Passion for Fashion featuring the Zandra Rhodes Archive| London

17th Jun, 2025 9:00
17th Jun, 2025 14:00

Lots: 542

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 200th 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 18th 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 18th century.

 

For more information on how to bid, please click here. Live bidding is 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. Clients who prefer to bid via Drouot still have this option and can access the catalogue here. Please note the charge for bidding online via the Drouot platform is 1.5% 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.
 
 

Lot 202 - A rare limited edition Hussein Chalayan Airmail paper dress, 1999

Sold for £19,500

Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)

Lot 204 - A Vivienne Westwood autographed black velvet corset, 1990s

Sold for £1,040

Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)

Lot 212 - A Vivienne Westwood black flocked tulle skirt, circa 1993

Sold for £5,460

Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)

Lot 222 - A Versace printed pink chiffon dress, Spring-Summer 1999

Sold for £4,420

Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)

Lot 225 - A Thierry Mugler black evening dress, Cruise collection 1993

Sold for £1,235

Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)

Lot 231 - A John Galliano eau de nil 'circle cut' silk blouse, circa 1987

Sold for £1,235

Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)

Lot 232 - A John Galliano orange rayon-blend skirt, circa 1987

Sold for £598

Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)

Lot 234 - A John Galliano black viscose-blend suit, circa 1987

Sold for £3,900

Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)

Lot 240 - A John Flett aubergine rayon-viscose blend suit, 1980s

Sold for £1,300

Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)

Lot 241 - A John Flett ensemble circa 1988

Sold for £1,040

Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)

Lot 242 - A John Flett double-breasted grey suit, 1980s

Sold for £3,380

Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)

Lot 243 - A John Flett brown wool dress, 1985-86

Sold for £8,450

Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)

Lot 249 - A Thierry Mugler black sequinned cocktail dress, 1980s

Sold for £910

Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)

Lot 250 - A Thierry Mugler black wool suit, 1980s

Sold for £572

Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)

Lot 270 - An Yves Saint Laurent black cloqué dress, circa 1987

Sold for £715

Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)

Lot 273 - An Yves Saint Laurent printed crêpe ensemble, Autumn-Winter 1982

Sold for £468

Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)

Lot 275 - A Christian Dior slubbed silk and tulle bridal gown, American, 1980s

Sold for £1,950

Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)

Lot 276 - A Christian Dior navy Persian lamb and rabbit fur jacket, 1980s

Sold for £1,040

Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)

Lot 278 - A Norma Kamali scarlet silk parachute dress, 1980s

Sold for £975

Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)

Lot 279 - An Azzedine Alaïa black suede bolero, Autumn-Winter 1989-90

Sold for £845

Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)

Lot 280 - An Azzedine Alaïa printed cotton dress, Spring-Summer 1989

Sold for £3,900

Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)

Lot 281 - An Azzedine Alaïa grey wool coat-dress, circa 1988

Sold for £1,820

Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)

Lot 282 - An Azzedine Alaïa printed silk blend skater dress, Spring-Summer 1987

Sold for £1,170

Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)

Lot 283 - An Azzedine Alaïa dark blue denim 'Zipper' dress, Spring-Summer 1986

Sold for £1,300

Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)

Lot 284 - A rare Moschino black wool 'Dinner' ensemble, Autumn-Winter 1989-90

Sold for £6,240

Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)

Lot 285 - A Zandra Rhodes black wool felt 'circle coat' 1969

Sold for £780

Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)

Lot 286 - A Zandra Rhodes 'Knitted Circle' printed chiffon dress, 1969

Sold for £7,800

Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)