Glamorous clothes and swimwear worn on TV’s Love Island by fashion icon Kelly Brook are set to go under the hammer at auction. (Aug 31)
The model, actress and media personality – one of Britain’s most stylish women – is scaling down her wardrobe and parting with outfits she no longer needs. Some were worn for her TV work while others were donned for glitzy events such as film premières or shows. The latter includes a flamboyant diamante-encrusted leotard body suit with tulle overlay worn during the Strictly Come Dancing live tour in 2010.
Kelly’s passion for fashion comes to the fore thanks to designer pieces by Vivienne Westwood, Alexander McQueen, Diane Von Furtstenberg, Moschino, Dolce & Gabbana and Emporio Armani. These include an Alexander McQueen military-inspired two-piece skirt suit in Air Force blue. Meanwhile her love of vintage style is showcased by mid-century designers including Saks Fifth Avenue, Londy of Mexico, Mitzi Morgan, Elisabeth Stewart and Kamehameha of Hawaii.
But for any ardent Love Island fans the chance to snap up a souvenir piece awash with celebrity style may hold the most temptation. Lots include a 1950s red cotton Alfred Shaheen Honolulu dress (above right) decorated with a Hawaii-inspired motif in silver and gold. It was worn by Kelly on a Celebrity Love Island episode aired on May 23, 2005.
Bidders will also be tempted by four 1950s/60s vintage swimsuits. They include a navy, laced-front swimsuit, labelled Avro; blue striped costume by Catalina (below); yellow swimsuit by Elisabeth Stewart, California, and navy bathing suit with gold tone buckle. Kelly wore the Catalina swimsuit on Love Island and promotional images are included in the lot. Another set of five 1950s/60 vintage swimsuits include an eye-catching floral-patterned costume worn on Love Island.
Kelly said: ” It’s been amazing to take a trip down memory lane and explore my storage units where vintage and designer pieces from my TV and film career have been preserved and archived over the decades. I’m so excited to part with pieces that really have shaped my life over the years and inspired many fashion collections I’ve designed for the High Street.
“My storage units, together with the numerous homes I’ve lived in over the years, have been treasure troves for some of the most beautiful furniture, art and fashion sourced from all over the world.
“It’s been extremely cathartic to part with some iconic pieces I know fans and collectors will love. It’s also my first ever auction and, having worked with Charles Hanson On Celebrity Antiques Road Trip, I couldn’t think of a better expert to partner up with.
“I’m very much looking forward to watching some of my favourite items go under the hammer and find a new home outside of a storage unit! Let the fun begin!”
Stephanie Connell, who catalogued the Kelly Brook Collection on behalf of Hansons Auctioneers, said: “Kelly’s clothes capture old-style Hollywood glamour. There’s a wonderful selection of 32 lots including numerous vintage and designer pieces.
“Kelly acquired many of these rare vintage pieces specifically for her work as host of the original series of Celebrity Love Island in 2005, paving the way to the global Love Island success story. The collection showcases Kelly’s impeccable eye for fashion and highlights her influence on British style. As well as being fabulous items of clothing, these garments are part of TV history.”
More Love Island offerings include two circa 1960s green floral-patterned sun dresses. They are a De Weese Design California dress labelled ‘Swim and Sun Fashions, Los Angeles, California’ and a cotton Hawaiian halter dress with boned bodice, labelled ‘Kamehameha’, made and styled in Hawaii.
Fans can also bid on a dress worn by Kelly in the 2006 ITV production of Agatha Christie’s Maple episode The Moving Finger aired, and a vintage lace dress worn to the London première of The Gangs of New York in 2003.
Other 1950s classics include a red halter-neck dress overlaid with brown tulle-type fabric embroidered with sequins, labelled ‘Hollinsworth’s, Oval Room’ and a strapless, wine-coloured dress featuring printed net, black velvet waistband and boned bodice. Kelly wore the Hollinsworth’s dress at the premiere of Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo in August, 2005 in Las Vegas.
Hansons will also be offering many decorative interior pieces from Kelly’s beautifully curated former Kent home. For example, the 43-year-old star is parting with a large Sarah Bernhardt late 19th century poster, a 1950s poster for 1953 film Problem Girls and two limited-edition Eve Arnold photographs of Marilyn Monroe.
Stephanie said: “This auction will give buyers a unique opportunity to acquire pieces which have played a part in Kelly’s life and career. It’s a chance to own a little slice of the Kelly Brook magic and glamour. Elements of the collection are also affordable, with lot estimates starting from £30-£50.”
Kent-born Kelly was voted the Sexiest Woman in The World in 2005 by FHM magazine, the year she hosted Celebrity Love Island. She rose to fame, initially as a model, after winning a beauty competition at 16. Her media work encompasses TV, theatre and radio. Her autobiography, released in 2014, reached the Sunday Times Bestseller list.
The Kelly Brook Collection will be offered on August 31 by Hansons Auctioneers’ Kent saleroom in Royal Tunbridge Wells.
Catalogue/bidding: www.hansonslive.co.uk or www.the-saleroom.com
Catalogue link: https://hansonslive.hansonsauctioneers.co.uk/m/view-auctions/info/id/423
Enquiries: Robin Fletcher: [email protected]
Kelly Brook image credit: RedCarpetReport, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
