Catalogue: Download PDF catalogue
Lots: 438

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!