Catalogue: Download PDF catalogue
Lots: 467

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!