Christie’s London is set to host a two-part auction featuring an array of items from the personal collection of late British fashion icon Vivienne Westwood. The auction, titled “Vivienne Westwood: The Personal Collection,” comprises over 200 lots of dresses, suits, shoes, and jewellery looks spanning 40 years. With proceeds aimed towards charitable causes, the auction will begin as a live sale on June 25 and an online auction from June 14-28.
In conversation with Reuters, Adrian Hume-Sayer, head of sale for the auction, said, “It’s very personal … These are the things you can see her on her bike, riding around London, press interviews, end of the catwalk … just conducting her day-to-day life. But she also lived… as she spoke. And so unlike many people … in her position she wore things repeatedly. She had favourites.”
Alongside the jewellery and clothing, the auction will showcase a set of enlarged prints of a pack of playing cards designed by Westwood in 2017. The cards, addressing issues like climate change and inequality are being offered at an estimated £30,000-50,000 (C$52,300-87,000).
Proceeds from the auction will benefit several causes and charities championed by Westwood, including her Vivienne Foundation, Greenpeace, Amnesty International, and Médecins Sans Frontières.