en Rose). 

Bidders can acquire costumes for enjoyment, investment or simply to dress up in, secure in the knowledge that their purchases will also assist The Bright Foundation’s projects for disadvantaged young people. 

John Bright: “My life’s work has been committed to costume design for film, tv and theatre and I feel incredibly fortunate to have been able to pursue this path. It is my firmly held belief that the arts and creativity can shape happier and healthier children and enable young people to reach their full potential.” (Click here to watch John Bright A Life In Costume)

To coincide with the live event a timed online only auction, will run from 22nd February until 10th March, featuring around 40 eclectic lots including one-of-a-kind experiences, celebrity memorabilia, original artworks, fashion, fine dining and personal items donated by the stellar list of celebrity Ambassadors and supporters of the Bright Foundation. See website for further details. 

We would like to thank Bidpath (KTA Live) and Invaluable for offering their bidding platforms to our clients free of charge for this special charity auction only as their donation to The Bright Foundation. 

Kerry Taylor Auctions is donating the Buyers Premium to The Bright Foundation

If you are the successful bidder, please note that we accept remote card payments up to £2,000 and card payments in person up to £10,000. If your invoice exceeds these amounts, you will have to arrange a bank wire. We expect payment as soon as you receive your invoice. 

Fancy lunch with Hugh Bonneville, an after-theatre meet and greet as a guest of Ralph Fiennes (yes please!)– or a smashing  day out at the Goodwood Revival?

These are just a few of our fabulous online lots. To accompany our stellar costume auction kind donors and celebrity Ambassadors of the Bright Foundation have supported this charity auction with gifts of personal items, signed books and photographs and incredible one of a kind experiences that normally money cannot buy!

You can spoil yourself with a luxurious hotel break or vineyard tour; groove at a music festival, watch ‘The Killers on stage or while away an afternoon browsing the incredible workrooms at Cosprop where so many of the fabulous costumes were made.

All sale proceeds will go towards the charity and bidders can be secure in the knowledge that their purchases will assist The Bright Foundation’s art-based projects for disadvantaged young people. Kerry Taylor is donating the buyer’s premium to this just cause.

John Bright: “My life’s work has been committed to costume design for film, tv and theatre and I feel incredibly fortunate to have been able to pursue this path. It is my firmly held belief that the arts and creativity can shape happier and healthier children and enable young people to reach their full potential.” (Click here to watch John Bright A Life In Costume) 

We would like to take this opportunity to thank Bidpath (KTA live) for providing a live bidding platform free of charge and to all the generous donors in this sale.

If you are the successful bidder, please note that we accept remote card payments up to £2,000 and card payments in person up to £10,000. If your invoice exceeds these amounts, you will have to arrange a bank wire. We expect payment as soon as you receive your invoice. 

Morning session, lots 1-211, begins at 09:30am. The afternoon session, lots 212-422, will begin at 2pm.

For more information on how to bid, please click here. Live bidding is now possible via our website on sale day. In order to bid online, please ensure you have created an account with us and that your account is enabled for live bidding - new clients will need to email us a form of photo ID, proof of address and paid invoices from other auction houses where appropriate. Once you have created an account and have been approved to bid, please click the purple 'Pre-register for live bidding' button which will appear on the online catalogue. You then need to accept the terms and conditions to proceed. On the day of the sale, a button marked 'Bid live' will appear on the website and clicking this will allow you to access the live bidding platform. Please note that there is an additional 1.5% charge plus VAT for any lots won via our online bidding platform.

Please also note that online bidding is automatically capped at £6,000 in total - if you envisage that you will exceed this amount, please contact us directly so we can remove the bidding cap - we may ask for further information from you before doing this.

Clients who prefer to bid via Invaluable still have this option and can access the catalogue here. Please note the charge for bidding online via the Invaluable platform is 3% plus VAT. We strongly advise that you register to bid in advance of the auction and not the day of, as we cannot guarantee approval once the auction has begun.

We can predict with fair certainty that our October auction will always be an exciting event, but what we didn’t foresee written in the stars is that this sale would include the show-stopping wardrobe of Britain’s most famous astrologer: Mystic Meg! Glamorous, mysterious, colourful and unique - the collection reflects her personality and individualistic style. Meg was a Leo ruled by the sun and she loved colour, the bolder the better. Passionate purple is Leo’s key lucky shade, and starring in the sale is Lot 300- Mystic Meg’s instantly recognizable purple cloak and smock with dramatic pointed collar, along with her very own crystal ball! (Lot 103). The collection of bespoke clothing is bursting with colours of the night sky to dawn, made in rich velvets and glistening brocades, with printed stars and ‘cat’s eyes’ hidden amongst the designs, expressing her love of astrology and felines. A lifelong lover of animals, Mystic Meg is described as generous and kind by those who were closest to her, so it is fitting that her collection (Lots 96-105) is being sold in aid of animal welfare charity, Blue Cross.

The Rodeo has also ‘come to town’ in another unexpected addition to our 24^th October sale: Lots 268-286 comprise a collection of Western fashions by Rodeo Ben, Fay Ward and legendary tailor Nudie Cohn. Famous for his flamboyant designs and extravagant use of rhinestones, ‘Nudie Suits’ have been worn by country-rock stars including Elvis Presley, Elton John, and a myriad of ‘rhinestone cowboys’ in between!

