An Elie Saab’s designed gown worn by Emma Stone at the 2015 Oscars red carpet is featured in the upcoming “To Beirut With Love” auction, alongside the sequined outfit donned by Geri Halliwell in the video for the Spice Girls hit ‘Wannabe’.
Running from December 7th to December 15th, the auction is organized by Sotheby’s, the first international auction house found in 1744.
“Sotheby’s has come together with our partners to host the auction ‘To Beirut with Love’ to provide much-needed relief and funds to aid the healing process,” announced Edward Gibbs, Sotheby’s chairman for the Middle East.
Sotheby has partnered with two Lebanese non-profit organizations in the diaspora, Creatives for Lebanon and Art for Beirut.
These two NGOs were established in the wake of the August 4th blast that sent shockwaves through Beirut, destroying every sector of society in Lebanon, and resulting in countless tales of loss, damage, and displacement.
Proceeds from the auction will be shared among five charities, three of them being; Nusaned, Beit El-Baraka, and Baytna Baytak, which focus on offering shelter to displaced families and rehabilitating residential homes as well as local businesses.
A portion of the proceeds will also go to the charity Al-Fanar, which provides support for social entrepreneurs and small businesses, and House of Christmas, which is dedicated to preserving and protecting Lebanon’s heritage.
From Giambattista Valli and Dior to Ralph & Russo, and Azzedine Alaia to Prada, the auction is a treasure trove of archived pieces by the world’s most influential fashion houses.
Leading the auction is the custom-made long-sleeve beaded chartreuse Elie Saab gown worn by Stone to attend the 2015 Oscars.
Embroidered with guipure and sequins, and featuring an open back and a thigh-high slit, the dress is estimated to fetch £20,000-£30,000 ($26,500-$39,800).
Lebanese designer Nicolas Jebran’s matador-inspired costume for Madonna is also on the auction list.
A silk and chiffon couture gown by Ralph & Russo will also feature in the auction.
Other highlights include a silk haute couture gown designed by Egyptian actress Sherihan to wear in her ‘Thousand and One Nights Fawazeer’ show in 1987, which has been signed by the star herself for the auction.
Valued at 18,000 to 25,000 dollars, the gown took seven months to complete.
Also among the luxurious pieces is a sky-blue embellished dress of beloved Lebanese singer Majida El Roumi by George Hobeika, as well as Mick Jagger’s jacket from his 2017 European tour and a guitar signed by Pete Townshend on offer.
The richness of the items featured reflects the great influence of fashion and art intertwining to help Lebanon rebuild itself into a valiant nation, which has been hit incredibly hard with corruption, inflation, coronavirus, and an indescribable explosion,
