Fans of Whitney Houston can bid on 54 items from the late singer's estate, to be auctioned by Julien's Auctions in Los Angeles on August 11. The sale aims to raise funds for US youth programs through the Whitney E. Houston Legacy Foundation.
Highlights of the Collection
Among the items are an embellished jacket from her 1988 Moment of Truth tour, a black Burberry coat from her 2009-2010 Nothing But Love world tour, and a scarlet Versace leather suit worn at the VH1 Divas concert in April 1999, with a guide price of $5,000 (£3,700). Also featured is a fuschia ruffled mini dress from the 1988 American Music Awards, and a gold-plated social security card valued at $700 (£500).
Personal and Performance Items
Fans can also bid on a three-piece MCM monogrammed luggage set ($7,000 guide), a long black coat by Carolina Herrera worn for an HBO special ($3,000), and a chrome bar stool used on her 1999 My Love Is Your Love Tour ($1,200). A platinum award for her single "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)" has a guide price of $5,000.
Quotes and Significance
Pat Houston, executor of Whitney Houston's estate, said: "We have some super great one-of-a-kind memorabilia from Whitney's archives and we are excited about the auction." Mozell Miley-Bailey of Julien's Auctions remarked: "There are few voices that transcend generations. Whitney Houston's is unequivocally one of them... She didn't just sing; she transformed R&B, set new standards for vocalists, and gifted the world with deeply emotive performances that continue to resonate."
The auction takes place the week of the foundation's fifth annual Legacy of Love Gala in Atlanta, where Babyface will perform. Whitney Houston died on February 11, 2012, at age 48, due to accidental drowning complicated by heart disease and cocaine use.