Also featured in this sale are superb examples of 19^th century fashion, including an unusual sporting corset with pink stars, c.1890 (Lot 445), a charming c.1880 bridal gown with original matching shoes (Lot 473), a rare adolescent girls’ dress, c.1890 (Lot 468), and a dressmaker’s sample miniature version made around the same date (Lot 471). We are honored to include the lace collection of the late Stephen Lunn, which includes a fine Brussels point de Gaze shawl, circa 1860 (Lot 533), amongst others. For those of you who love the more recent fashion of the 1980s, 1990s and beyond, we have rails of superb Vivienne Westwood, John Galliano and Alexander McQueen. Highlights include a Westwood  'Marlene' denim ensemble, 'Always on Camera' collection, Autumn-Winter 1992-93 (Lot 137) and a Sarah Burton for McQueen ‘butterfly wing’ jacquard coat, Autumn-Winter 2018-19 (Lot 95). 

A treasure trove of a sale, this auction comprises over 500 Lots of exciting antique, vintage and luxury fashion. We hope you have as much fun browsing the sale as we have had in preparing it for you, and look forward to assisting you with your bids.

Morning session, lots 1-300, begins at 9.00am BST. The afternoon session, lots 301-563, will begin at 2pm BST.

For more information on how to bid, please click here. Live bidding is now possible via our website on sale day. In order to bid online, please ensure you have created an account with us and that your account is enabled for live bidding - new clients will need to email us a form of photo ID, proof of address and paid invoices from other auction houses where appropriate. Once you have created an account and have been approved to bid, please click the purple 'Pre-register for live bidding' button which will appear on the online catalogue before the sale. You then need to accept the terms and conditions to proceed. On the day of the sale, a button marked 'Bid live' will appear on the website and clicking this will allow you to access the live bidding platform. Please note that there is an additional 1.5% charge plus VAT for any lots won via our online bidding platform. Please also note that online bidding is automatically capped at £6,000 in total - if you envisage that you will exceed this amount, please contact us directly so we can remove the bidding cap - we may ask for further information from you before doing this.

Clients who prefer to bid via Invaluable still have this option and can access the catalogue here. Please note the charge for bidding online via the Invaluable platform is 3% plus VAT. We strongly advise that you register to bid in advance of the auction and not the day of, as we cannot guarantee approval once the auction has begun.

The Mr Steven Philip Collection (part 1) & Passion for Fashion

Auction: June 20^th and 21^st

I’m honoured to have been entrusted with the sale of friend, collector, dealer, fashion hunter, gatherer - Mr Steven Philip’s legendary archive part 1 (day1). This is the perfect opportunity to acquire museum quality Westwood from Punk Sex-Originals, 1975, swashbuckling Pirates, 1981, and every fabulous design twist and turn of Viv’s through to romantic ball gowns and dangerously vertiginous Super Elevated Platforms of the ‘90s and 2000s. The Galliano chapter is also strong and includes a St Martin’s degree show ‘Incroyable’ waistcoat with matching original student sketch as well as rare and important early Galliano showpieces. For the finale to his section we present Lady Gaga’s ‘Red Bleeding’ rubber fetish look worn in her 911 video.

Day 2 of our fashion extravaganza continues with luxury and designer-wear by Chanel and Hermès before romping through fashion from the 18th century onwards decade by decade. Haute couture highlights include an incredibly rare Kitmir embroidered tunic for Gabrielle Chanel from 1922 (lightening does strike twice), one of her eponymous LBDs from 1924, a Schiaparelli ‘Hall of Mirrors’ jacket from 1938 as well as fabulous Dior, Balmain and Balenciaga evening wear. The Duchess of Windsor’s fashion choices are revealed by fashion sketches from the Houses of Dior, Grès and Saint Laurent complete with her rather blunt handwritten comments. (Lots 201-203). 

A highlight of our Westwood offerings on day two is the unique pair of green mock croc Super Elevated Gillies personally autographed by Dame Vivienne herself.

Issey Miyake leads our Avant-Garde and Japanese section with a fine Issey Miyake 'Plastic Body' breastplate, Autumn-Winter 1980-81 as immortalized by Grace Jones. 

Hilde Smith’s BodyMap Archive includes first print tests, large fabric samples, original designs, associated press clippings and a few garments. Hilde has provided us with the individual pattern names and also footnotes describing her design process. Her prints were a magical, integral part of the early BodyMap collections which she not only designed (pre computer graphics) but also on occasion modelled as her press clippings reveal.

Simon Costin’s creations for Lee Alexander McQueen are historically important and includes jewellery made for Lee’s degree show as well as one-off showpieces from ‘Dante’ and’ The Birds’. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for museums and collectors alike to acquire them.

Just to prove that fashion is timeless we end our sale with a fine and rare Imperial summer dragon robe, longpao, Chinese, late 19th century, possibly owned by Empress Dowager Cixi.

We look forward to hearing from you and seeing you in the saleroom.

Day One: The Mr Steven Philip Collection (part 1), lots 1-147, Tuesday 20th June, begins at 14:00 BST. 

