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.
Lot 384 - A Jacques Heim couture ball gown, mid 1950s
Sold for £780
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 385 - A fine and early Pierre Cardin cocktail dress, 1959
Sold for £1,300
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 387 - An early Hubert de Givenchy couture voided velvet evening gown, Autumn-Winter 1954
Sold for £1,105
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 388 - A Jean Dessès draped chiffon evening gown, 'Silhouette' collection, Spring-Summer 1951
Sold for £2,080
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 389 - A Balenciaga couture black slubbed-silk tent-coat, 1954-55
Sold for £1,560
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 390 - A fine Balenciaga couture lace evening gown, Autumn-Winter 1951
Sold for £10,400
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 391 - A Balenciaga couture black tweed jacket, Autumn-Winter 1961
Sold for £520
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 393 - A Balenciaga couture checked wool suit, 1967
Sold for £520
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 394 - A Balenciaga couture pink satin evening coat, 1966-67
Sold for £546
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 395 - A Balenciaga couture white matelassé cotton ensemble, 1967-68
Sold for £416
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 396 - A Balenciaga couture navy wool day dress and over-bodice, circa 1967
Sold for £715
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 397 - A Felisa Irigoyen couture pearlised cocktail ensemble, 1968-69
Sold for £1,690
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 400 - A Lanvin Castillo haute couture cocktail dress, circa 1960
Sold for £390
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 402 - Carven by Marcel Fenez - a peacock-blue cocktail ensemble, circa 1960
Sold for £585
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 403 - A Jacques Fath couture ecru lace cocktail dress, circa 1960
Sold for £715
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 404 - A fine Madame Grès couture black silk jersey sheath, Autumn-Winter 1961-62
Sold for £3,250
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 405 - A Pierre Balmain printed silk shift dress, circa 1960
Sold for £1,105
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 406 - A couture embellished black ottoman silk cocktail dress, possibly Balmain, circa 1960
Sold for £338
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 407 - A Pierre Balmain couture Marescot chenille and lurex weave ensemble, late 1960s
Sold for £572
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 409 - A good Courrèges lime-green wool mini dress, circa 1968
Sold for £650
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 410 - A Pierre Cardin Lucite sautoir, probably late 1960s-early 1970s
Sold for £520
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 411 - A Pierre Cardin futuristic polished chrome necklace, late 1960s-1971
Sold for £1,430
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 412 - A Pierre Cardin 'Espace' tunic dress, 1969-71
Sold for £2,080
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 413 - A Jacques H. Réval striped crêpe jumpsuit, circa 1969
Sold for £3,120
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 414 - A rare Yves Saint Laurent 'Saharienne' or safari metal belt, 1968
Sold for £468
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 415 - An Yves Saint Laurent 'Saharienne' blue velvet tunic, Autumn-Winter 1969
Sold for £650
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 416 - An Yves Saint Laurent black wool cloak, late 1960s-early 70s
Sold for £546
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 418 - An Yves Saint Laurent printed linen-blend coat, Spring-Summer 1970
Sold for £598
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 419 - A Valentino Garavani couture printed silk-wool three-piece ensemble, S/S 1968
Sold for £13,000
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 420 - A Valentino Garavani couture buttercup-yellow wool evening gown, late 1960s
Sold for £1,105
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 421 - A Valentino Garavani couture 1930s-inspired printed chiffon bias-cut gown, 1970s
Sold for £1,430
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 422 - A Valentino Garavani couture Chantilly lace cocktail dress, 1970s
Sold for £520
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 423 - A Valentino Garavani couture signature-red crêpe evening gown, 1980s
Sold for £715
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 424 - A Valentino Garavani couture black silk-velvet evening gown, probably 1980s
Sold for £390
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 425 - A Felisa-Jose Luis couture evening ensemble, circa 1978
Sold for £520
