All right, let’s get the wedding jokes out of the way. Yes, Elizabeth Taylor was married eight times. But that doesn’t diminish in anyway the aura of glamour and sophistication that surrounds Taylor, one of Hollywood’s greatest stars. A testament to the enduring legacy of Taylor is that an auction of her jewelry in 2011 fetched $137 million.
Now comes the chance for one fan to own Taylor’s first wedding gown. Christie’s will auction the gown on June 26. The starting price is $75,000, but expect fans to drive up the prices much higher.
The satin wedding dress was designed by MGM costume designer Helen Rose. It had a 15-yard satin train and required a team of more than 15 people over three months to make it. Rose would go on to design Grace Kelly’s wedding dress for her marriage to Price Rainier of Monaco.
Taylor’s wedding to Conrad Hilton, Jr. took place in 1950. She was 18. The wedding was an elaborate affair with more than 700 guests, including much of Hollywood’s royalty, such as Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire.