Local collector's dress fetches over £300K in once-in-a-lifetime Marilyn auction

Friday 18 November 2016

A black beaded and sequined dress worn by Marilyn Monroe in the award winning 50's film "Some Like it Hot" has gone under the hammer in the USA this morning for $375,000.

The dress that the screen goddess wore while crooning "I'm Through With Love" in the film that won her a Golden Globe is one of a number of items being sold by local collector David Gainsborough-Roberts in what's been billed as “the most talked about auction for many decades to come.”

The three-day auction – which includes items from various other collections – is also being billed as a “once in a lifetime Marilyn Monroe auction”.

Mr Gainsborough-Roberts has spent a lifetime building up his collection, but says the time is right to sell. After his death he’s leaving his fortune to various Island charities including the Jersey Heritage Trust.

Other Marilyn memorabilia going under the hammer from his collection includes:

• An elaborate embellished stage gown worn by Monroe as she sang “After You Get What You Want You Don’t Want It” in the 1953 comedy There’s No Business Like Show Business which was designed by one of Marilyn’s all-time favorite designers, William Travilla;

• A pink linen halter wiggle dress designed for Monroe by Dorothy Jenkins for the 1953 thriller Niagara;

• A green satin one-piece with black sequins and gold fringe worn by Monroe as she sang “That Old Black Magic” in the 1956 film Bus Stop;

• A lilac satin leotard worn by Monroe as Lillian Russell in the 1958 photo series by Richard Avedon and featured in Life magazine in 1958;

• Costumes from Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and Let’s Make Love;

• A pair of rhinestone earrings worn by Monroe in How To Marry A Millionaire;

• A pair of sequin embellished opera gloves from the Rachmaninoff scene of The Seven Year Itch;

• A figure-hugging black cocktail dress by Ceil Chapman, one of the actresses' favourites;

• A slender fitting bias cut crepe evening gown worn by Monroe to the 1955 premiere of The Rose Tattoo;

• An embellished Lanvin gown;

• Rhinestone jewellery;

• Personal items including prescription pill bottles, Victoria and Albert exhibited high heels, a plastic doll in the likeness of Monroe given as a souvenir at her 34th birthday party, household items and her Detroit Free Press "New Faces Award" from 1952.

The sale is expected to net millions of dollars.

Monroe, who made her name in the 1950s playing the role of a “dumb blonde” in a string of movies, is still regarded as one the most popular sex symbols of all time. 

In all David has 69 lots in the sale in the auction that has already received worldwide coverage with the American press predicting collectors paying record amounts.