Elizabeth Taylor’s first wedding gown is going to be auctioned off by Christie’s next month.
According to Time, Taylor wore the dress at her wedding to Conrad Hilton, when she was just 18-years-old. It was designed by Helen Rose, an MGM costume designer. Over 700 guests were invited, including Hollywood heavyweights at the time like Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. The marriage lasted just eight months.
The dress took over 15 people three months to put together and had a 15-yard satin train.
As The Daily Mail notes, Rose was assigned by MGM chief Louis B. Mayer to “just make them look beautiful” when handling his stars. She is best known for also designing Grace Kelly’s wedding gown for her marriage to Rainier III, Prince of Monaco.
Christie's London, which also auctioned off Taylor’s jewels for a record $137 million in 2011, is expecting the gown to go for at least $75,500. The auction takes place on June 26.
The auction house is also hosting an online-only auction for Suzy Menkes’ wardrobe. Menkes is about to become the international fashion editor for the International New York Times. The auction starts on July 11.
“I have never thrown anything out of my wardrobe since 1964,” Menkes said in a statement to WWD. She added, “They need to live again, and this auction provides the opportunity for them to walk out in the sunshine, to dance the night away and to give someone else the joy that they gave to me.”
image: Wikimedia Commons
