Haute Couture


If you have recently attended a major fashion exhibition, it is likely that you will have unknowingly marvelled at treasures sourced internationally and sold by us. For many museums and collectors, our biannual Passion for Fashion auctions, featuring carefully curated selections of the crème de la crème of vintage fashion, are a must. Highlights over the years have included an important Elsa Schiaparelli couture embroidered Zodiac jacket, Astrology Collection, A-W 1938-39, which achieved £110,000 (2013), and a sculptural Balenciaga couture silk gazar bridal gown and veil, S-S 1968, which achieved £60,000 (2015).

Not all haute couture is expensive or desirable to museums and prices for examples by the fashion “masters” can start in the low hundreds. This makes them not only affordable but good value, especially when compared to modern ready to wear prices. We regularly include wearable, accessible pieces by couturiers such as Dior, Givenchy, Balmain, Balenciaga, Valentino and Madame Grès, to name just a few.

Haute couture from the Golden Age is becoming harder to find, but it is still out there. One client rescued an embroidered Balenciaga gown from a shredding machine at a recycling centre; another purchased a rare Chanel couture printed lace dress, bundled up in a carrier bag at a London vintage fair for £50, which we identified, researched and later sold for £20,000! In 2019 an American client discovered an embroidered early Chanel coat at a flea market, which we sold for £90,000 - so keep looking!

Buy

Buying with us is easy and fun! Everyone is welcome at KTA, so whether you are a seasoned buyer or have never bid in an auction before, our friendly team are on hand to assist you. You can register to bid from anywhere in the world here:

 

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Sell

Selling with us is simple. As the world-leading experts in our field, you can rest assured that your items will be given the attention and exposure they deserve. You can request a valuation here:

 


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Contact

 We deal in fashion and textiles of all periods. So do contact us if you would like our advice. We look forward to hearing from you.

 



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 If you have items you would like to consign for auction, please complete the form below.

 

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