CHICAGO, IL.- Hindmans September 17 Haute Couture and Luxury Fall Fashion was highlighted by a collection of 37 Parisian haute couture and Hollywood designs worn by Dame Olivia de Havilland from 1954 to 1989. Dame Olivia is 103.
All of the 37 lots sold, exceeding estimates and realizing a total of $85,000. The collection was popular with private collectors and museums alike with Dior Heritage, the archive of the fashion house of Christian Dior in Paris taking home nearly all of the lots. The top selling highlight from the sale, a Christian Dior by Marc Bohan haute couture dress, inner bodice and shoes, Spring-Summer 1964 worn by Dame Olivia de Havilland in the 1964 movie 'Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte, surpassed its presale estimate of $2,000- $3,000, selling for $8,125.
Another highlight from the auction was a Christian Dior by Marc Bohan haute couture ensemble, Spring-Summer 1961 worn by de Havilland in the photograph on the cover of her 1961 book 'Every Frenchman Has One' and for the press reception in March of 1961 in Atlanta for the special showing of "Gone with the Wind" in honor of the Centennial of the Commencement of the Civil War. The ensemble sold for $6,250 against a presale estimate of $1,000- $1,500.
Additional lots from the sale surpassing presale estimates include: a Christian Dior by Yves Saint Laurent haute couture dress and shoes, Spring-Summer 1958 which realized $5,000 against a presale estimate of $1,200 - $1,800, and a Christian Dior by Marc Bohan haute couture ensemble, Spring-Summer 1961 worn by Dame Olivia de Havilland in the 1962 movie Light in the Piazza that sold for $5,500 against a presale estimate of $1,500- $2,500.
Timothy Long, Director and Senior Specialist in Couture, stated: It was an absolute pleasure to work with Dame Olivia de Havilland on this exciting collection. The compelling provenance connected to many items gave the garments a broader historical and cultural dimension, attracting major museums and collectors from around the globe. It is thrilling to know that a majority of the items are going back to their 'birthplace'; at Dior in Paris.
Three of the Dior ensembles were worn by de Havilland in her movies, such as Light in the Piazza (1962) and the iconic Hush
Hush, Sweet Charlotte (1964).
A Dior coat was worn for her role in the Broadway production of A Gift of Time (1961), while other Dior designs were worn by de Havilland to the premieres of her movies, such as Proud Rebel (1958), Lady in a Cage (1964) and the 1961 special showing of Gone with the Wind (1939) in honour of the Centennial of the Commencement of the Civil War.