French actress Catherine Deneuve's wardrobe fetches $1mn in Paris auction

Pic Courtesy: Instagram

Paris: A live auction of the wardrobe of veteran French actress Catherine Deneuve designed by legendary couturier Yves Saint Laurent, has fetched around $1 million here, global auction house Christie's said.

The sale, which took place here for five hours on Thursday evening, witnessed fierce competition from around 500 registrants. It achieved a total of $1,025,581 and sell-through rates of 100 per cent, the auction house said in the statement.

Each piece of haute couture or Rive Gauche clothing was a testament to the 40-year long friendship between France's most iconic actress and one of the world's most renowned couturiers, who epitomises modern French elegance.

Add Zee News as a Preferred Source

The auction's top lot was the haute couture evening ensemble of the unique and very sought after Russian Collection, which Saint Laurent designed for the Fall/Winter collection of 1977/78. Selling at 52,500 euros (Rs 42 lakh), it surpassed its high pre-sale estimate by 10 times.

Another short-beaded dress designed for the Spring/Summer collection of 1969, which the actress wore when she met Alfred Hitchcock the same year, sold for 42,500 euros (Rs 34 lakh).

The last lot of the sale, a black velvet sable trimmed jacket from the Fall/Winter collection of 1997/98 also went under the hammer. It was contested by bidders from 10 countries. It finally sold for 33,750 euros (Rs 27 lakh).

As per Christie's, the pre-sale exhibition during the Paris Fashion Week (which concluded on Thursday) was attended by 4,500 visitors -- young fashion design students, fashionistas and admirers of Deneuve and Saint Laurent.

"This week, with highlights including the view and the auction itself, has been a new experience for me and has exceeded my expectations in many ways. I sincerely hope that the new owners will enjoy these pieces of couture as much as I did," Denevue said in the statement.

An online-only sale offers another 140 items from Deneuve's Saint Laurent wardrobe. It will conclude on January 30.