This June, Sotheby’s is set to present a truly exceptional event that will captivate fashion lovers and collectors alike. The Art of Glamour: The Alixandra Fitzwilliam-Tate Baker Collection offers a rare opportunity to explore over 100 vintage gowns and museum-quality haute couture pieces in an online auction. With bidding open from June 2 to 16 and a public exhibition starting June 6 at Sotheby’s New York, this single-owner sale promises to celebrate the golden age of couture through iconic designs by Christian Dior, Yves Saint Laurent, Cristóbal Balenciaga, Hubert de Givenchy, and others.
The collection, assembled over decades by Baroness Alixandra Fitzwilliam-Tate Baker, reflects her deep passion for fashion as art. It spans several key decades, the romantic 1950s, the swinging 1960s, and the lavish 1980s, offering a sweeping look at the evolution of style and craftsmanship. Featuring garments by some of fashion’s most influential designers, the collection also includes notable examples from American and Italian fashion houses, such as Oscar de la Renta and James Galanos.
Lucy Bishop, Sotheby’s Fashion Specialist, said, “There are few fashion collections in the world which can make you gasp in sheer astonishment at the beauty before your eyes and Baroness Alixandra Fitzwilliam-Tate Baker’s does exactly that! Stepping into the purpose-built ‘wardrobe vault’ is akin to stepping into a dream: your eyes are met with rails of rustling taffetas, glistening jewel-toned silks and twinkling embellished tulles, with museum-worthy haute couture nestled amongst devastatingly glamorous ready-to-wear gowns.”
Baroness Alixandra Fitzwilliam-Tate Baker brings not only a collector’s eye but also a deep expertise to her assemblage. Born in the United States and descended from Scottish nobility, she holds a Master’s degree in Art from the Hermitage in St. Petersburg and a Bachelor’s in Art History from Marymount Manhattan, graduating summa cum laude. She also trained at the prestigious École Lesage in Paris, mastering haute couture beading and embroidery. Her aristocratic title traces back to a grant from King James II in 1445, and she remains actively involved in hereditary societies and cultural organizations.
Speaking about her collection, the Baroness said, “My collection brings incredible joy to me, and I hope that the pieces will do the same for others. I talk to my dresses and ask them for whom they were made, was it a special occasion, was she in love, was it an engagement, did she dance all night, did the memories of wearing it bring happiness, and for how many years was the dress treasured before it came to me?”
Among the extraordinary items offered are Audrey Hepburn’s Givenchy haute couture pink silk-crêpe sheath from 1966-67 and an ivory silk faille bodice, both personally gifted by Ms. Hepburn to a close friend, Tanja Star-Busmann, who auctioned it in 2009. This selection exemplifies the effortless elegance that defined the actress’ iconic style and her lifelong partnership with Givenchy.
The sale also includes a Christian Dior by Yves Saint Laurent taffeta evening gown from the Autumn-Winter 1959-60 collection. This gown was once part of the personal wardrobe of Rosamond Bernier, the celebrated art and fashion historian who earned Vogue’s praise as “the world’s most glamorous art lecturer.” Another highlight is a Tom Ford off-white crêpe evening gown with a matching cape from Fall-Winter 2012-13, famously worn by Gwyneth Paltrow at the 84th Academy Awards and hailed as one of the greatest Oscar gowns of all time.
Additional pieces in the collection include a rhinestone-covered gold lace evening gown from the 1960s worn by Maria Ellington Cole, a Yves Saint Laurent Lesage embroidered moiré ballgown from 1974-75, a Valentino Swarovski crystal evening jacket from 1989-90, a Balenciaga black wool chasuble gown from 1967-68, and a bespoke white chiffon evening gown from the 1980s.
Many of these garments have been impeccably preserved, having remained in the Baroness’s private collection for decades. This sale marks Sotheby’s first single-owner fashion auction in New York and is expected to draw attention from collectors, museums, and fashion enthusiasts worldwide.