Day Two: Various Owners, luxury & designer wear, antique dress, fine haute couture, cutting edge fashion of the 20th-21st century, the Hilde Smith and Simon Costin Archives and an important Imperial robe, Wednesday 21st June, morning session (lots 148 - 365) begins at 10:00 BST. Afernoon session (lots 366 - 557) begins at 14:00 BST.

For more information on how to bid, please click here. Live bidding is now possible via our website on sale day. In order to bid online, please ensure you have created an account with us and that your account is enabled for live bidding - new clients will need to email us a form of photo ID, proof of address and paid invoices from other auction houses where appropriate. Once you have created an account and have been approved to bid, please click the purple 'Pre-register for live bidding' button which will appear on the online catalogue before the sale. You then need to accept the terms and conditions to proceed. On the day of the sale, a button marked 'Bid live' will appear on the website and clicking this will allow you to access the live bidding platform. Please note that there is an additional 1.5% charge plus VAT for any lots won via our online bidding platform. Please also note that online bidding is automatically capped at £6,000 in total - if you envisage that you will exceed this amount, please contact us directly so we can remove the bidding cap - we may ask for further information from you before doing this.

Clients who prefer to bid via Invaluable still have this option and can access the catalogue here. Please note the charge for bidding online via the Invaluable platform is 3% plus VAT. We strongly advise that you register to bid in advance of the auction and not the day of, as we cannot guarantee approval once the auction has begun.

Our first auction of the year is a bumper one - over 550 lots of vintage fashion, textiles and accessories – so hopefully something to interest everyone?

Stuck for something to wear to this year’s Met Gala Ball? Then look no further – see lot 183, the scarlet satin surrealist hat made to Karl Lagerfeld’s design by London milliner Kirstin Woodward in 1985. It is not only desirable as a wearable accessory but is also museum quality having previously been included in FIT’s Fashion & Surrealism exhibition, October 30, 1987-January 23, 1988. Isabelle Pascoe was photographed wearing a pink example for British Vogue, December, 1985. Vogue stated,
‘'A surreal trick of judgement with wild surmise. Surprise? Classic distortion, upholstery, plat du jour perch above the stark silhouette of something sexy and understated.'"

At Christmas, the fashion world lost its honorary Queen: Dame Vivienne Westwood and she is well represented in our sale. Highlights include Lot 160, the sleeved ‘Boucher’ corset, ‘Portrait’ collection, Autumn-Winter 1990-91, and Lot 184, which comprises a red velvet corset, ‘Harris Tweed’ collection, Autumn-Winter 1987-88 and rare ‘mini-crini’, Spring-Summer 1985. We even have a photograph showing the original beautiful owner wearing the corset, dancing the night away in the Kinky Gerlinky night club!

We offer the ‘Lucinda Portobello Collection, Part I’. Lucinda Alford was a major player in the London Vintage fashion scene for many decades. She was renowned for her exceptional eye and eclectic taste, which is evident throughout the rails filled with pretty 1930s floral chiffons, romantic Edwardian dresses, dreamy bohemian gowns and colourful prints, starkly contrasted by the brutal minimalism of pieces by one of Lucinda’s great loves: Martin Margiela.

Families gathering around their TV’s in the UK on Saturday nights during the 1960s would have been familiar with the Kaye Sisters who achieved huge fame during the late 50s and 60s with hits including 'Paper Roses’ and ‘Handed Down’. They performed in numerous Royal Command Performances at the London Palladium, as well as TV variety shows hosted by Max Bygraves and others. The three singers – Shan, Carole and Shiela, weren’t actually sisters but had matching blonde hairstyles to suggest a familial resemblance. Their preferred costumier was Douglas Darnell who also produced many of Shirley Bassey’s most glittering costumes. Shan Kaye’s razzle-dazzle stage outfits dripping in faux gems, shimmering with beads are lots 343-346.

We also feature a selection of fine antique costume & textiles from around the world, including Lot 554, a brocaded summer dragon robe - jifu, Chinese, circa 1900, Lot 539, an embroidered wool scarf, Zoroastrian, Yazd, Persia, 19th century.

We hope you enjoy browsing this sale as much as we have enjoyed creating it for you and look forward to assisting you with condition reports and bidding.

Morning session, lots 1-250, begins at 9.30am GMT. The afternoon session, lots 251-556, will begin at 2pm GMT.

For more information on how to bid, please click here. Live bidding is now possible via our website on sale day. In order to bid online, please ensure you have created an account with us and that your account is enabled for live bidding - new clients will need to email us a form of photo ID, proof of address and paid invoices from other auction houses where appropriate. Once you have created an account and have been approved to bid, please click the purple 'Pre-register for live bidding' button which will appear on the online catalogue before the sale. You then need to accept the terms and conditions to proceed. On the day of the sale, a button marked 'Bid live' will appear on the website and clicking this will allow you to access the live bidding platform. Please note that there is an additional 1.5% charge plus VAT for any lots won via our online bidding platform. Please also note that online bidding is automatically capped at £6,000 in total - if you envisage that you will exceed this amount, please contact us directly so we can remove the bidding cap - we may ask for further information from you before doing this.

Clients who prefer to bid via Invaluable still have this option and can access the catalogue here. Please note the charge for bidding online via the Invaluable platform is 3% plus VAT. We strongly advise that you register to bid in advance of the auction and not the day of, as we cannot guarantee approval once the auction has begun.

