High fashion and pop culture waltz hand-in-hand this December 3rd at The Peninsula Beverly Hills for the Bold Luxury: Bob Mackie, Stage Glamour & The Couture Edit auction. Positioned as a curated showcase of sartorial history, this event features pieces that not only graced red carpets and world tours but actively helped define the most compelling celebrity personas of the past half-century.

From emerging provocateurs to established legends, every garment tells a true and authentic story of transformation, confidence, and uncompromising style. Here is your front-row seat to the most anticipated offerings, categorized as the unforgettable Opening Acts and the main event's Headliners. With nearly 100 ultra-rare and exclusive pieces up for bid, you’ll want to delve deep into this curated catalogue and bask in the superstar energies offered up by such an unapparelled trove of custom creations.

The Opening Acts: Defining Moments and Cutting-Edge Style

The auction floor starts strong with pieces that capture moments of bold self-expression and the cutting edge of contemporary design. These are the looks that solidified a star's aesthetic evolution or marked a fresh chapter in their career.

Francesco Scognamiglio: The Modern Rock of Rococo

The modern couture pieces by Italian designer Francesco Scognamiglio exemplify his talent for blending Neapolitan baroque with a rebellious, rock-and-roll edge. His designs are a favorite of artists who demand an ornate yet audacious look.

Nicki Minaj's Couture Opulence

On full display is the extravagant Fall 2017 Haute Couture Matelassé Quilted Embroidered Fur-Trimmed Opera Coat, which Minaj famously wore in the "Rake It Up" music video. This piece—with its three-dimensional embroidery, fox fur collar, and a bounty of pearls and Swarovski crystals—is the definition of extreme, cocoon-like luxe, perfectly capturing the contemporary fusion of street style and haute couture.

Rita Ora's Crimson Allure

A Fall 2018 Couture Bustier Dress worn by Rita Ora for her X Factor Italy performance showcases Scognamiglio’s mastery of drape and embellishment. Entirely covered in a pavé of blood pigeon-red crystals and sculpted with cascading folds, it channels the "sensuous fluidity" of ancient Grecian garb with undeniable modern-day sizzle.

Lady Gaga’s Dramatic Flair

Two pieces worn by Lady Gaga highlight the designer’s long-standing connection to boundary-pushing artists: the ruffle-peplum shantung jacket worn during her Born This Way publicity tour and the draped silk jersey gown with gilded three-dimensional stars worn for a radio show in 2009.

The Power of Costume: Transformation and Persona

These pieces underscore how costume design is essential in forging a public image, whether for an editorial or a performance.

Drew Barrymore's Butterfly Wings

The custom-designed Monarch Butterfly Wings from a 1997 US Magazine shoot are a beautiful piece of fashion history by designers Kurt and Bart. Created after Barrymore got a butterfly tattoo, the hand-painted, wire-framed wings symbolize a moment of delicate, dreamlike transformation in her career—a true favorite of the photographers and designers involved.

Britney Spears's "Blackout" Rebellion

A photo-matched, fur-collared Leather Vest from the iconic 2007 "Gimme More" music video is a raw, powerful artifact. With its hand-set studwork and provocative "Walking Gun" patch, this vest is a tangible representation of Spears's battle cry for creative and personal control during the making of her Blackout album.

The Headlining Acts: Royalty, Rock Legends, and Unmistakable Glamour

What would a Bold Luxury auction be without featuring the undisputed titans of stage and style? Explore the celestial offerings headlined by designs from the legendary Bob Mackie and fashion royalty, Princess Diana.

Bob Mackie: The King of Sequin and Stage

A true architect of show business glamour, Bob Mackie's creations for his most famous muses are the heart of this collection. His pieces don't just dress the performer—they become an essential part of the act, amplifying the performer's essence with "rhinestones and feathers and furs."

Cher's Nude Illusion

The auction features several iconic looks for his longtime collaborator, Cher. The 1978 Cher...Special Performance Worn Sequin Costume—a nude-illusion leotard with iridescent teardrop sequins and an asymmetric skirt—perfectly embodies their creative synergy. It is the epitome of the over-the-top, collaborative fashion that brought a fashion show to millions of viewers every week.

Tina Turner’s Warrior Spirit

Highlighting the fierce independence Turner forged in the late 70s are two spectacular Bob Mackie looks. The 1977 Caesar's Palace Performance Worn Winged, Chain, Fringe Bodysuit allowed her to look "about to take flight and soar," showcasing the powerful energy that made her the Queen of Rock and Roll. The accompanying pieces confirm Mackie’s observation: "I never had to inspire Tina Turner. She came already equipped."

Ann-Margret's Las Vegas Legacy

The original 1970s Caesars Palace Sequin Costume, an asymmetrical, black-sequined leotard, is a testament to Mackie’s mastery of proportion and spectacle. Worn both by Ann-Margret for her famous Vegas acts and more recently by Sabrina Carpenter, this is a timeless piece of entertainment history.

Princess Diana: The Couture of a Humanitarian

Amongst the most anticipated offerings is the exquisite Atelier Versace 1997 Event Suit, custom-made by Gianni Versace. This three-piece black wool suit was worn for Diana's passionate speech against landmines at The Royal Geographical Society—a moment of profound humanitarian commitment that helped bring about the Ottawa Treaty.

A New Phase of Glamour

This suit represents the final, most serene phase of Diana's style evolution. Gianni Versace was a key figure in ushering in her new, sleek, international look following her separation from Prince Charles. The designer himself observed her at the time: “she is so serene... she’s found herself—the way she wants to live.”

The Revenge Couture Aesthetic

While the Versace suit is pared-down, it is from the period where Diana's tailored, closer-fitting, and powerful looks were dubbed "Revenge Couture" by the UK press. Her wardrobe was a collaborative design process, chosen personally to communicate and live authentically.

The Jacques Azagury 36th Birthday Archival Evening Gown is an equally poignant headliner. This black Chantilly lace, hand-embroidered gown was the last gown Diana would wear to a public function before her passing. Its contrast to royal protocol (by wearing black outside of mourning) perfectly showcases her independence and growing fashion confidence—a beautiful, somber flourish that concludes a truly iconic wardrobe.

These pieces are more than fabric and thread; they are cultural artifacts imbued with the energy and history of the legends who wore them. They offer a rare opportunity to own the truest and most tangible pieces of pop culture history. Ultra-rare. Ultra-chic.