Quick Links
Suits are the most elegant clothing worn by celebrities. The occasion defines the made-to-order, customized suits. Whether they are worn in movies, red carpet appearances, or political events, these iconic suits become the defining elements of any event. Today, suits have gained new momentum after celebrities like Harry Styles have made Gucci suits his staple clothing for red carpets, concerts, and photoshoots. Many suits get auctioned to the public for purchase. The money raised is primarily donated to social and environmental causes. While these suits cost a few thousand dollars, crazy fans worldwide pay hundreds of thousands of dollars to own the clothing once worn by their favorite celebrity.
From John Lennon’s iconic custom suit to Gene Kelly’s double-breasted piece worn in Singin’ In The Rain, these suits are era-defining and deserve to be preserved with utmost care. From singers to actors, let’s look at the most expensive celebrity suits sold at auctions.
Orson Welles’ Citizen Kane Suit
Orson Welles is best known for directing and acting in the 1941 classic Citizen Kane. Welles wore a 1930s style navy chalk stripe Edward Stevenson-designed suit during the movie's final scenes. The 3-piece suit had the words O. Welles inscribed. The suit was put on auction in 2015 and sold for almost $25,600 to an anonymous buyer.
Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s Golden Globe Suit
After winning big at the 2020 Golden Globes, Phoebe Waller-Bridge announced backstage that she had plans to auction her Ralph & Russo suit to raise money to aid the relief efforts in Australia during the bushfire. She auctioned her stunning custom-made single-breasted dinner suit on eBay and raised $28,600, as noted by The Hollywood Reporter.
Daniel Craig’s Spectre Look
The line Martini shaken, not stirred is as iconic as James Bond wearing a white suit. Daniel Craig donned a white suit during the 2015 movie Spectre for the promotional shoot and fight scenes in Morroco. The two-piece custom suit was designed by Tom Ford and sold for $37,450 at a 2019 Christie’s auction. It has the words Daniel Craig, Bond 24 stitched on it.
The Duke of Windsor’s Tartan Suit
A piece of royal fashion history, the Rothesay Hunting Tartan two-piece suit in forest green, pale yellow, and deep red colors was initially made for King George in 1897. As mentioned by GQ, it was later passed to King Edward in 1936, followed by Prince Charles. In 2017, the suit was sold at an auction with a white cotton shirt underneath for $40,625.
John Lennon’s Suit
Everyone loves The Beatles. The co-lead vocalist of The Beatles, John Lennon, had donned many custom suits during music promotions. His custom suit made by Douglas Millings was a grey two-piece with the word John handwritten on the breast pocket twice and once on the trouser strip. The iconic suit was put on auction in 2017 and sold for a whopping $42,803.
Rudolph Valentino’s Suit Of Lights
Rudolph Valentino, best known for his silent drama Blood And Sand, donned the Suit Of Lights made from silk that had intricately designed jacket and trousers with sequins and stones. The suit was custom designed by Travis Banton. The garments had the words Paramount Wardrobe-11 and M3168 stitched inside, respectively. It was sold at an auction in 2015 for $52,445.
Gene Kelly’s Singin’ In The Rain Suit
Gene Kelly’s dance in the titular song for the movie Singin’ In The Rain is an iconic sequence. Designed by Walter Plunkett, the grey suit still had the water stains from the movie takes. It was put up for sale at the Heritage Auctions in 2013. The suit was purchased by Robert Earl, the owner of Planet Hollywood Restaurant, for $88,500, as stated by Luxury Launches.
John Travolta’s Friday Night Fever Suit
Saturday Night Fever, a masterpiece from the 1970s, is a dance/musical that made John Travolta an iconic superstar. The white 3-piece suit worn by the actor was once owned by known film and sports memorabilia collector Gene Siskel. After Siskel passed away in 1995, his items were sold in 2012. The anonymous buyer purchased the suit for $145,500.
The Beatles’ Custom Suits
Members of The Beatles were known to wear custom suits. Douglas Millings was most commonly known as The Beatles’ Tailor for designing over 500 suits for the band members. At the peak of their popularity, the band wore stylish outfits to promote A Hard Days Night. Four of these grey suits with black velvet collars were put on sale and sold for $150,000.
Mr. Narendra Modi’s Kurta
Topping the list is the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi. The honorable prime minister wore the immaculate suit when he met then-US President Barack Obama in 2015. The suit had his name spelled on the pinstripe pattern. Guinness World Records sold it to Lalkibhai Patel for $693,174, and the proceeds went to the charitable fund Namami Gange Trust.
Actors and politicians alike have worn customized, made-to-order suits over the years. Memorabilia collectors have treated themselves by buying these rare clothing pieces to enhance their collections. These suits have embedded their name in history for their iconic appearances and representing different cultures. These items will become as invaluable as the people who once wore them with time.
Sources: The Hollywood Reporter, GQ, Luxury Launches, Guinness World Records
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7tbTEq6CcoJWowW%2BvzqZmq6GTnXqxu9aeqZ%2BtnGTAtrXTZqypZWFleq670q1knrCgmru0tdWeZJydnJqvs7XTsmSsrZmpwG6x1Z6pZqufobFurdNmmK6bpJ68r7%2BO