Last month, Eppli auction house in Stuttgart offered a vintage suit designed by John Galliano for the Christian Dior boutique collection of 1997/98 as part of its auction of designer fashion and accessories. The wool and cashmere blend ensemble with a long skirt and wide turn-down collar was estimated at €200-900 before the auction.
But hardly anyone could expect what happened next. After opening the bidding at €200, a tense battle followed between two interested parties from France and Hollywood. The latter ultimately won by purchasing the ensemble for €30,000 (about $31,889), exceeding the starting price by 150-fold.
British designer John Galliano, who founded his own fashion company in 1984, was appointed chief designer of women's fashion at Christian Dior in October 1996. The present suit is one of Galliano's early designs for the French luxury brand, which received a kind of "rejuvenation treatment" with the Brit's creative and sometimes eccentric creations revered for their exquisite tailoring.
Related: Christian Dior: A Flash of Brilliance
John Galliano's designs can fetch six-figure prices on the auction market. The fact that Eppli has now seen such a dramatic price increase "underlines the cultural value of such fashion pieces and the enduring fascination for unusual fashion pieces by well-known designers" as the auction house explains on its website.
You can find more news from the auction market in Barnebys Magazine
