Nearly 300 items owned by Gwyneth Paltrow will go under the hammer at Julien's auction house in Los Angeles next week, offering everything from designer gowns to everyday basics, with some lots starting at $50 (£37). The sale, part of the Bold Luxury auction, includes pieces from her Goop brand, personalised stationery, and a Dolce & Gabbana T-shirt that has already attracted multiple bids.
The auction was prompted by a fire at a storage facility and a house move, with Paltrow telling Vogue she wished she could have a huge garage sale. Items range from a RED Valentino jumpsuit fetching $600 (£449) to a Goop black jumpsuit currently at $50. Photos of her ex-husband Chris Martin and his band Coldplay have also attracted bids.
Martin Nolan, co-founder of Julien's, said it shows that even celebrities have clutter, and Paltrow was keen that the auction not appear elitist. Her new mantra, Nolan added, is: 'If I get something new, I'm letting something go.' Hannah Jackson, a fashion writer at US Vogue, noted that the more prosaic items go against the tendency to put celebrities on a pedestal, but owning sweaters and coasters does not make her inherently relatable.
Highlights include the Atelier Versace gown Paltrow wore to the 2010 Country Music Awards and a 1999 Christian Dior dress by John Galliano. Jackson particularly praised a grey Gianni Versace two-piece from 1999, worn to the White House, as a gorgeous vintage piece for an exceptional occasion.
Nolan believes the auction provides a good introduction to collecting, as Paltrow is still active and will produce more wearable items, unlike stars such as Marilyn Monroe, whose finite items command higher prices.