We have saved the best for last: our final sale of 2022 is ‘all killer no filler’! We begin with a decadent luxury chapter, perfect for the ultimate Christmas gift shopping: handbags from Hermès & Chanel, costume jewellery - and for the person who has everything, a Chanel rugby ball!

Highlights for history lovers include an exceptional silk caraco à la 'Pierrot' jacket, embroidered 'petticoat', circa 1790, and a rare pair of men’s ‘Moschettos’, 1815 – the missing link between 18^th-century knee breeches and trousers as we regard them today.  Jumping ahead to the 20^th century, highlights include outstanding and important haute couture by Balenciaga and Dior (to name just a few), a dazzling Gianni Versace ‘Java Forever' dress from his Autumn-Winter 1989-90 collection and a Thierry Mugler cocktail dress, Autumn-Winter 1986-87, the gold version of which was famously worn by Madonna. We are also lucky enough to have yet more wonderful treasures from the collection of Sandy Schreier.

We are honoured to be entrusted with the estate of the late Pamela Rooke, aka Jordan, The High Priestess of Punk. Many of you will remember our legendary sale of her original Punk collection back in 2015. If you were not lucky enough to be able to afford the £22,000 for one of her original 1970s pieces, custom made by Vivienne Westwood and Malcolm McLaren, perhaps you will be lucky enough to acquire an item from her later-worn Westwood wardrobe, with estimates starting at £200.

From punks to prima ballerinas – Jordan was also a great balletomane, of course!

In our ballet section of the sale, we present the diverse archive of John and Roberta Lazzarini, who were responsible for the creation of the Anna Pavlova Museum in London in 1974. The deeply personal collection includes Pavlova’s stage-worn pointe shoes, her ‘Russian’ day dress and sari, both from the early 20s, as well as a plethora of photographs and ephemera. Pavlova’s travels are charted by bouquet ribbons printed with dates and messages from the theatres worldwide where she performed and date from 1904. One of the other most famous dancers ever to leave Russia was Rudolf Nureyev and the Lazzarinis’ collection includes Nureyev photographs, early posters and a signed ballet shoe. Arguably his most famous partner, Margot Fonteyn, is represented by not one, but two of her tutus.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to acquire museum-quality ballet material from the early 1900s to the 1970s.

Morning session, lots 1-242, begins at 9.30am GMT. The afternoon session, lots 243-425, will begin at 2pm GMT.

For more information on how to bid, please click here. Live bidding is now possible via our website on sale day. In order to bid online, please ensure you have created an account with us and that your account is enabled for live bidding - new clients will need to email us a form of photo ID, proof of address and paid invoices from other auction houses where appropriate. Once you have created an account and have been approved to bid, please click the purple 'Pre-register for live bidding' button which will appear on the online catalogue before the sale. You then need to accept the terms and conditions to proceed. On the day of the sale, a button marked 'Bid live' will appear on the website and clicking this will allow you to access the live bidding platform. Please note that there is an additional 1.5% charge plus VAT for any lots won via our online bidding platform. Please also note that online bidding is automatically capped at £6,000 in total - if you envisage that you will exceed this amount, please contact us directly so we can remove the bidding cap - we may ask for further information from you before doing this.

Clients who prefer to bid via Invaluable still have this option and can access the catalogue here. Please note the charge for bidding online via the Invaluable platform is 3% plus VAT. We strongly advise that you register to bid in advance of the auction and not the day of, as we cannot guarantee approval once the auction has begun.

Morning session, lots 1-266, begins at 9.30am GMT. The afternoon session, lots 267-501, will begin at 3pm GMT.

For more information on how to bid, please click here. Live bidding is now possible via our website on sale day. In order to bid online, please ensure you have created an account with us and that your account is enabled for live bidding - new clients will need to email us a form of photo ID, proof of address and paid invoices from other auction houses where appropriate. Once you have created an account and have been approved to bid, please click the purple 'Pre-register for live bidding' button which will appear on the online catalogue before the sale. You then need to accept the terms and conditions to proceed. On the day of the sale, a button marked 'Bid live' will appear on the website and clicking this will allow you to access the live bidding platform. Please note that there is an additional 1.5% charge plus VAT for any lots won via our online bidding platform. Please also note that online bidding is automatically capped at £6,000 in total - if you envisage that you will exceed this amount, please contact us directly so we can remove the bidding cap - we may ask for further information from you before doing this.

Clients who prefer to bid via Invaluable still have this option and can access the catalogue here. Please note the charge for bidding online via the Invaluable platform is 3% plus VAT. We strongly advise that you register to bid in advance of the auction and not the day of, as we cannot guarantee approval once the auction has begun.

Hold onto your hats, folks! Our 25th October auction is a bumper sale with 500 lots of luxury accessories, vintage fashion throughout the decades and antique costume and textiles.

The sale begins with a delectable selection of luxury pieces, including covetable handbags, jewellery and clothing by Chanel. Lot 32, a red bouclé wool suit, is a ready-to-wear version of a couture design from Karl Lagerfeld’s inaugural collection for the house of Chanel - surely a special piece to acquire for any Chanel collector!

