Haute couture heaven: is this the most glamorous auction ever?

A true treasure trove hailing from the V.W.S Collection: From Beijing to Versailles, ‘A Haute Couture Wardrobe’ is an impressive catalogue of some 115 couture pieces from the late 20th century; otherwise known as the golden days of couture. A time when the upper echelons of high society flocked to Paris en masse to covet the outstanding creations from visionary and pioneering designers. 

Breathtaking pieces from Christian Dior, Yves Saint Laurent, Hubert de Givenchy and Karl Lagerfeld take centre stage at this spectacular display of painstakingly hand-made couture confections. A white, floral-embroidered pin-tucked blazer and pleated skirt from Lagerfeld’s 1991 Spring collection, which was attended by Princess Michael of Kent, is expected to sell between €2,000 – €3,000; a 1985 block-coloured, bow-adorned silk gown from Yves Saint laurent similar to a certain Nan Kempner favourite is estimated between €800 and €1,200; and a rare silk and lace coat dress designed by Alexander McQueen for Givenchy in 1997 is thought to go for around €1,500. 

However, those not in the market to update their wardrobe with precious relics of fashion-past are in luck, as a dedicated exhibition designed by Aline Asmar d’Amman is set to be opened to the public from 19 – 25 January; coinciding with SS23’s Paris Couture Week. 

It’s a once-in-a-lifetime sale destined to break records at auction. In November of last year, a Karl Lagerfeld-designed evening coat from Chanel’s 1996 Autumn/Winter reached a nail-biting bid of €277,200; a first for the French house. Coco Chanel herself once said that haute couture ‘is the unseen, unforgettable, ultimate accessory of fashion that heralds your arrival and prolongs your departure’. Just make sure to book extra storage room on the Eurotunnel back to London. 

From Chanel to Saint Laurent, a Haute Couture wardrobe starts its sale online from 11 – 25 January, with the exhibition open to the public from 19 – 25 January.