In yet another episode of very expensive clothing memorabilia from the 1939 classic that turned Judy Garland into a superstar, a "Wizard of Oz" dress the actress wore on screen just sold for a staggering $1.5 million in a New York auction, as the film's mythology lives on almost 80 years after the film was first released.
The iconic blue gingham "Wizard of Oz" dress made famous by Liza Minnelli's mother just sold at a New York auction last Monday for a little over $1.5 million, continuing a long-standing tradition of very expensive items from the fantasy classic, though the biggest fascination remains with the ruby slippers.
According to The Guardian, the "Wizard of Oz" dress recently placed in auction is called the pinafore, and it's one of 10 thought to have been made for Garland to wear as Doroty Gale, and the Bonhams auction house had estimated the item to fetch between $800 thousand and $1.2 million.
As Standard reports, the auction that saw the "Wizard of Oz" dress fetch $1.56 million last Monday has been described as having sweat stains around the neck (presumably from the time Garland wore it on set) though remaining in good condition, a feat in itself for a piece of clothing that's near a century old.
The Bonhmas sale was made in conjunction with Turner Classic Movies, and the last time this particular "Wizard of Oz" dress was sold in auction was three years ago, when a 2012 buyer paid $490,000 for it.
There are two types of dresses from the 1939 musical, namely "test" ones and the ones she wore during filming; last year, one of the outfits Garland didn't wear on camera was sold at the same auction house for $245,000.
According to NPR, the new owner of this "Wizard of Oz" dress is still unidentified, as the bid was made through the phone.
