In the art world, rare paintings and sculptures are known to fetch millions at auctions—and it seems fashion lovers are becoming just as serious about collecting some of the most expensive dresses in the world, too. Over the years, striking pieces worn by pop culture icons such as Marilyn Monroe and Princess Diana have hit the auction block commanding hefty sums at both public and private sales; the value of vintage and historic garments is steadily increasing.
Case in point: Earlier this month, a rare Paco Rabanne dress sold on Fair Warning—a new, highly-curated auction platform—for $112,100. The dress, from the spring 1967 collection, was made of chain-linked aluminum squares and rectangular plates. Its sale price was a world record for a Paco Rabanne piece. “This dress is probably 10 times rarer than a lot of artists’s artworks from the sixties,” says Loic Gouzer, the founder of Fair Warning. “[Paco Rabanne] said in an interview somewhere that women had become warriors, so he decided to give them an armor; I think this is something that resonates even more in a bigger way today. There was definitely a recognition that this dress should be considered as a very rare and important artwork, and something you would want to have as a collector.”
It’s not the only expensive dress that’s sold at auction, however. In years past, high-profile dresses have even fetched a few million dollars—among them Marilyn Monroe’s iconic subway-grate dress and one of Princess Diana’s most-photographed gowns. Ahead, Vogue takes a look at some of these very special (and very expensive) pieces.
Behold: More of the most expensive dresses ever sold at auction.