BOSTON. Devotees of Prince, renowned not just for his chart-topping melodies but also for his extravagant style, will get the chance to bid on pieces from the late artist’s distinctive wardrobe in an upcoming online auction. More than 200 items, meticulously gathered by a French collector who initially envisioned a Prince museum, will be up for grabs in this auction overseen by RR Auction of Boston.
Originally planning a museum dedicated to celebrating Prince’s legacy, the collector sought out items from individuals closely connected to the iconic musician. Recognizing Prince not only as a musical virtuoso but also as a trendsetting fashion icon, the collector compiled a collection spanning the artist’s evolution from the “Purple Rain” era to his passing in 2016.
A notable highlight is the white ruffled shirt worn by Prince during his 1985 American Music Awards performance of “Purple Rain,” estimated to be valued at $15,000. The auction provides a journey through Prince’s musical and fashion progression, showcasing how his style continues to influence contemporary artists reinventing themselves for each tour.
Among the prized items is the outfit worn by Prince in the 1986 film “Under the Cherry Moon,” his directorial debut, with an estimated value of $45,000. Other items include high-heeled blue boots from the Act I Tour valued at $20,000, a custom-made gold stage outfit with love symbols estimated at $10,000, a blue Schecter ‘Cloud’ Guitar played by Prince valued at $4,000, and a distinctive chain hat.
Beyond the fashion pieces, the auction features original Polaroid photographs, master tapes of hit albums, and official documentation related to Prince’s films and music videos. Bidding for this extensive collection will conclude on Thursday.
Earlier this year, Minnesota, Prince’s home state, paid tribute to the legendary artist by renaming a stretch of highway passing his Paisley Park home after him. The governor signed the renaming bill with purple ink, Prince’s signature color.
Gary P Hernal started college at UP Diliman and received his BA in Economics from San Sebastian College, Manila, and Masters in Information Systems Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University in Oak Brook, IL. He has 25 years of copy editing and management experience at Thomson West, a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters.
