Carrie Bradshaw famously wears the tutu in the opening credits of Sex and the City.
Photo: rex
Auction of the Week: Carrie Bradshaw’s Iconic Tutu Sells for More Than $50,000
The recent Julien’s sale in Beverly Hills featured an array of pieces from fashion legends, among them Princess Diana and Grace Kelly
Installation view of the auction in Beverly Hills. Photo: Courteys of Julien’s
And just like that… Carrie Bradshaw’s most iconic outfit has made fashion history once again.
The Sex and the City protagonist’s signature white tutu—worn during the hit show’s opening credits—sold at Julien’s Auctions for $52,000, soaring more than five times above its low estimate of $8,000. According to the auction house, the show’s famed costume designer, Patricia Field, originally bought the oyster colored tulle piece with matching waistband while searching through a $5 bin in New York City’s Garment District. The piece was auctioned as part of “Unstoppable: Signature Styles of Iconic Women in Fashion,” a live auction that took place on January 18 in Beverly Hills.
Parker was reportedly supposed to wear a Marc Jacobs dress in that opening scene, but Field, who is never afraid of breaking the rules, wanted something slightly more off-kilter and unexpected—and a piece that would stand the test of time. That’s the story of how the tutu was born. Field is said to have shown the skirt to Sarah Jessica Parker, who loved the idea.
Sarah Jessica Parker. Photo: Courtesy of Juliens Auctions
Parker, who won an Emmy for her portrayal of Bradshaw, wore the skirt once more in the 2008 movie, in a scene where she was going through her old clothes and deciding what to get rid of in advance of her move. Friends Samantha, Charlotte, and Miranda unanimously thought the tutu must be kept. According to Julien’s, there were several iterations of the skirt used during filming of the opening bus splash scene, and Parker kept one for herself. The tutu sold was one of five, and the buyer received copies of the Sex and the City movie, plus the first season of the original series DVDs with the purchase.
Princess Diana dress. Photo: Courtesy of Julien's
Grace Kelly’s outfit. Photo: Courtesy of Juliens Auctions
This auction also included a number of rare high-fashion pieces owned by style icons such as Princess Diana, Princess Grace of Monaco, Audrey Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor, Whitney Houston, and Cher. Other highlights from the sale include Grace Kelly’s 1961 Givenchy ensemble, worn to the White House with Prince Rainier to meet President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, selling for $325,000. The “Kelly-green” sleeveless dress is paired with an elbow-length sleeved tweed jacket featuring a frayed fringe trim. A black velvet cocktail dress designed by Catherine Walker for Princess Diana, who wore the piece to a private event, sold for $325,000, more than three times its original estimate of $100,000. Walker reportedly created around 1,000 dresses for Diana in the 1990s.
Cover: Carrie Bradshaw famously wears the tutu in the opening credits of Sex and the City.
Photo: rex