Vintage fashion is offered from every decade of the 20th century, including an array of glittering beaded 1920s flapper dresses and 1930s sultry velvets. For antique costume lovers, we have a varied assortment of Victorian beaded fichus, blouses and gowns in Irish crochet and lace.

We are delighted to present the first chapter of the vEnt archive, founded by Simon Heah in 1995. The vintage store on Ledbury Road, Notting Hill, provided an eclectic mix of unique fashion and was a source of inspiration for designers from the late Alber Elbaz to the houses of Gucci & Saint Laurent, with Kate Moss and Madonna passing through its tiny doors, until its closure in 2003.

For contemporary fashionistas with a particular interest in the late 1990s-early 2000s aesthetic, we have a strong selection of sexy designs by the tastemakers of that period, including Jean Paul Gaultier, Roberto Cavalli, Hervé Léger, John Galliano and Alexander McQueen.

The final chapter of our sale will please those with a love of antique lace and an eye for embroidery. Costume and textiles from around the world are featured, including beautifully-worked Chinese robes and tiny baby accessories from the Miao People, Guizhou Province.

We hope you enjoy perusing this catalogue as much as we have enjoyed creating it for you! Please contact us directly for all condition reports and bidding enquiries. We look forward to assisting you.

Morning session, lots 1-230, begins at 10am. The afternoon session, lots 231-440, will begin at 2pm.

For more information on how to bid, please click here. Live bidding is now possible via our website on sale day. In order to bid online, please ensure you have created an account with us and that your account is enabled for live bidding - new clients will need to email us a form of photo ID, proof of address and paid invoices from other auction houses where appropriate. Once you have created an account and have been approved to bid, please click the purple 'Pre-register for live bidding' button which will appear on the online catalogue. You then need to accept the terms and conditions to proceed. On the day of the sale, a button marked 'Bid live' will appear on the website and clicking this will allow you to access the live bidding platform. Please note that there is an additional 1.5% charge plus VAT for any lots won via our online bidding platform. Please also note that online bidding is automatically capped at £6,000 in total - if you envisage that you will exceed this amount, please contact us directly so we can remove the bidding cap - we may ask for further information from you before doing this.

Clients who prefer to bid via Invaluable still have this option and can access the catalogue here. Please note the charge for bidding online via the Invaluable platform is 3% plus VAT. We strongly advise that you register to bid in advance of the auction and not the day of, as we cannot guarantee approval once the auction has begun.

We have been busy behind the scenes preparing a jaw-dropping selection of spectacular fashion for you all. We have rare and important vintage couture straight from the pages of the history books, including an exceptional Elsa Schiaparelli daisy-embroidered jacket from Autumn-Winter 1937-38 (lot 267), a Madeleine Vionnet couture fringed crêpe evening gown, April 1938 (lot 269) and a dazzling Yves Saint Laurent couture bejewelled gold sequined dress, Autumn-Winter 1966 (lot 298). We offer more treasures from the renowned Sandy Schreier Collection including a rare and early Alix Barton/Madame Grès couture ivory jersey evening coat-dress (which was featured in Vogue), 1934 (lot 264), and a Christian Dior by Yves Saint Laurent couture 'Trapeze'-line day dress, Spring-Summer 1958 (lot 283).

For Thea Porter fans we have the collection of Margaret 'Bea' Larsson (lots 307-314). Bea was a close friend of Thea Porter and godmother to her niece. And for those who love Bill Gibb, we have the wardrobe of Trinidad and Tobago-born British actress Nina Baden-Semper (lots 323-327), who adored his designs.

We are honoured to include the collections of two notably elegant ladies: Victoria, Lady de Rothschild (lots 122 – 173) and Countess Maya von Schönburg-Glauchau (lots 174-203), who both graced the front rows of the Paris couture shows and featured in the elite British social season for decades. This auction provides tantalising glimpses into the wardrobes of these two beautiful women.

Always dear to our hearts is the work of the late, great Alexander McQueen. Lot 410 is the superb Givenchy haute couture by McQueen wildflower embroidered gown, Autumn-Winter 1999-2000. Lot 407 is the very rare and special Dai Rees for McQueen headpiece for 'La Poupée (The Doll)', Spring-Summer 1997. It was worn on the runway by Stella Tennant and Jade Parfitt. A unique piece of fashion history.

Our auction would not be complete without a selection of artifacts relating to our Royal Family, especially in this Jubilee year. Lot 280, a cotton dress by Horrockses, was produced to commemorate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II and is printed with repeats of ‘Elizabeth Regina, 1953’. Also featured in this sale are the stockings, shoes and chemise once worn by her great-grandmother, Queen Victoria (lots 214 and 215).

Unbelievably, lightning does appear to strike twice in the saleroom of KTA: also starring in this sale is an Issey Miyake breastplate, Autumn-Winter 1980 - identical to the one just sold in our last ‘Passion for Fashion’ auction (lot 337). So, if you missed out last time, you now have a rare second chance to acquire this piece of art!

Morning session, lots 1-259, begins at 10am. There will be a short break before the afternoon session, lots 260-473.

