Bonhams Will Auction Red Carpet Worn Gowns
view all 150 of them in London (open to the public!)
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I’m Emily Stochl, a vintage & secondhand fashion reporter 🎤 and this is Pre-Loved, an indie media platform with its finger on the pulse!
Haute couture gowns worn by A-list celebrities including Nicole Kidman, Angelina Jolie, and Kylie Jenner are going up for auction at Bonhams London this week. This exceptional 150-lot auction is from the archives of Ralph & Russo, and it will be available for bidding online between January 16th-29th, 2025.
Ralph & Russo have dressed some of the most glamourous A-list celebrities from the red carpet to the runway, and the names associated with this auction are exceptional.
Take a peak at the collection, including couture gowns worn by: Anne Hathaway, Kylie Jenner, Angelina Jolie, Zendaya, Nicole Kidman, Penelope Cruz, Jennifer Lopez, Sydney Sweeney, Winnie Harlow, and more.
Abundant A-listers aside, Meg Randell, Bonhams Head of UK and Europe Designer Handbags and Fashion, says the exquisite craftsmanship displayed in this auction speaks for itself. In a statement, Randell writes:
“The dresses are breathtaking, having been hand embellished by the skilled hands of the former atelier, taking many hours to complete — the craftsmanship can only be compared to a spectacular work of art.”
Randell feels the designs are best seen in person, to fully understand the artistry that went into each luxe piece. Lucky for readers, in addition to holding the timed online auction — which bidders can access globally — Bonhams will also host an in-person exhibition of the gowns at their New Bond Street gallery.
The exhibition will be open to the public between January 26th-29th. And private viewings will be available on request between January 21st-24th, check online for more information.
A standout from the auction is a striking gown worn by Anne Hathaway to the virtual premiere of The Witches in London in 2020. The ballgown and matching cape are made from hundreds of hand-cut cherry red or raspberry silk and organza petals.
“No premiere, no problem,” Hathaway captioned her pandemic-era glamor shots, which were taken on the roof of Harrods in London. The gown is expected to fetch between £5,000-8,000.
Another notable piece — worn by Angelina Jolie to the London premiere of Maleficent: Mistress of Evil, in 2019 — features a gold cage bodice made in Italy by a jeweler-artisan, with a floor-length cape that is hand-pleated with beads.
Ralph & Russo were accredited by the ‘Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture’ — the regulating commission that certifies design houses as true haute couture — which speaks to the elevated workmanship of these gowns.
Where there is embroidery, Randell says it is: “three- dimensional, and completely handsewn in the atelier, taking many hours.”
Or, for example, the tulle strapless gown worn by Kylie Jenner to the 2020 Oscars Vanity Fair after party, which took over 200 hours to make, featuring a corset embellished with Swarovski crystals.
The majority of the gowns in this lot carry an estimated bid between £3,000-£8,000, but the magic of the auction setting is that bids can just go wild. In 2021, Bonhams auctioned a Hermès Birkin handbag, personally owned by Jane Birkin, which sold for £119,000 — five times its pre-sale estimate.
In an interview last year, Randell told us: “I’ve been doing auctions for fifteen years, and I’m still surprised all the time.” 🎤 Listen to the full interview and learn more about the behind-the-scenes of luxury fashion auctions on Pre-Loved Podcast:
These Ralph & Russo lots are the first Bonhams London fashion sale for 2025. In November, Bonhams auctioned nine haute couture Ralph & Russo dresses, including gowns worn by stars Penelope Cruz and Lady Gaga, fetching over £32,000.
Further highlights from the The Haute Couture Archive of Ralph & Russo collection will be revealed online in the coming weeks. Online bidding opens on January 16th and closes January 29th. The garments will be displayed at Bonhams in London from January 26th-29th.
Thank you for reading! You can find me across the internet as @emilymstochl on Instagram, TikTok, and Threads! 💛 - Emily