Sensation at Eppli auction: Stunning Dior suit goes to Hollywood for 30,000 euros

"And the Dior suit goes to ..." - Fashion enthusiasts were able to witness a minor sensation last Saturday at a memorable auction held by the renowned Stuttgart auction house Eppli: A Dior costume designed by legendary star designer John Galliano was auctioned off to a bidder from Hollywood for an incredible 30,000 euros. The starting price of the masterpiece from the 1997 collection was 200 euros, making it so coveted that there was a bidding battle lasting several minutes between the US bidder and a competitor from France during the auction. The fact that the costume then changed hands for 150 times as much underlines the cultural value of such fashion pieces and the enduring fascination for unusual fashion pieces by well-known designers.

John Galliano is not only one of the most successful British fashion designers, he is also regarded as the costume designer among fashion designers. In 1997, he moved from Givenchy to the French couture house Dior, ushering in a new era in which the traditional luxury brand expanded considerably and underwent a rejuvenation process.

John Galliano's creations for the House of Dior: milestones in fashion history

The wool and cashmere blend costume with a wide turn-down collar and maxi skirt, which was auctioned for 30,000 euros, comes from one of the first haute couture collections that John Galliano created as head designer for the fashion house Christian Dior in 1997. His trademarks were flowing evening dresses and costumes perfectly modeled on the body: jackets with an hourglass silhouette and a focus on the waist, combined with calf-length skirts. These imaginative, eccentric yet timeless designs became one of the cornerstones of Dior's success - and have gone down in fashion history.

Further highlights of the Eppli auction

In addition to the vintage Dior ensemble, other unique fashion pieces went under the hammer: one of the highlights was a delicately flowing John Galliano vintage dress with floral embroidery and a low-cut back, which was auctioned for 7,500 euros. Cate Blanchett wore a similar model at the Oscars in 1999.

A pair of Gucci by Tom Ford vintage mesh trousers was also particularly sought after, with a starting bid of 400 euros and a final price of 2,800 euros. Like the Dior costume, both items went to a bidder from Hollywood, which is very fitting as the creations are strongly reminiscent of the gowns worn by great Hollywood divas.