Goldfinger Premiere Gown

From Ian, our venerable Gowns Guru, comes another fabulous creation. After his one-week break over Easter.

A vacation, Guru? Here?

Every day is a holiday when it brings a Bassey bonus like this! 🙂

Thanks, Ian!

 

GOWN OF THE WEEK

 

The Original Goldfinger Gown

(Christie’s Lot 38)

 

Designed by Douglas Darnell in 1964.

 

Dame Shirley first wore this dress on stage to sing ‘Goldfinger’ in 1964 at the Empire Leicester Square in London, at the film’s premiere!

 

DSB wore this dress on many TV show in the 60’s and early 70’s.

 

The beads on the bottom of the gown are 9 carat gold, which means they will never go black!

 

Dame Shirley last wore this on the ITV special ‘ A Special Lady’ in 1983, still with the original ‘rope’ belt from 1964!

 

I wonder what lucky person got this one at the auction?

 

 

Here are the notes from Christie’s Auction Catalogue:  

Goldfinger – a twinkling stage gown by Douglas Darnell, the natural-coloured silk chiffon ground densely embroidered overall with gold beads in vermicular pattern, loosely gathered at the waist [lacking belt], the hem richly embellished with a deep band of bronze beads, Swarovski topaz crystals, imitation pearls and gold balls

 

Weight: approx. 2.5kg.

The photograph illustrated shows Dame Shirley dancing with her second husband, Sergio Novak, during a party for the 1971 Royal Film Performance at the Odeon, Leicester Square, London, 8th March.

 

When discussing this gown Dame Shirley and Darnell’s recollections differed as to whether, in it’s current form, it was a remake of an earlier gown:

 

DSB:…That’s the ‘Big Spender’ dress

DD: No. It [the Big Spender dress] had diamonds under the boobs ending in a buckle

DSB: It was changed into this

DD: No no no…this was a private gown and you walked on stage at the Empire Leicester Square with this on to sing the theme song to ‘Goldfinger’ at the première in 1964…there’s a topaz belt that goes with that [gown] ….these are solid 9 carat gold beads, that’s why they never go black…

 

Photograph courtesy of Harry Myers/Rex Features.

 

Final Price

 

£3,300

*****

Auric Goldfinger says:

Ah, Miss Bassey! I don’t vont your gown.

I just vont the gold beads from it!

My lies can’t disguise vot you fear…

*****