I have a very special treat for you….I have been given exclusive preview access to some photos from the upcoming auction and they are stunners!!!!

You may recall I did a blog post last fall to introduce you to Tanner Branson, Specialist, Head of Sales, Luxury Handbags & Couture, and show the Carolina Herrera garment that I put up for auction (by the way it went to its new home for the top estimate and it was a delightful experience throughout the process!! Just saying…)

I asked Tanner a few questions I thought would be of interest to you….here are his responses…

How do you decide if you want an item/collection?

I am mostly focused on collecting luxury handbags now, especially the rare and unusual fromHermès and Chanel. The department changed names last year to Luxury Handbags & Couturewith a focus more on handbags than ever before. There are many factors I consider if an item or collection is right to bring to auction including rarity and condition but also is it new to market? Not all pieces are but many are directly from the original owners and fresh to market. I also consider if there is special interest around an item, designer, or collection. For example, we are starting to see the pendulum swing in the opposite direction from quiet luxury to the loud and bold, the “Mob Wife” trend on social media has clearly caught on. Fashion lovers and collectors are craving pieces that are bold and striking, Spring Fashion is just the place to find those pieces. One will find a collection of not only luxury handbags from some of the top creators but also a strong collection of 1980-90s Gucci to modern pieces of Chanel RTW and much more, the sale is a journey through fashion history.

 What is an average size Auction….is there such a thing?

The average auction ranges between 300 and 350 lots. Spring Fashion has just under 350 lots.

 What would you like my readers to know about your process of getting clothing/handbags?

I love the discovery process of finding a piece that has been buried away in a closet and bringing it to life by putting it up for auction. In Spring Fashion there is a collection of Haute Couture pieces from the late 1920s to the 1940s, this is the first time any of these pieces have been brought to auction. Sometimes the process is working with an estate or clients who are simply deaccessioning pieces from their wardrobe or handbag collections. 

 Which of the garments do you think is the most rare? (of the photos you sent me)

The Hollywood Costumes are certainly amongst the rarest of offerings in Spring Fashion, with pieces worn by Katharine Hepburn, Mae West, and Judy Garland.

 Anything else you want to share?

I would like for your readers to know how easy it is to bid at auction. I know that many are intimidated about bidding at auction, its actually very simple and addicting. More information on how to bid in Spring Fashion visit our website https://hindmanauctions.com/auctions/1312-Spring-Fashion-and-Accessories

Freeman’s | Hindman is pleased to present our first Fashion and Luxury Accessories auction of the year featuring luxury handbags, couture, and more from the most desired designers in the fashion world including Chanel, Hermès, Louis Vuitton, and many more”.

Thank you so much Tanner for sharing this insightful information…now let’s look at some of these extra special pieces!

Since we are in movie award season let’s first look at three very unique items from vintage cinema worn by icons in the industry…

Gown worn by Mae West as Peaches O’Day from the film “Every Day’s a Holiday”, 1937, made by Elsa Schiaparelli

Worn by Judy Garland as Veronica Fisher in “The Good Old Summertime”, 1949, made by Irene

Worn by Katharine Hepburn as Lady Cynthia Darrington in the film “Christopher Strong”, 1933, made by Walter Plunkett

Can you even imagine having one of these showstoppers….well, yes, you can…make your bid!!!!

Want something a bit more wearable…look no further….just a small sampling of what will be in the March 12th offerings.

From Saks Fifth Avenue’s own Sophie Gimbel’s Salon Moderne, that was in the Fifth Avenue store, the pieces are from the “Property From A Chicago Lady”…when days of understated glamour existed! To me these are reminiscent of the garments worn by Capote’s “Swans”.

Talk about uniquely exquisite….the bridal gown….oh my!!

There are always fantastic designer pieces in the auctions….which just seem to get better, more diverse and gorgeous …here are more from “Property From A Chicago Lady”, be prepared to be gobsmacked….

Perhaps something a bit more modern…..this early, 1965, Oscars de la Renta for Jane Derby…..a breathtakingly gown!

Intrigued….they all can be yours! Thank you, Tanner, for this extraordinary sneak peek at a selection of your outstanding offerings!

DETAILS….

The first Luxury Handbag & Couture Sale of the year. 

Spring Fashion Sale Date: March 12^th

Preview Dates: By appointment only, contact Tannerbranson@Hindmanauctions.com

Link to Freeman’s | Hindman website: 

https://hindmanauctions.com/auctions

Hindman | Freeman’s Instagram – @Hindmanauctions and @Freemansauciton

 

I just posted a review of Stan Herman’s memoir UNCROSS YIUR KEGS A Life in Fashion on Amazon and Good Reads…I am sharing it here….

“READ ALL ABOUT IT!

What is “it” you might ask…fashion, absolutely…lifestyle, indeed…relationships, nothing but the truth….longevity, you tell me, he is 95 after all!

A man for all seasons and all decades, Stan Herman, has written a memoir that will engage and inform you on so many levels you will read and re-read it to capture all the nuances between its covers.

His tenure as longest serving President of CFDA (Council of Fashion Designers of America), along with Executive Director, Fern Mallis, helped shape the American fashion industry as we know it today.

Here is a man who is so much more that a “sum of his parts”. His interests are so varied, from design, both clothing and interiors, his wonderful sketches (many in the book along with fantastic photos), to his deep love of opera, music, theater, literature….the list goes on.

A couple of personal notes…I first met Stan when he was designing women’s ready to wear under the brand, Mr. Mort…we were both quite young….I was at Saks Fifth Avenue, Chicago, and he visited with trunk shows of his very wearable/salable collections. The Saks buyers always had an eye out for new young talent and Stan filled that bill to perfection. Fast forward to December 2023 when I had the great pleasure of being in conversation with him to talk about his memoir for my monthly nenasnotes The Fashion Book Club. A truly joyful, insightful chat.

I could make this a very long review…instead I suggest you get the book, you won’t be disappointed, it is a treasure and a treasure trove of this unique creator.

Everyone loves Stan, you will too!”

In addition I thought you would enjoy this YouTube link of a wonderful dialogue between best friends Jeffrey Banks and Stan. You know Jeffrey from reviews I’ve done of his books staring with the incredible monograph NORELL Master of American Fashion and a huge supporter of my monthly nenasnotes The Fashion Book and The Fashion Film Clubs…

Since I no longer entertain in my home, and I really miss it, I thought I would share a couple of ideas for your Holiday gatherings…my BFF’s, The Toms, recently hosted a part of a Holiday house walk at their Bertrand Goldberg designed Mid-Century Modern home and presented their guests with these incredible charcuterie boards…amazing. You might like to include them in your festivities I’m sending them to you just in time for you to recreate them. They look too good to dig into but then…….

Enjoy and Happy Holidays!