Celebrity Fashion Available in Julien’s Auctions Event
Outfits Worn by Whitney Houston and Madonna Presented in Music Icons Auction
The upcoming two-day Music Icons sale, offered by Julien’s Auctions, will give bidders the opportunity to own fashion and couture pieces owned by pop music legends. Held in Beverly Hills, California on June 19th and 20th, 2020, the sale features items formerly owned and worn by Whitney Houston, Madonna, Lady Gaga, and others.
Since Whitney Houston’s death in 2012, the famed singer’s family and management team have been reluctant to open up her memorabilia for purchase. 2016 marked the first large release of her personal belongings, with over 100 items offered in Heritage Auctions’ Entertainment & Music Memorabilia sale. “We felt that it was time to give something of Whitney to the people who loved her and her music… and, conversely, who Whitney loved back with all of her heart and soul,” said her manager.
Collectors and fans responded, with almost 90% of her personal items selling in that event. Houston’s 1993 Billboard Award for “I Will Always Love You” reached USD 17,500, and her final United States passport sold for $15,000.
The upcoming auction will present nine items worn by Houston, including a gray knit gown she wore for a 1990 performance in Japan. The piece was her second outfit of the show. As Houston entered the stage after a brief interlude, she asked the audience, “You like my dress?” to enthusiastic applause. This gown is accented with faceted glass buttons and includes a Marc Bouwer label ($8,000 – $10,000). From the same designer is a custom-made floral halter dress worn for Houston’s Hong Kong performance fourteen years later. It is heavily sequined with large pink and red blooms against a black background ($8,000 – $10,000).
Memorabilia from Madonna, the recognized “Queen of Pop,” will be included as well. The dark gray bathrobe worn for her “Material Girl” music video has a high estimate of $10,000. Near the start of the video, she wears the robe while talking on the phone about an expensive necklace she recently received. Designed by Maripol, the artist’s friend and stylist, the robe is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity. Her deep pink satin gown and matching fur stole, worn later in the video, has also appeared at auction. It was sold for $59,375 at Julien’s Auctions in 2014.
Celebrity couture in this sale is not limited to performance gowns, however. A cream dress worn by Madonna in her role as Eva Peron in Evita (1996) will also cross the auction block, as well as Rihanna’s 2012 Halloween costume. The latter was worn to a West Hollywood party, where the singer appeared as “The Bride of Mary Jane.” Included in this lot is a satin boned green corset, a metal headpiece, and a bouquet of faux marijuana leaves. Olivia Newton-John’s off-the-shoulder dress, worn to the 31st Annual GRAMMY Awards in 1989, is offered alongside a shift dress worn by Beyoncé in a 2004 perfume commercial.
Outfits and accessories from leading male rockers also stand out, including the black coat Johnny Cash wore for the covers of his American Recordings and Unchained albums. It has a presale estimate of $25,000 to $30,000.
The first session of this auction will begin at 10:00 AM PT on June 19th, 2020. For more information and to place an online bid, visit Julien’s Auctions.