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 426 - A Baccarat three-piece wool and monkey fur ensemble, circa 1970
Sold for £390
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 427 - A good Courrèges men's white polyamide ensemble, circa 1977
Sold for £1,560
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 428 - A rare Pierre Bory of Paris vinyl puzzle-piece 'K' dress, circa 1970
Sold for £7,800
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 429 - A Pierre Cardin pop-art inspired maxi dress, 1970
Sold for £1,170
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 431 - A rare Thea Porter printed velvet long tunic, 1969-70
Sold for £845
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 432 - A Pierre Cardin beaded and sequinned ivory chiffon cocktail dress, 1980s
Sold for £494
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 433 - An Yves Saint Laurent colour-block wool ensemble, Autumn-Winter 1988-89
Sold for £585
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 434 - A rare Westwood/McLaren 'Savage' collection ensemble, Spring-Summer 1982
Sold for £1,170
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 436 - A rare Vivienne Westwood outsized trench coat, 'Hypnos' collection, Spring-Summer 1984
Sold for £1,300
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 438 - A rare John Galliano jacket, 'The Ludic Game' collection, Autumn-Winter 1985-86
Sold for £975
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 440 - A John Galliano black wool suit, 'Dolores' collection, Autumn-Winter 1995-96
Sold for £2,470
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 442 - A Christopher Nemeth frock coat and a waistcoat, 1996
Sold for £338
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 443 - A good Vivienne Westwood corset, 'Portrait' collection, Autumn-Winter 1990-91
Sold for £7,800
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 444 - A Vivienne Westwood man's black leather bondage suit, mid 1990s
Sold for £572
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 447 - A Thierry Mugler black vinyl 'Spike' dress, Autumn-Winter 1990-91
Sold for £4,160
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 448 - An Yves Saint Laurent Spanish-inspired red velvet hat, Autumn-Winter 1992-93
Sold for £468
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 449 - A Christian Dior by Gianfranco Ferré 'Lily of the Valley' suit, circa 1990
Sold for £4,550
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 452 - A rare Alexander McQueen slashed dress, 'Highland Rape' collection, Autumn-Winter 1995-96
Sold for £19,500
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 459 - A rare Alexander McQueen tailcoat, 'Banshee' collection, Autumn-Winter 1994-95
Sold for £4,420
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 460 - A rare Alexander McQueen red cotton shirt, 'Banshee' collection, Autumn-Winter 1994-95
Sold for £195
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 462 - A rare Alexander McQueen transparent lace top, 'The Hunger' collection, Spring-Summer 1996
Sold for £3,640
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 463 - A rare black and purple stretch T-shirt, 'The Hunger' collection, Spring-Summer 1996
Sold for £2,860
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 464 - An Alexander McQueen feather-print dress, 'The Hunger' collection, Spring-Summer 1996
Sold for £715
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 465 - A rare Alexander McQueen black cashmere coat, 'Dante' collection, Autumn-Winter 1996-97
Sold for £494
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 467 - An Alexander McQueen man's black cashmere coat, 'Joan' collection, Autumn-Winter 1998-99
Sold for £1,430
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 468 - An Alexander McQueen for Givenchy couture heavily-beaded organza gown, Spring-Summer 1998
Sold for £1,560
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 473 - An Issey Miyake oversized coat of knitted mohair/wool, circa 1984
Sold for £910
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 474 - An Issey Miyake striped pleated wool-blend smock, Spring-Summer 1984
Sold for £975
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 475 - An Issey Miyake textured oversized cotton coat, circa 1985
Sold for £975
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 476 - An Issey Miyake voluminous knitted striped wool coat, probably Autumn-Winter 1985
Sold for £1,105
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 477 - An Issey Miyake checked cotton two-piece ensemble, possibly Spring-Summer 1985
Sold for £715
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 478 - An Issey Miyake checked cotton coat, probably Spring-Summer 1985
Sold for £390
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 479 - An Issey Miyake textured brown cotton coat , circa 1987
Sold for £390
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
