It is a little bit odd that Daphne Guinness has had a steadily rising profile over the past year, so much so that when I first posted about her, there was barely any information on her on the internet and now she is important enough to warrant a Wikipedia entry. Appearances on the fascinating and slightly irksome programme ‚ÄòThe Secret World of Haute Couture‚Äô (it was on BBC iPlayer for a while but you can catch it on YouTube if you haven‚Äôt done so already…) have no doubt helped a great deal added to the general increase of name-dropping and mentions. Best dressed lists? Daphne Guinness is sure to make an appearance. Who do designers have on their ‚ÄòI want to dress….‚Äô list? Yup, it‚Äôs Hon Daphne Suzannah Diana Joan Guinness.
Well, the great Daphne Guinness will be selling over 250 lots of her wardrobe in aid of Womankind Worldwide charity in an auction hosted by Kerry Taylor Auctions on the 28th April at 2pm. If you can’t get to the auction in person, internet/telephone/commission bids can be left.
As you scroll through the lots It’s really quite frightening how big Daphne’s wardrobe is when she is able to donate so many pieces for charity. What’s even more interesting is that despite having a preconceived idea of Daphne Guinness’ style and what she embodies/portrays when she’s out and about, the origins of her wardrobe are so very wildly varied. Gucci jostles with Junya Watanabe. Vintage mingles with Comme des Garcons. Marc Jacobs and Ann Demeulemeester sit well together. Loud Galliano meshes with classic Chanel. All facets of her wardrobe are represented here; ‘moosing around at home’ clothes, ‘ladies do lunch’ outfits and her well-known sharply extravagant eveningwear.
The overriding theme of her wardrobe seems to be an eye for detailing. An exceedingly good eye in my opinion after scrolling through all the lots and checking out all the upclose shots. Here’s a woman who KNOWS clothes very well and picks them even better. That she has a bottomless bank account helps of course but I’m pretty sure that the ‘eye’ is something that can’t be bought and many femmes worldwide will benefit from that Daphne Guinness eye when they battle it out to bid for her cast-offs.
I‚Äôm not sure whether I‚Äôll be brave enough to saunter into La Galleria on Pall Mall and do some old fashioned auction bidding and whether or not I can contend with the wealthy ladies who no doubt will leave ridiculously large bids (don‚Äôt take the expected bid prices in the catalogue as an indicator because the prices will of course go sky high….) but these are the lots that have me genuinely interested in putting up my hand tentatively at the auction….
It’s the cream leather spats and spatted shoes that are doing it for me in this collection of Chanel footwear…Expected price of ¬£80-¬£120
Yves Saint Laurent ahoy Р7 pairs in total! Expected price of £120-180
Hmmm… Ala√Øa shoes that are old yet not dated. The purple and grey platform booties especially are superb! Expected price of ¬£60-¬£100
Some Christian Dior red suede wedges that look amazingly scary! Expected price of £100-£150 // McQueen combines the brogue, the boot, the stiletto to make this hybrid. Expected price of £100-£150
Two Yves Saint Laurent Rive Cauche coats in Starburst juicy colours. Expected price of ¬£100-¬£150 // It’s the satin 1930’s gown with the floral rosette detailing that makes this a worthy lot. Expected price of ¬£100-¬£50
Roland Mouret’s Scandium dress that comes with an Indium sheer top inside, less ubiquitous than the Galaxy with all of those Mouret signature deets. Expected price of ¬£100-¬£150 // A load of Balenciaga separates that aren’t the usual casualwear ilk. Expected price of ¬£100-¬£150
11 easy breezy Lanvin pieces to wear. Expected price of £100-£150
There are just too many zips and buckles to resist on this Dolce and Gabbana leather jacket. Expected price of £80-120
Daphne Guinness loves her white shirts and there are several lots up for auction but this is my favourite one in a cream palette with the most beautiful ruffled sleeve. Expected price £200-£300
The deconstructed Martin Margiela Jacket and the Anne Valerie Hash ruffled cotton jackets stand out in this lot of six jackets. Expected price of £150-£250
Some truly fantastic Comme des Garcons pieces. Would be quite hilarious to dress up as a CdG fangirl when the H&M collaboration drops into stores… Expected price of ¬£300-¬£500
Rick Owens leather anything gets my vote especially when it’s distressed with this big flappy collar. Expected price of ¬£100-¬£150
This jersey lot has a low expected pirce but there are 23 pieces which include Rick Owens and my personal fave Future Classics…. Expected price of ¬£80-¬£120
Prada’s pretty dresses for lunching and high tea-ing. Expected price of ¬£100-¬£150 // A really bizarro/unique Christian Dior three piece ensemble that would convince me to expose a little of the abs. Expected price of ¬£80-¬£120
The thought of even owning a quarter of the stuff I’ve just posted above makes me feel a little light headed, a little nauseous even… so I can’t even imagine what sort of life Daphne Guinness has skimming through her wardrobe in the mornings, picking things out to wear from such an extensive collection. The mind really does boggle…
Seriously couldn’t believe how much there was. It’s basically like overwhelming to even talk about.