For more information on how to bid, please click here. Live bidding is now possible via our website on sale day. In order to bid online, please ensure you have created an account with us and that your account is enabled for live bidding - new clients will need to email us a form of photo ID, proof of address and paid invoices from other auction houses where appropriate. Once you have created an account and have been approved to bid, please click the purple 'Pre-register for live bidding' button which will appear on the online catalogue. You then need to accept the terms and conditions to proceed. On the day of the sale, a button marked 'Bid live' will appear on the website and clicking this will allow you to access the live bidding platform. Please note that there is an additional 1.5% charge plus VAT for any lots won via our online bidding platform. Please also note that online bidding is automatically capped at £6,000 in total - if you envisage that you will exceed this amount, please contact us directly so we can remove the bidding cap - we may ask for further information from you before doing this.

Clients who prefer to bid via Invaluable still have this option and can access the catalogue here. Please note the charge for bidding online via the Invaluable platform is 3% plus VAT. We strongly advise that you register to bid in advance of the auction and not the day of, as we cannot guarantee approval once the auction has begun.

This blockbuster of a sale features 473 lots of vintage and luxury fashion, antique costume and textiles. With estimates starting at just £150 and items spanning over 200 years of fashion, there is truly something for everyone....

The auction begins with approximately 150 lots of covetable luxury fashion and accessories, including jewellery, handbags and clothing by Chanel, timeless luggage by Louis Vuitton and, of course, Hermès. And for the ultimate luxury connoisseurs: we have rails of unworn, mint-condition cashmere creations by Loro Piana - many of the pieces still with retail tags attached.

The world of fashion recently lost one of its greats: Thierry Mugler. Lots 184-197 form a tribute to his work. Mugler’s avant-garde designs for women are his most recognisable but let us not forget that he also dressed men in a blazing rainbow of colour. Starring in this section is the collection of Mr. Christopher Matthews, former lecturer at Saint Martins and VP of Design in Los Angeles. Christopher travelled the world during the 1980s-90s, riding on the back of mopeds to factory appointments in China dressed head-to-toe in Mugler!

For the Biba lovers among us, we have a fabulous selection (lots 262-271), including a rare ‘cat’ printed wool-jersey ensemble - complete with its matching hat! For those who long for the romance and glamour of the 1920s-30s, we have approximately 100 lots featuring fashions from those decades. Many of these lots are from the collection of a life-long enthusiast with a good eye: these garments are made even more desirable by the fact that they are in great condition. It is becoming increasingly rare to find wearable, attractive examples of 1920s-30s fashion in such original condition, but we have managed it!

The final chapter of this sale features an eclectic treasure trove of antique costume and textiles, including a fine Bernard & Cie walking suit, circa 1910, and a gentleman’s embroidered doeskin glove, Welsh, circa 1630. The final item in the auction is an interesting, brocaded satin dragon robe/jifu, Chinese, dating from the Qing dynasty, second half of the 18th century.

If you wish to attend the auction at our saleroom and bid in person, please get in touch to book a place, as places are limited due to Covid regulations.

For more information on how to bid, please click here. If you wish to participate in live online bidding on the day, you must register via Invaluable here.

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 18^th-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!

Morning session, lots 1-205, begins 10.30am

Afternoon session, lots 206-386, begins 2.30pm

If you wish to attend the auction at our saleroom and bid in person, please get in touch to book a place, as places are limited due to Covid regulations.

For more information on how to bid, please click here. If you wish to participate in live online bidding on the day, you must register via Invaluable here.

Our much-loved ‘Vintage Fashion, Antique Costume & Textiles’ auction returns. This eclectic sale features rail upon rail of covetable (and wearable!) vintage from every decade. Sparkling twenties flapper dresses, sexy seventies Ossie Clarks and chic sixties boutique fashions, eighties New Romantic creations by Willie Brown and others, as well as a wide selection of designer handbags by Chanel, Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Dior. Treasures include not one but two exceptionally rare Robe de Style gowns by Boué Soeurs. Although in fragile condition, incredibly they have maintained their original internal panniers and are adorned with the house’s signature ribbon-worked roses (lots 220 and 221). For the jewellery enthusiasts among us, we have twinkling bijoux from the collection of the late Johanna Beumer, MBE (lots 25-30). A life-long lover of glamour and greyhounds, Johanna was a founding member of The Greyhound Trust and was awarded an MBE in 2007 for her services to animal welfare. Family photographs show her attending events, always accessorising her outfits with brightly-coloured ‘jewels’ by Dior, Miriam Haskell, Butler and Wilson, among others - always with a greyhound by her side!

The exciting menswear chapter of this sale includes the wardrobe of the late John Hind (1954-1995): former Creative Director of British Vogue with emphasis on menswear. John graduated from the Royal College of Art with a degree in Graphic Design in 1979. As Creative Director he worked alongside Beatrix Miller, Anna Wintour and Liz Tilberis, collaborating with the most prominent fashion photographers of the time including: Lord Snowdon, David Bailey, Herb Ritts and Michel Haddi, among others. He left Vogue in 1992 and went on to develop a freelance career which was cut short by his premature death in 1995. With his dashing good looks and eye for design, John was the epitome of the fashionable, elegant man of the late 1980s-early 1990s. The ensembles in this collection date to circa 1990, when John was working at Vogue. They are a snapshot of those fleeting years: the bright, ostentatious colours of Gianni Versace and the leather cool of Claude Montana begin to give way to the refined elegance of Richard James and the softer, muted earth tones and gentle tailoring of Giorgio Armani (lots 77-95).

