Audrey Hepburn Wardrobe Sold at Auction

Modern fascination with the stars of Hollywood means there's usually plenty to explore and discover about the fashion choices of the world's favorite celebs, from red carpet critique shows to gossip rags that seem to have a never-ending supply of dirt on designers and the silver screen players who love them. Some of the most revered figures in Hollywood history, however, no longer make their way down movie opening promenades or into fashionable bars and clubs. By far one of the greatest fashion legends in Tinsel Town is Audrey Hepburn, a star who dazzled audiences with her performances in a range of classic films, and who also lit up the imagination of onlookers with her often simple, understated, and undeniably elegant couture. Many items form the actress' much-loved wardrobe was auctioned off on Tuesday night at a standing-room-only event held in London by Kerry Taylor Auctions.
The event was full to the brim with admirers of the ate film star and fashion hounds intent on scooping up a piece of what was, in the 1950s and 60s, one of the most talked-about wardrobes in the world. Dresses in black, white, and pastels –the actress' favorite colors for womens' wear--, comprised many of the lots, with plenty of little black dresses, day dresses, and suits complementing the collection. Designers such as Hubert de Givenchy, who designed many of the pieces Hepburn wore in her movies, made ample appearances throughout the wardrobe, with classic styles celebrated with a sense of taste and refinement that is unmistakably reflective of Hepburn's poise and grace. One of the highlights of the show was a wedding dress created by the Fontana sisters for Hepburn's planned marriage to James Hanson, a wedding which did not actually take place. Hepburn requested that the dress be given to someone without the money to afford such a dress on their wedding day, and the recipient, an Italian woman, decided to add the dress to the auctioned collection to pass on the storied item.
Scores of accessories were also included in the auction, from quilted Chanel bags to impeccable flat-heeled shoes and impressive costume jewellery belts. Hepburn's renowned sense of style was, after all, as visible in her choice of accessories as it was in her clothing, with ample room for sparkling Swarovski crystals and bold, solid pieces that complemented her smooth and well-kept look. Exploring the possibilities of costume jewellery can quickly yield a one-of-a-kind collection that's bound to be remembered by friends and family. With a set of bangle bracelets and cuffs, silver necklaces, impressive drop earrings, fun cocktail rings, and other costume jewellery accessories, fashion mavens can stake their claim to creating their own enviable jewellery box well worthy of passing down through the generations –or drawing in the crowds at an estate sale. Hepburn's auction showed that the appeal of true style never dies, but continues to delight the eyes and minds of the fashion-savvy throughout time.

Las Vegas Auction of Famous Icons' Effects to Include Monroe Items

Auctions play host to some of the seemingly strangest events around the world, from the selling off of iconic scraps of food to forgotten artworks and far beyond into the realm of miscellany. This summer, an auction held in Las Vegas, a town assuredly suffering from the blows gambling has taken at the hands of the global financial crisis, will feature items previously owned or used by two of America's most famous and most tragic starts, Elvis Presley and Marilyn Monroe. Some of the pieces are downright strange; an inventory of items being put up on the block includes a "nasal douche" used by the King himself to clear his sinuses prior to performing. We're not entirely sure who would want this particular item nor what they'd do with it (though that is, thankfully, their own business), but with the scores of fans still mourning Elvis' death in the new millennium, it's sure to find a happy owner.
Auction lots tied to Marilyn Monroe are, in some cases, fairly odd in their own right as well. Receipts for alcohol she bought seem slightly frivolous, while the offering of two bricks from her house leaves us wondering what the chimney would fetch. Of course, may fans of Monroe are likely to be much more interested in two items tied to the movie star's sense of fashion. Amidst the bizarre and esoteric pieces offered on the block, bidders will war over Monroe's umbrella and a dressing gown that was supposedly the last piece of clothing she wore before her tragic death.
Swept away from the realm of the living by a drug overdose, Monroe live a short and somewhat bittersweet life that has been chronicled internationally and has inspired everything from films to short stories to fashion revivals. The star's idealized figure and charming disposition catapulted her to fame and led to scores of young women emulating her style and fashion sense. Someone still inspired by Monroe's life and luxurious taste is sure to snap up the gown and umbrella, and we can't help but wonder when we'll get to see it and come up with a perfect accessory accompaniment. It may seem a little morbid to imagine what the beauty wore for jewellery just before she died, but we'd like to think of it as a tribute to her flair for looking flawless.
The extravagant, flowing dressing gowns of the forties and fifties were some of the most elegant yet comfortable fashion pieces the century whipped up. With fabrics ranging from smooth silks and satins to chiffon, brocade, and charmeuse, dressing gowns flittered off the skin and were lightweight, making them comfortable and fashionable for lounging. Able to support a subtle set of costume jewelry or prepare the wearer for a big night on the town or on screen complete with show-stopping jewels, dressing gowns must have seen a lot of rocks and metals in their day. As for Monroe's final fashion piece, it will probably have to settle for being lovingly preserved and reminiscing of fond moments in the service of the star.