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He was once praised as the “pharaoh of fabulousness” by Vogue and counted Marc Jacobs, Diane von Furstenberg and Karl Lagerfeld as close friends.
So it’s no surprise that fashionistas were eager to get their hands on items from the late André Leon Talley’s estate that sold for $3.55 million in online and in-person sales at Christie’s auction house this week.
Among the most expensive items were an Andy Warhol painting and a three-piece set of custom Louis Vuitton trunks that sold for $94,500 each.
Meanwhile, a navy wool Christian Dior coat fetched $40,320 despite experts estimating it would only sell for $1000.
And the collection also featured several of Talley’s signature satin capes, including one by Tom Ford and another by Vivienne Westwood.
The Andre Leon Talley estate sold for $3.55 million at Christie’s auction house this week, 570 percent more than its low estimate.
Iconic Andre Leon Talley kaftans sold for staggering prices, and the center one, a falla black Balenciaga piece, sold for $6,048 in the online auction. The jewelry and the red slippers were sold separately.
The collection featured the signature satin capes and colorful caftans of the latest style icon.
A wall of Prada crocodile coats was part of the collection. An ‘ombra’ version sold for $27,720
His designs sold for $27,720 and $32,760 respectively.
In total, the collection sold for 507 percent above its low estimate.
Elizabeth Seigel, Christie’s head of private and iconic collections, said: “It was especially gratifying to see the interest that led to staggeringly high bids across the board.
“The André Leon Talley collection is a testament to his impeccable taste, and Christie’s is delighted to have helped achieve such strong results.”
An Andy Warhol painting was one of the highest-priced items at Christie’s auction, selling for $94,500.
Other items to be auctioned by Christie’s included a brick-red sleeping bag by Norma Kamal (left) fetching $25,200, while a deconstructed navy blue Christian Dior Haute Couture wool coat (right) sold for $40,320
Talley made history as the first black man to become creative director of fashion bible Vogue.
It was a position he held from 1988 to 2013, excluding a three-year break he took to work for W magazine in Paris.
The 6-foot-6 star was famous for her colorful capes and caftans that she regularly wore when sitting in the front rows of couture runways and in public.
Elizabeth Seigel, Christie’s head of private and iconic collections, said: “It was especially gratifying to see the interest that led to staggeringly high bids across the board.” The trio of Louis Vuitton bags on the front sold together for $94,500
Dozens of Louis Vuitton trunks made up the collection, attracting some of the biggest bids from buyers who came from 47 countries.
Travel clocks, amethyst geodes and a silver cutlery designed by Vera Wang completed the rest of the collection.
His death, caused by a heart attack, rocked the fashion world in January 2022 with former Vogue editor Anna Wintour calling the loss “immeasurable”. She was 72 years old.
Other items to be auctioned by Christie’s included a brick-red sleeping bag by Norma Kamal that sold for $25,200.
The piece is remarkably similar to the puffer jacket Rihanna wore to her Super Bowl performance this past weekend.
Many suggested that it was a tribute to the late icon.
A black and eggplant Vivienne Westwood ‘Climate Revolution’ silk cape sold for $32,760, while a custom red leather Birkin with Gold Hardware Hermes sold for $32,760
An ‘ombra’ Prada alligator coat sold for $27,720
A portrait of Bradley Theodore by former Vogue editor-in-chief Diana Vreeland also sold for just over $40,000.
Travel clocks, amethyst geodes and silver cutlery designed by Vera Wang made up the rest of the collection that went on sale to buyers in 47 countries.
Christie’s said 30 percent of bidders were new to the auction house, while more than 40 percent of those newcomers were millennials.
A Hermes bike owned by the fashion icon was also up for auction
Three Lock & Co Hatters straw hats belonging to the icon were up for auction, selling as a single lot for $6,048. It was estimated that he would fetch between $600 and $800
A Chanel amethyst geode and gripix glass pendant brooch (left) sold for $8,820; while a Tiret ‘Second Chance’ diamond bracelet watch sold for $5,670