The sweat-stained dress worn by Judy Garland in The Wizard of Oz has become one of the world’s most expensive costumes by selling for a staggering £1 MILLION.
Dorothy Gale’s blue and white gingham dress is one of the most unmistakable items of clothing in film history.
It is thought Garland had around ten dresses made for filming of the 1939 classic – but there are just two remaining.
So when Bonhams announced it would be selling one in New York collectors from all around the world battled it out for the desirable piece of film memorabilia.
The dress had an upper estimate of £770,000 ($1.2m) but ended up selling for a whopping £1,034,157 ($1.56m) at the Treasures from the Dream Factory sale.
Catherine Williamson, Bonhams’ director of Entertainment Memorabilia, said: “As we witnessed today in the Bonhams saleroom, the dress is considered a true and timeless icon of classic Hollywood.”
The bumper price-tag paid on Monday evening is thanks in part to Judy Garland’s star quality.
Garland played Dorothy as a 17-year-old starlet, with the Gingham dress designed to make her look closer in age to the 12-year-old orphan character.
She became one of the world’s most famous celebrities – and as troubled as she was talented.
As a child star she became addicted to drugs from a young age
She married five times, and is the mother of Liza Minnelli, but struggled with mental health problems and addictions throughout her life.
The actress died in 1969 aged just 47 after taking an accidental overdose of barbiturates in London.
Prior to the sale, Catherine Williamson, described the dress as “instantly recognisable”.
She said: “You immediately know it was Judy Garland who wore it as Dorothy Gale in The Wizard of Oz.
“It is the costume she wears throughout the film, which is a great movie and the definition of a classic.
“What is great about this is it has signs of use: there are sweat stains around the neck, but it is still in fine condition.”
In the past the Lion costume sold for a staggering £1.9 million while Dorothy’s slippers would likely sell for a similar figure if they were put up for auction.
