Claudia Cardinale “Dressing a Star” at Sotheby’s Paris

Claudia Cardinale “Dressing a Star” at Sotheby’s Paris. In July Sotheby’s held absolutely exceptional auction – dressing of Claudia Cardinale.

Claudia Cardinale at Sotheby's Paris by Runway Magazine
Claudia Cardinale at Sotheby’s Paris by Runway Magazine
Claudia Cardinale at Sotheby's Paris by Runway Magazine
Claudia Cardinale at Sotheby’s Paris by Runway Magazine

Sotheby’s in Paris recently unveiled the wardrobe of Claudia Cardinale, celebrating Italian fashion from the late 1950s through to the early 1980s. Of 130 pieces, there are garments worn by the actress in her day-to-day life, as well as in some of her great screen roles and at international film events including the Academy Awards in Los Angeles, and the Venice, Cannes and Berlin film festivals. Sotheby’s Fashion specialist Julia Guillon picks ten of her highlights from this spectacular sale.

Claudia Cardinale at Sotheby's Paris by Runway Magazine
Claudia Cardinale at Sotheby’s Paris by Runway Magazine
Claudia Cardinale at Sotheby's Paris by Runway Magazine
Claudia Cardinale at Sotheby’s Paris by Runway Magazine

Sotheby’s is delighted to announce the sale of Claudia Cardinale’s wardrobe. Everyone remembers her as the glamorous sixties icon and award-winning international film star, but she is less well-known for her taste for fashion. Today, Sotheby’s unveils a lesser-known side to Claudia Cardinale’s talent with the sale of her collection.

Claudia Cardinale at Sotheby's Paris by Runway Magazine
Claudia Cardinale at Sotheby’s Paris by Runway Magazine
Claudia Cardinale at Sotheby's Paris auction opening by Runway Magazine
Claudia Cardinale at Sotheby’s Paris auction opening by Runway Magazine

In an exhibition and public auction, which will take place online from 28 June to 9 July, Sotheby’s will celebrate Italian fashion from the late 1950s through to the early 1980s, a period when Paris no longer had the monopoly on couturiers and their Italian counterparts were coming to the fore. A total of 130 couture and ready-to-wear items will be on sale, all created by the leading Italian designers of the day including Emilio Schuberth, Roberto Capucci, Irene Galitzine, Barocco and Balestra, as well as the Parisian house Nina Ricci, which regularly dressed the actress during the 1960s.

Claudia Cardinale at Sotheby's Paris by Runway Magazine
Claudia Cardinale at Sotheby’s Paris by Runway Magazine

The sale will be an opportunity to acquire garments worn by the actress in her day-to-day life, as well as in some of her great screen roles and at international film events including the Academy Awards in Los Angeles, and the Venice, Cannes and Berlin film festivals. These are the materials a diva is made of.

Claudia Cardinale at Sotheby's Paris by Runway Magazine
Claudia Cardinale at Sotheby’s Paris by Runway Magazine

Among the most major items is a long gown in fuchsia organza embroidered with floral motifs by Livia, worn by Cardinale for her first appearance at Cannes Film Festival in 1961. There is a sheath dress entirely covered in black sequins and trimmed with pink and blue flowers, by Nina Ricci (Haute Couture collection, autumn-winter 1963-1964), which the actress modelled at the 37th Academy Awards in Los Angeles in 1965 as a presenter alongside Steve McQueen.

Claudia Cardinale at Sotheby's Paris auction opening by Runway Magazine
Claudia Cardinale at Sotheby’s Paris auction opening by Runway Magazine
Claudia Cardinale at Sotheby's Paris auction opening with Eleonora de Gray Editor-in-Chief of Runway Magazine
Claudia Cardinale at Sotheby’s Paris auction opening with Eleonora de Gray Editor-in-Chief of Runway Magazine

Other items recall Cardinale’s greatest roles from her period of international fame. These include The Pink Panther by Blake Edwards (1963) in which, as Princess Dala, owner of a fabulous diamond coveted by a mystery robber, she wears an elegant palazzo pyjama suit in ivory shantung embroidered with silver beads, by Irene Galitzine, similar to the one that features in the sale. Then there was The Magnificent Cuckold directed by Antonio Pietrangeli (1964), in which Cardinale wears a cocktail dress trimmed with black petals by Nina Ricci in the film’s final ; A Fine Pair by Francesco Maselli (1968), in which the actress appears alongside her co-star Rock Hudson wearing a leather coat fastened with multiple straps ; and Lost Command by Mark Robson (1965), with Cardinale in a black swimsuit made by Cole of California, reunited with her co-star of The Leopard, Alain Delon.

Claudia Cardinale at Sotheby's Paris by Runway Magazine
Claudia Cardinale at Sotheby’s Paris by Runway Magazine