Calling all Witches-HAPPY BIRTHDAY & K.TAYLOR AUCTION RESULTS

Today was one of those days when the stars were aligned, the witches were casting their spells and Alexander was looking down from the heavens and smiling. 

It is a very special day not only in the auction world...

This post is dedicated to my dear friend Suzanne (aka PunkglamQueen) who happens to be the biggest Alexander McQueen fan that I know.

 Today is her birthday and for other reasons reasons know that this collection is also very special for her.

Happy Birthday Suzanne!

and a big congratulations to Kerry for such an exciting auction.

November 29 Auction Highlights from Kerry Taylor

Lot 156 Alexander McQueen black satin and bugle beaded evening gown, 'In memory of Elizabeth Howe, Salem 1692' collection, Autumn-Winter, 2007, labelled and size 38, also bearing press sample label, the silver beading applied in tress-like bands down the front and back of the gown together with a catwalk image of the gown

HAMMER PRICE £28,000

Lot 158 An Alexander McQueen black velvet and bugle beaded evening gown, 'In memory of Elizabeth Howe, Salem 1692' collection, Autumn-Winter, 2007, labelled and size 38, also bearing press sample label, the iridescent gun metal-blue beading forming a star-burst around the high neck and upper shoulders which descend and trail down the front of the skirt trained skirt, together with a catwalk image of the gown

HAMMER PRICE £65,000

You Tube video Part 2

In Memory of Elizabeth Howe Collection, Salem 1692

Alexander McQueen Fall Winter 2007

Audio Credits*
Portishead - Machine Gun
Ladytron - Predict The Day
Simian Mobile Disco - I Believe 
Ladytron - Burning Up

HOW TO MARRY A PRINCE-Kerry Taylor Auctions

Sure every girl dreams of marrying Prince Charming so if you haven't found him just yet here is your big chance.

A dress that Kate Middleton wore during a charity event (yes Prince William was in the first row!) back in 2002 and later supposedly squashed into a wardrobe full of junk is expected to bring up to £10,000 at Kerry Taylor's next auction on March 17.

Splurge a bit this might be the best investment you'll ever make. Your Prince Charming might be just around the corner and I'm sure this dress will catch his eye!

Since you'll probably be marrying a Prince take a look at the other breath-taking dresses and gowns as well. You'll need a new wardrobe won't you?

The catalogue will be on line soon!

www.kerrytaylorauctions.com 

 

