Lot 196
A Grace Kelly dress from The Swan
23 November 2015, 13:00 EST
New YorkSold for US$15,000 inc. premium
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A Grace Kelly dress from The Swan
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1956. Empire style off-white lace dress with a pale blue crepe lining, ruffled lace and floral braid trim with imitation pearls at the neckline, sleeves and hem, and a velvet sash with imitation pearl fringe. Accompanied by an MGM cleaning tag, now detached, and two stills (including one of Kelly wearing this dress while talking to Helen Rose). Kelly, playing Princess Alexandra, wears this dress when she first meets Prince Albert (Alec Guinness).
Provenance: David Weisz Co., MGM Auction, Star Wardrobe, lot W-237, accompanied by a copy of the relevant catalog pages and the original lot tag.
The Swan, the story of a European princess and her courtship with a prince, premiered in Los Angeles on April 18, 1956, the day before Grace Kelly's real-life wedding to Prince Rainier of Monaco. Kelly had already played the role once before, in a 1950 TV adaptation, and decided to reprise the role given its new relevance to her personal life. MGM planned The Swan's release to coincide with the wedding date and in a further master stroke of publicity, both the film's costumes and Kelly's wedding dress were designed by Helen Rose, an MGM costume designer, and paid for by the studio. Rose had designed the costumes for four of Kelly's movies and the two had become friends, though Edith Head was apparently shocked not to receive the coveted wedding assignment. Rose also designed Elizabeth Taylor's wedding gown for her 1960 marriage to Nicky Hilton.
Provenance: David Weisz Co., MGM Auction, Star Wardrobe, lot W-237, accompanied by a copy of the relevant catalog pages and the original lot tag.
The Swan, the story of a European princess and her courtship with a prince, premiered in Los Angeles on April 18, 1956, the day before Grace Kelly's real-life wedding to Prince Rainier of Monaco. Kelly had already played the role once before, in a 1950 TV adaptation, and decided to reprise the role given its new relevance to her personal life. MGM planned The Swan's release to coincide with the wedding date and in a further master stroke of publicity, both the film's costumes and Kelly's wedding dress were designed by Helen Rose, an MGM costume designer, and paid for by the studio. Rose had designed the costumes for four of Kelly's movies and the two had become friends, though Edith Head was apparently shocked not to receive the coveted wedding assignment. Rose also designed Elizabeth Taylor's wedding gown for her 1960 marriage to Nicky Hilton.