I love Daphne’s style and the fact that she is a true individual – she like wearing shit loads of jewellery like me at the mo!
I would defo bid for the Chanel shoe haul – the clothes are grogeous but as she is so so tiny I wouldn;t even be able to get them past my ankles!
Hey Suzi,
I saw a pair of those Alaia booties (the purple/green broguey lace-ups)on Yoox yesterday.
Isn’t she doing a collection of perfect white shirts at Dover Street Market? I think I saw her on a documentary about the few women who can afford to buy couture. It’s interesting to see Boudicca has her patronage thse days.
Nice pics btw.
xx
She has an entire department store in her coset! My goodness! I wonder how she finds what she’s looking for? Do you think she just keeps wearing new items instead?
Those red Dior shoes are insanely lustworthy!
I don’t understand why the prices are so low. Is that just so they can brag about how much the actual bids exceeded expectations? Seems shady to me.
Bloody hell those dior wedges look like torture devices, still amazing though. How much gorgeous stuff does one person need? Its a rather excellent collection she’s acquired there.
i read an article on her in british vogue march 08. and i have to admit i would NOT like to have a closet so big, it’s hardly personal then!
WendyB: At Kerry Taylors’ you can bag real designer bargains at ish-low prices but yes, at a special auction like this, I’d expect the prices to at least double up on the predicted prices.
really? I wouldn’t expect the prices to double at all. Some lots, definately yes will go sky high, but because there are SO many and I don’t think she’s that well known outside of fashion circles I definately would think there are bargains to be had. Especially on some of the lesser known labels or kookier pieces. If I were you susie I would definately go
What a collection! I’ve admired Daphne’s style for a long time now, and have noticed that she’s suddenly everywhere. I’m salivating over that Rick Owens leather jacket!
She has the ultimate wardrobe and the most distinctive style. I love this woman, my first ever blog entry was on her! Leg-end.
Oh and to have a wardrobe that big that giving away all this stuff wouldnt matter? Amazing I need to marry me a Greek shipping heir!
Oh my god, I neeeed those spats and the leather jacket! She has an insane wardrobe indeed…
WendyB – good point. Auction estimates are always low…and the fact that these are designer pieces with good provenance (i.e. a famous person owned them) means that prices will probably go sky-high.
SWOON! I am just determined to be like that when I’m older. Maybe I should start revising…
Love those Dior wedges. I want to buy them just to sit and stare at them.
If I had the money, I would bid in one of the shirts. She seems so picky about them, therefore they must be awesome.
I’m seriously considering going and spending a good chunk of my student loan. It doesn’t help that she seems to have the same size feet as me…Dior wedges here I come.
I’ve always thought her tastes were a bit too much, but anyway the bidding is starting so low as a lure. Typical eBay trick. Marks something expensive and rare low to attract interest and bidders….and most will go sky high.
I think y’all underestimate her fame and the fame of even the obscure designers. This will bring in a fortune.
The Comme and Rick Owens pieces are real winners…and why are half the English girls whose style I admire, related to a Mitford in one way or another? (it feels like it, anyway).
if i thought there was the tiniest chance of anything going for the suggested prices i’d be right there.
it’s actually giving me a headache just looking at everything. i want all of it!
Well, I believe I will be having that afternoon off so I will toodle down to see if I can nab myself something….
Brooksie: Those prices I gave are not starting prices but expected prices that Kerry Taylor the auctioneer have given.
and those are the clothes she doesn’t want to wear anymore. can you imagine what the rest of her closet must look like???
Oh. My. God. Can you image deciding these pieces were things you could easily part with?
I echo the concern the price estimates are teasers. If just the commenters here were to bid they’d go far higher!
Ah, thanks you guys for explaining about the pricing. I was thinking, jeez, the value of these things (that probably aren’t even that old) has really plunged! Clearly, I wasn’t thinking straight!
I love love love the Rick Owens assymetric tweed dress – maybe when i’m a much much better dress maker i’ll try to recreate it.
hmmm ever thought perhaps its also got to do with your post that’s also helped her? don’t underestimate your own power;)
Wow its taken me over a week to post but I finally picked my own favs out from the auction
http://missmilki.blogspot.com/2008/04/window-shopping.html
Its interesting to come back here and see what you picked out…we only chose one thing the same in the whole auction. Just shows how different taste and how people see different things and different potentials in clothes!