A Black Dress-PRINCESS DIANA AUCTION

Lot 264
Estimate £30,000-£50,000

The important black taffeta evening gown worn by Lady Diana Spencer for her first official appearance (after the engagement announcement) in the company of HRH Prince Charles at Goldsmith's Hall, March 9th, 1981, labelled 'An Emanuel Special' the boned, strapless cross-over bodice edged in flounces of sequined silk, bust 86cm, 34in, waist 66cm, 26in; together with an Emanuel black tulle petticoat; the original 1981 Elizabeth Emanuel pencil sketch of the gown with attached fabric swatch; another in ink executed recently; a copy of the original invoice dated 9 March 1981 for £517.50; a black and white photograph by Richard Young; two others copyright Rex Features of Lady Diana wearing the gown at Goldsmith's Hall, another by Alpha Images, and a transparency by an un-named photographer, (10) When the young and inexperienced Lady Diana Spencer accompanied Prince Charles on their first official appearance she chose this elegant but somewhat revealing evening gown. She had no idea the effect the sight of her climbing out of a limousine in the dress would create with the world's press who were eagerly awaiting her. They were completely bowled over by the innocent yet voluptuous beauty of the young woman. Clutching a single red rose - she literally burst onto the world stage in a frenzy of press flash bulbs, and in so doing, managed to unintentionally upstage her fiancé - something she was to do on a regular basis in the years that followed. In her memoirs the Princess stated `I remember my first (royal) engagement so well. So excited. Black dress from the Emanuels and I thought it was OK because girls my age wore this dress. I hadn't appreciated that I was now seen as a royal lady, although I'd only got a ring on my finger as opposed to two rings. Black to me was the smartest colour you could possibly have at the age of 19. It was a real grown up dress. I was quite big-chested then and they all got frightfully excited. I remember meeting Princess Grace and how wonderful and serene she was....It wan an horrendous occasion. I didn't know whether your handbag should be in your left hand not your right hand. I was terrified really - at the time everything was all over the place.' cf `Diana - Her True Story - in Her Own Words', p.36-37 published by Michael O Mara Books Ltd. see also Andrew Morton's comments on the occasion p.121 of the same book. 'They (the Emanuels) also made the evening gown for her first official engagement, a charity gala in the city of London, which created almost as big a sensation as the dress which graced St Paul's Cathderal a few months later. The black taffeta silk ballgown was strapless and backless with a plunging, gravity-defying décolletage. Prince Charles was not impressed with the outfit. While she thought black was the smartest colour a girl of her age could wear, he had different ideas. When she appeared in her finery at the door of his study he commented unfavourably saying that only people in mourning wore black. Diana replied that she was not yet a member of his family and, what's more, she had no other dress suitable for the occasion. That spat did little for her confidence as she faced a battery of cameras waiting outside Goldsmith's Hall. She was unschooled in the niceties of royal behaviour and felt absolutely terrified that she would embarrass her fiancé. During the course of the evening she met Princess Grace of Monaco, a woman she had always admired from afar. She noticed Diana's uncertainty and, ignoring the other guests who were still buzzing over Diana's choice of dress, whisked her off to the powder room. Diana poured her heart out about the publicity, her sense of isolation and her fears about what the future held in store. 'Don't worry,' Princess Grace joked. `It will get a lot worse'. David & Elizabeth Emanuel wrote in 'A Dress for Diana' p.33 and.94 `When we put her in that black dress, we had no idea that it was going to cause such a furore. Infact, that dress had started its life as one of our samples and it was just hanging on a rail...But Diana saw it, loved it and tried it on. The transformation was incredible! She had arrived looking like the nursery school teacher she was, but now she looked like a movie star'. As the weeks passed Diana began to lose weight rapidly and the dress which she had originally filled to perfection began to hang on her ever diminishing frame. She returned the gown to the Emanuels for them to take in. However, the weight loss was so drastic (her waist diminishing from 26in to 24in by the wedding day) that they decided it would be simpler to make a new, identical gown that would fit her new proportions. The original black dress was stored away and remained forgotten until its recent re-discovery.
More on this exciting acution this week!
June 8, 2010
www.kerrytaylorauctions.com

Weird Wacky Wonderful -Kerry Taylor Auctions

Lot 1010
An unusual cotton romper-suit with Russian `Pravda' newsprint excerpts dated 1989, featuring President Gorbochev, with red buttons to the back

Lot 1240
A pair of Alexander McQueen for Givenchy couture grey and pink kid leather chaps,
Autumn-Winter, 1999, with haute couture and defile labels

Lot 1251
A maid's uniform, 1939, of blue wool with embroidered muslin headband, 2 collars and apron, with note stating `The afternoon uniform of my last house parlour maid, Hilda Edwards, 1939

What I love about auctions are all of the weird wild and wonderful items offered.
In addition to my favs above this auction on May 25 will feature the 1950s-60s Savile Row wardrobe of the actor Richard Todd.. Not for him the sobriety of Mr Todd’s wardrobe. It is a riot of stripes, flowers, kipper ties and velvet. It is one of the grooviest male wardrobes ever to come to auction.

Female fashion ranges from Queen Victoria’s underwear (yes I'm not kidding!), a fab Miyake two tone dress and of course Balenciaga, Biba, Ossie Clark,Thea Porter, YSL Rive Gauche, Jean Paul Gaultier and Chanel.

For a full catalogue and information go to

www.kerrytaylorauctions.com