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 146 - A Courrèges mint-green pinafore dress, early 1970s
Sold for £420
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 147 - A Valentino Garavani couture pastel-coloured day ensemble, 1991
Sold for £800
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 149 - A Valentino Garavani couture red crêpe ensemble, probably 1970s
Sold for £700
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 150 - A Valentino Garavani couture green wool-cashmere and red fox-fur cape, probably 1970s
Sold for £950
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 151 - A Valentino Garavani couture tan wool ensemble, mid 1970s
Sold for £1,800
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 152 - A Valentino Garavani couture red and navy wool day ensemble, early 1970s
Sold for £550
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 153 - Two Valentino Garavani couture evening gowns, 1970s
Sold for £550
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 154 - Two Valentino Garavani couture printed floral ensembles, 1970s
Sold for £650
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 155 - A Valentino Garavani couture black silk ensemble, late 1970s-early 1980s
Sold for £960
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 156 - A Valentino Garavani couture brown crêpe-de-chine day ensemble, 1980
Sold for £550
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 157 - A Valentino Garavani black wool hooded cloak, probably 1970s
Sold for £550
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 158 - A Valentino Garavani couture peach silk-crêpe strapless evening gown, 1990s
Sold for £450
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 160 - A pair of Rayne sage-green leather shoes with Wedgwood jasperware heels, 1978
Sold for £200
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 161 - An Yves Saint Laurent forest-green wool cloak, 1970
Sold for £350
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 162 - An Yves Saint Laurent burnouse-style wool cloak, circa 1976
Sold for £450
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 163 - An Yves Saint Laurent black velvet longline waistcoat, 1970s
Sold for £350
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 164 - A group of Yves Saint Laurent summer clothing, mainly 1970s-1980s
Sold for £600
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 167 - An Yves Saint Laurent couture black brocatelle suit, circa 1985
Sold for £260
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 168 - Two Yves Saint Laurent couture wool-twill suits, 1985-86
Sold for £450
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 169 - An Yves Saint Laurent 'Le Smoking' ensemble, circa 1986
Sold for £340
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 170 - An Yves Saint Laurent brocatelle 'little black dress', circa 1987
Sold for £400
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 171 - An Yves Saint Laurent couture blue silk-wool dress, circa 1987
Sold for £200
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 172 - An Yves Saint Laurent couture black wool suit, circa 1987
Sold for £300
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 173 - An Yves Saint Laurent couture black bouclé wool suit, circa 1988
Sold for £360
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 174 - An Yves Saint Laurent couture ivory wool suit, circa 1988
Sold for £320
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 175 - An Ungaro couture beaded black faille jacket with cut-velvet flowerheads, 1980s
Sold for £420
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 176 - A group of silk designer scarves, 1980s-90s
Sold for £240
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 177 - A Givenchy couture purple wool-cashmere suit, circa 1987
Sold for £260
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 179 - A bespoke Darnell shocking-pink and black satin evening gown, 1983
Sold for £1,200
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 180 - An Oscar de la Renta velvet and satin ballgown, circa 1990
Sold for £700
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 181 - A group of Pierre Cardin ephemera and accessories, mainly 1980s-90s
Sold for £150
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 183 - A BodyMap striped cotton dress, probably 'Cat in the Hat...' AW 1984
Sold for £2,200
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 184 - A group of BodyMap clothing, mid 1980s
Sold for £1,000
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 187 - A John Galliano bias-cut black viscose dress, Spring-Summer 1987
Sold for £300
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 188 - An Hervé Léger lime-green 'bandage' mini-dress, 1990s
Sold for £320
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 190 - Two Louis Vuitton Robusto Epi leather briefcases, 1990s
Sold for £200
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
Lot 192 - A Thierry Mugler red wool-crêpe dress, 1970s
Sold for £480
Buyer's premium: 25% (exclusive of VAT)
