Fashion Auction Features 'Decades of Decadence'

If you love vintage fashion – whether you like to collect it or just look at it – you’ll have plenty to feast your eyes on at Augusta Auctions’ holiday vintage spectacular “Decades of Decadence” sale.

The auction on Wednesday, December 8, is Augusta’s first live cataloged sale in more than two years and will start at 11 a.m. Eastern Time at the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center in Brattleboro, Vermont.

A trove of new-to-market vintage treasures from museums, historical societies and a select few private collections will be offered in the 259 lots.

Rare items include a Mariano Fortuny Peplos Gown, a couture Schiaparelli “treebark” capelet from 1934, a couture 1959 day ensemble by Yves Saint Laurent for Dior, and a collection of menswear from the 18th and 19th centuries, deaccessioned from The Costume Collection of the National Society for the Colonial Dames of America and never before offered for sale, including this embroidered waistcoat and this metallic brocaded one.

Also included in this sale are Victorian and Edwardian gowns, corsets, lingerie and foundations, Chinese robes, traditional clothing and textiles from around the globe, early 20th century bathing costumes, opera coats and capes, beaded garments, 20th century designer coats, evening and day wear, hats, gloves and handbags and an extensive variety of 20th century galalith and bakelite jewelry.

Here are 10 of our favorite lots being offered:

Bronze Pleated Fortuny Gown

Polished to a burnished glow, this Peplos gown by Italian designer Mariano Fortuny, 1920-1930s, has all the columnar elegance of a bronze statue. Fortuny is known for his elegantly pleated silks and this bronze beauty has the extra bonus of being trimmed with Murano glass beads. Estimate: $4,000-$6.000.

Augusta1B2Resize — Courtesy of Augusta Auctions

Mother and Daughter Set

How adorable is this? A day dress for mother and a matching bodice for daughter, circa 1860, in leno weave pink and white cotton, with fine woven vertical stripes. Estimate: $500-$800.

Classy Cardigans

We love cardigans and these three matching ones, circa 1922, are swanky. All are Rayon machine knit and come in cream and sky blue, black and cream and mauve and sky blue. These are from the collection of Museum at FIT. Estimate: $300-$500.

Stylish Robe De Style

We could see Zelda Fitgerald in this multicolored lamé robe de style, mid-1920s, and like the unusual wheat pattern stamped into the fabric. The Chantilly lace is also pretty and the oversized floral panache of hand-painted silk organza and velvet petals at the left hip adds more flair, not that this dress needs it. Estimate: $500-$800. — Courtesy of Augusta Auctions

We could see Zelda Fitgerald in this multicolored lamé robe de style, mid-1920s, and like the unusual wheat pattern stamped into the fabric. All of that beautiful Chantilly lace is adorned with an oversized floral panache of hand-painted silk organza and velvet petals at the left hip, which adds more flair, not that this dress needs it. Estimate: $500-$800.

Augusta4BResize — Courtesy of Augusta Auctions

Timeless Christian Dior

Christian Dior creations are timeless and this black strapless ballgown, circa 1958, is no exception. Made of silk taffeta, it has an asymmetrical wrapped front bodice formed from crossed back skirt panels. It was owned by Elena Jofré Serey de Chavez (1908-1987) of Santiago, Chile, wife of a Chilean diplomat. Estimate: $1,200-$1,800.

Augusta5BResize — Courtesy of Augusta Auctions

The commissioned oil painting of Elena Jofré Serey de Chavez in her Dior ballgown is dated 1965. — Courtesy of Augusta Auctions

This commissioned oil painting of Elena Jofré Serey de Chavez in her Dior ballgown is dated 1965.

Hand-Embroidered Tea Gown

All of the work and craftsmanship it took to embroider this 1912 tea gown by hand is incredible and impressive. The cream silk lawn princess line dress is embroidered with heavy padded cotton to the bodice and trained skirt, with multiple tucking and lace insertion into the Renaissance-style sleeves. This is from the Costume Collection of the National Society for the Colonial Dames of America. Estimate: $500-$800.

Augusta7B — Courtesy of Augusta Auctions

Dressing for Dinner

We love how the vibrant brocaded roses really pop on the black silk satin of this dinner dress, circa 1892. We also love the chartreuse silk satin yoke with filigree embroidery and the trimming of black jet. Estimate: $500-$800.

Screenshot 2021-12-03 9.48.10 AM — Courtesy of Augusta Auctions

Traveling in Style

Every wardrobe should have one great piece of outerwear and we would wear this wool broadcloth traveling coat anywhere, even if only traveling to the grocery store. The circa 1918 coat oozes elegance and has a triple box collar and white velveteen lapel with black wool appliqué and contrasting rows of decorative top stitching. Estimate: $400-$600.

Augusta8B — Courtesy of Augusta Auctions

Look Great At Home or on the Town

We love that this lot includes an at-home dress when you want to lie low and a cocktail dress for when you want to paint the town red. Both circa 1940, the cocktail dress with a ray-pleated shirt, is in a pink hammered crepe and has a Nehru collar, decorative buttons, slashed peek-a-boo sleeves and that beautiful gel sequin embroidery. The peach house dress has a shaped satin pleat at the wrap front and down the left side and a belt with purple paste gems. Estimate: $300-$500.

Augusta9B — Courtesy of Augusta Auctions

Fun and Funky Bangles

These mid-century modern bangles, including four by Bruce Pantii, are in marbleized greens, apricot, fuchsia and other fun colors and seem perfect for spring or whenever you want to add a pop of color to your wardrobe. Estimate: $400-$600.

Online bidding is also available for this auction via the auction house, BidSquare.com, Invaluable.com and LiveAuctioneers.com. A live auction preview will be from 12 to 5 p.m. on Tuesday December 7. For more information about arranging a private viewing or questions about specific lots, call 802-463-3333. To see all lots offered, visit Augusta Auctions.