Avant Garde Fashion For Sale, Really Retro

After the international fashion week dust settles, those craving a taste of iconography needn't look any further than Christie's. On October 30, the auction house will host a retrospective auction of iconoclastic design. Resurrection: Avant-Garde Fashion, an extensive collection of 20th century fashion previously held in private hands, will be sold in London at the South Kensington saleroom. The auction includes items from designers from the 1960s to the 1990s who challenged cherished norms with new materials and innovative ways of cutting fabric. Pieces by Pierre Cardin, Paco Rabanne, André Courrèges, Rudi Gernreich, Ossie Clark, Vivienne Westwood, Norma Kamali, Azzedine Alaia, Gianni Versace and Issey Miyake will all go on the block.

Whether it's the pop art influence or the revival of architectural couture, the collection offers over 250 pieces of apparel, accessories and jewels. Estimates range from £500 to £10,000. Key items include Rabanne's aluminum riveted plate dress, Cardin's space age bubble cape and a rare gold leather evening dress from Versace. Expect a bidding war.

Highlights include:

• A full-length Chanel coat, featured in the Chanel campaign in 2000 (estimate: £350-£450)

• A group of long-sleeved silk Marc Jacobs and Alexander McQueen blouses worn in a show and featured on a Telegraph Magazine cover (estimate: £400-£600)

• Two Chanel suede and tweed bags which were gifts from Karl Lagerfeld (estimate: £450-£750)

• A Marni Multi-colour wool dress (estimate: £150-250)

• A Ralph Lauren gold and black jewelled jacket (estimate: £300-500)

• A blue wool dress by Roland Mouret. This was Erin’s own “Galaxy” dress; the It dress of 2005 (estimate: £200-400)

• A red jersey sleeveless dress by Diane von Furstenburg (estimate: £200-400)

• A white fur bolero jacket by Matthew Williamson (estimate: £200-400)

• A Mulberry “Roxanne” large red tote bag (estimate: £300-500)

• A large Louis Vuitton hold-all (estimate: £300-500)

• A dramatic printed chiffon gown by John Galliano (estimate: £400-600)

• A chocolate leather jacket by Celine (estimate: £300-500)

You don't have to be present to bid. What a great opportunity provided you can stand the bidding wars. The catalog for the sale will be available 3 weeks prior to October 30th and you can order it online right now at Christie's.

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