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HollywoodAfter 50 years in a suitcase, a favorite Liz Taylor dress ends up at auction
The dress, by Christian Dior, is the one the actress wore in 1961 when she won her first Oscar. Estimated between 45,000 and 68,000 francs, it will be sold on December 6 in London.
After winning the Oscar for best actress for “La Venus au mink”, the star took the dress she wore that evening all over the world, but never put it back.
AFP
After spending 50 years in a suitcase, a “lucky” dress worn by actress Elizabeth Taylor when she won her first Oscar in 1961 will be auctioned in early December in London. Many believed that the Christian Dior creation had been carefully preserved for more than 60 years in the archives of the fashion house. But in fact, the actress had given it in 1971 with a dozen other clothes to a former assistant, Anne Sanz, who had kept it in a plastic suitcase, stored in a bedroom.
Elizabeth Taylor, accompanied by her fourth husband, singer Eddie Fisher, wore the dress created by Marc Bohan for the 33rd Academy Awards, convinced that she would not win. She had been nominated three times in the previous three years, without success. And his marriage to Eddie Fisher, previously married to the famous actress Debbie Reynolds had caused a scandal, Elizabeth Taylor being perceived as a home wrecker.
On April 17, 1961, Liz Taylor, here with her husband Eddie Fisher, had won the Oscar for best actress for her role in “La Vénus au mink” at the 33rd Academy Awards.
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She took it everywhere with her, like a lucky charm
“She really didn’t expect to win, having been passed over previously and because of all the negative press regarding Eddie Fisher,” says Kerry Taylor, whose vintage fashion auction house will put the dress up for sale on June 6. December, and expects between 40,000 and 60,000 pounds (45,000 to 68,000 francs).
After winning the Oscar for best actress for her role in the film “La Vénus au mink”, the star considered the dress “a kind of lucky charm” and took it all over the world. “She was still taking it with her ten years later. She did not wear it for other occasions, she just liked to have it with her,” explains Kerry Taylor.
Other clothes up for auction on December 6 include pieces from the Tiziani haute couture collection by Karl Lagerfeld.
AFP
But Elizabeth Taylor’s travel wardrobe grew increasingly cumbersome, sometimes with more than 40 huge suitcases, as she traveled the world in the 60s and 70s with her fifth husband Richard Burton, but also Anne Sanz and her husband Gaston, who serves as the actress’ driver and bodyguard.
In 1971, opening her wardrobes at the Dorchester Hotel in London, and despite her sentimental attachment to her Dior dress, she told Anne Sanz: “Take what you like.” She will also give her a white piqué cocktail dress and matching bolero for her wedding.
Over the years, Anne Sanz has worn a few pieces and given others to friends and family members, never considering them particularly important or valuable. “Anne obviously wore the piqué dress for her wedding, and she also wore a yellow and blue dress with matching coat,” Kerry Taylor says. “But in a way it was just second-hand dresses that belonged to Liz Taylor,” she says. It was “before the notion of celebrity became what it is”.
Other clothes up for auction Dec. 6 include pieces from the Tiziani haute couture collection by Karl Lagerfeld and a black dress worn by Liz Taylor in the 1967 film “Boom,” also by Lagerfeld.
(AFP)