The final chapter of this auction offers for sale one of the most comprehensive and complete collections of Vogue magazine (mainly British) ever to come on the market, from the design archive of fashion designer Sally Tuffin (lots 323-386). Also featured are other insightful publications, such as Harper’s Bazaar and Jardin des Modes. The 64 lots in total are presented chronologically and begin with a rare and early bound volume of Vogue (Continental version) from 1918 (lot 323), all the way through to a complete run of British Vogue, 1990-2000 (lot 385). The collection offers a month-by-month historically accurate commentary on the evolution of the entire 100 years of the 20^th century (bar the occasional, minor issue) and showcases designs by Chanel, Dior, Molyneux… and many more.

At last our summer 2021 auction catalogue is now available to view online. This all-day fashion extravaganza begins with more accessible and sometimes highly wearable vintage fashion and accessories. These date from  the 1820s (lot 2, an ecru slubbed silk spencer), through lavish silk and velvet Victorian fashions, stylish garments from the attic of an artistic family - 1914-1920, as well as rails of printed and beaded chiffons, bias-cut lamé gowns, floating powder-pink ostrich feather capelets and more - all from the glamorous decades of the 1920s and 30s right through to Issey Miyake of the 1980s.

Our afternoon session opens with around 60 lots of antique textiles from around the world, including a fine embroidered cover (Colcha), Spanish or Portuguese, late 16th-early 17th century (lot 268), and the final chapter of the late Dr. Joan Coleman shawl collection, which features an array of French, Norwich, Paisley and Kashmir examples.

Our much-anticipated ‘Passion for Fashion’ section makes up the final chapter of the sale, featuring the crème de la crème of haute couture by all the greats including Paul Poiret, Yves Saint Laurent, Cristobal Balenciaga, Christian Dior, Hubert de Givenchy, Pierre Balmain and Valentino Garavani.

We are again honoured to include treasures from the renowned Sandy Schreier collection: her unerring taste and excellent eye are reflected in this selection – including  ‘L’Imperatrice’ – a magnificent example of Chanel haute couture by Karl Lagerfeld  - a crinolined navy silk gown, Spring-Summer 1984, complete with faux blister pearl and gilt chain martingale - arguably one of Lagerfeld's most iconic and important creations ever for the House of Chanel (lot 334).

Cutting-edge fashion pieces include futuristic designs by Pierre Cardin and early pieces by John Galliano. One of the more fascinating collections is a group of rare and early original McQueen runway pieces, often quite crudely put together and probably sewn by Lee Alexander McQueen himself. Many are prototypes or one-offs and were gifted by Lee to a friend/colleague at the time. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to obtain pieces from ‘Banshee’, ‘Highland Rape', ‘The Hunger’ and ‘Dante’.

For Royal fans, we have a precious collection of tiny accessories once worn by Queen Victoria’s children, lovingly kept by their nanny, Mrs. Thurston, and passed down through her family (lot 347, estimate £2,000-3,000), as well as gowns worn by Sarah Ferguson of the 1980s. A highlight of the sale was worn by a different type of British royalty: the bikini worn by the late, great, Dame Barbara Windsor in the infamous comedic scene from the 1969 film ‘Carry On Camping’. A national treasure and bona fide cockney Queen, Barbara sadly died of Alzheimer's in December 2020 at the grand age of 83. She used to joke that the infamous bikini would ‘follow her to the end’- and as it turns out, she was right!  The proceeds of this lot quite fittingly are being donated by the vendor to the Alzheimer’s Society.

Despite the ongoing challenges caused by lockdown restrictions, we have worked (and will continue to work) steadily behind the scenes to bring you the finest fashion in the world. We hope you enjoy browsing the catalogue just as much as we have enjoyed preparing it for you. The team at KTA look forward to assisting you with condition reports and bids - either in person by appointment, or virtually online and - who knows - we may even see some of you in the flesh! We have missed you.

PASSION FOR FASHION

At long last the eagerly awaited P4F Auction is here, and we have a great selection of historically important and just incredibly beautiful fashion with which to tempt you.

We are honoured to present 24 lots from THE SANDY SCHREIER COLLECTION. Sandy’s fashion collection is legendary; the Metropolitan Museum describes it as ‘One of the greatest private collections of 20^th century fashion’, and they should know. Click here for more detail.

WE’RE GOING GAGA FOR FASHION! For the first time in the UK, two extraordinary ensembles worn by this musical superstar are going under the hammer. Designed by Russian-born but British-based artist - Karina Akopyan.  Click here for more details.

THE LAST QUEEN OF MADAGASCAR:  We present fashion, accessories, photographs and ephemera relating to Queen Ranavalona III and Princess Ramisindrazana. Click here for more details.

BALLETS RUSSES.  Lavish costumes designed by leading Russian artists Natalia Goncharova and Leon Bakst for the legendary impresario Serge Diaghilev (see lots 52-56). Click here for more details.

CRISTOBAL BALENCIAGA - ‘The Master of Haute Couture’: 27 fine lots includes  an important group belonging to one of Balenciaga’s ex-models - Francine Chouraki, Señora Francine García-Trevijano, wife of the anti-Franco republican lawyer, philosopher and multi-millionaire Antonio García-Trevijano. She worked as the House model for Balenciaga in Madrid before making her advantageous marriage in the early 1960s (see lots 115, 117 to 133).

