Legendary fashion under the hammer

L to R – Diana Vreeland’s YSL velvet evening ensemble, Diana Vreeland’s YSL Pea Coat, Isabella Blow’s Alexander McQueen cocktail dress.

Have you ever desired to expand you vintage wardrobe with the likes of Christian Dior, Valentino or an original Chanel or Lanvin, then we might just have the auction for you.

Kerry Taylor Auctions, specialists in antique, vintage fashion and textiles, will send the fashion world into a flutter tomorrow when the items in their Passion For Fashion auction go under the hammer.

Beside a string of legendary designer dresses, from the likes of Balenciaga, Balmain, Madame Gres and Redfern, some pieces owned by fashion icons are also included.

Of note are a number of pieces that originally belonged to the great doyenne of vintage fashion – Diana Vreeland. A smart navy YSL pea-coat bears the discreet ribbon of the Legion d’Honneur on the collar – an honour bestowed upon by the French State for her services to fashion. Also by Saint Laurent is a couture be-jewelled velvet evening ensemble specially commissioned for her to wear at the Metropolitan Museum’s ‘Royal India’ exhibition opening in 1985. Also included are her favourite art-deco cigarette holder, which she held in numerous photographs and a painting by Cecil Beaton and the canvas back of the film-director style chair she used in her office at the Met and which bears her DV signature in red.

Additionally a number of Alexander McQueen pieces are to be sold, including a heavily beaded cocktail dress he made especially for his close friend and collaborator the late Isabella Blow. The gown combines tribal elements of beadwork and animal hair with a high fashion twist. Blow insisted that the dress be made strapless for her, which albeit flattering, made it rather impractical to wear as the weight of the beads produces a strong gravitational pull and she later gave the dress to her assistant.

For more information go to Kerry Taylor Auctions.

But if reaching London in a day is a little difficult, keep in mind that a limited number of telephone bids will be taken, as well as online bidding through their website.