MENSWEAR to tempt the inner dandy in men everywhere – dating from the late 18^th century to 2000, including a fine embroidered court suit, the final part of the John Cowell collection and gangster Al (Scarface) Capone’s autographed spats!

CHRISTIAN DIOR & JOHN GALLIANO Museum quality pieces include Christian Dior haute couture Spanish-inspired black velvet dress, 1948-49, (lot 91); the rare Trapeze line dress from Saint-Laurent’s first collection as head of the fashion house, S/S 1958 (lot 103), to the tulle confection in shades of café au lait by John Galliano (his last haute couture collection for Dior), 'René Gruau' collection, S/S 2011 (lot 226).

AVANT GARDE FASHION: numerous examples include: a rare Paco Rabanne 'Armour' dress, 1967, with photo of the original owner (lot 148); a rare Alexander McQueen silver gauze ‘Armour’ dress, 'The Hunger' collection, S/S 1996 (lot 223); a rare Martin Margiela 'Retrospective Doll' collection ensemble, S/S 1996 (lot 264).

ROYAL FASHION. As market leaders in the sale of Princess Diana-related material we are proud to present original Elizabeth Emanuel ink sketches for some of Diana’s most important Emanuels creations, including the famous 1981 wedding dress – lots 170-176. Continuing the theme of Royalty – we offer Queen Victoria’s nightie and stockings. She would not be amused! (lots 47,48)

Enjoy!

We are pleased to announce that this bumper sale features 445 lots of tantalizing textiles and fashion from every decade and period. This sale includes two very different private collections: the first is a fashion archive which forms almost 200 lots of this sale. Carefully and lovingly compiled over several decades, the collection begins in the early 19^th century, with every decade thereafter well represented, right through to the 1980s. With a focus on the 19^th century, 1930s and 1970s, there are rails upon rails of Victorian and Edwardian fashions, glamorous gowns in lamé and velvet, as well as pieces by Ossie Clark, Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche and British boutique designers. As part of this single owner collection we include boxes overflowing with dazzling but damaged 1920s flapper dresses and 30s bias-cut gowns which are excellent as construction references or for use as trimmings or for repair. Sure to catch the eye of collectors and designers alike, this collection also features over 200 pairs of shoes - to be sold in group lots - which span a century of fashion history.

Lots 284-331 comprise the second exciting private collection: the wardrobe of John Cowell (part 1), featuring over 50 lots of superb menswear from the 1980s-2000s by Jean-Paul Gaultier, Alexander McQueen, Vivienne Westwood, John Galliano and others. These will appeal to museums and modern dandies alike. Mr Cowell is a costume designer and renowned textile artist specializing in hand-painted textiles, special dye effects and customized fabric treatments for both stage and film. During his illustrious career he has worked on films including ‘The Favourite’, ‘Gangs of New York’, ‘The Young Victoria’, ‘Mary Poppins Returns’ and ‘Star Wars – The Phantom Menace’, to name but a few. After each production was finished, he liked to celebrate by going shopping for some eye-catching menswear. Some ensembles were worn just a few times, others never. His reason for selling? He tells us he is now ‘too old and too fat’ and wants others to enjoy them!

For the final chapter of the sale - lots 405-440 - we present the second chapter of the late Dr Joan Coleman Shawl Collection, with good examples of Spitalfields, Kashmir, Norwich, woven and printed Paisley and Edinburgh shawls dating from 1800-1860s.

We hope you enjoy perusing this glorious treasure-trove of a sale. Do get in touch to request condition reports and to place bids. We look forward to hearing from you!

For more information on how to bid, please click here. If you wish to participate in live online bidding on the day, you must register via Invaluable here.

Alexander McQueen's best friend, closest confidante and muse, Annabelle Neilson (or 'Tinks' as she was known to her family and friends) brought his designs to life by not only modelling in his early shows, but by appearing on red carpets and high society events internationally, dressed head to toe in McQueen.

The sale comprises 124 lots and includes key looks worn on the runway, as well as rare, never-before-seen prototypes - which gives a tantalizing glimpse into Lee's design process. The wardrobe is also the reflection of a unique, close friendship which spanned eighteen years.

This extraordinary auction presents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to acquire an intimate piece of McQueen’s design legacy.

To learn more about the story behind this amazing collection, click here.

Sale notice:

If you would like to leave an absentee bid once the sale is already underway, you will need to telephone the office on 020 8676 4600, otherwise your bid will not be registered.

This sale will be presented as an auction event conducted by an auctioneer in a controlled setting. Bids may be placed with ease from the comfort and safety of your own home by several convenient methods: click here to read more about how to bid.

Attendance in person on the day is strictly by appointment only and you must be registered to bid in advance of the sale. Social distancing measures will be in place and we ask that you wear a mask during attendance.  Please contact us directly for further information: info@kerrytaylorauctions.com

Online Bidding

Online bidding during the sale is possible via Invaluable, please click here to access the online catalogue.

The Annabelle Neilson Collection of Alexander McQueen limited-edition printed catalogue is available to purchase for £15 plus postage, available to ship worldwide. Please email us or phone the office to order your copy.

The catalogue is available to view in digital form here.