Introduction to a Timeless Fashion Icon
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis’ most famous "election night look" is about to go under the hammer, and it’s not a ball gown. It is the purple maternity coat she wore when she was eight months pregnant, on the night her husband was named the next American president on November 8, 1960.
The Historical Piece
The purple wool coat that crowned a first lady a style icon now awaits a new owner. Bid for the historical piece, a pop of color that stood out like a beacon in the sea of drab campaign suits, will open ahead of the December 15 auction, with estimates ranging from $6,000 to $8,000.
The Coat’s Legendary Status
The coat isn’t just chic – it’s legendary. It graced the cover of Life magazine’s special issue introducing the Kennedys as America’s new first couple, and cemented Jackie’s style legend before she even unpacked at the White House. The item comes from a family that has been linked to the Kennedys for generations.
The Backstory
The cozy dress was lovingly loaned out among expectant friends—a sort of fashionable fertility sisterhood—before making its way to auction. Sotheby’s is treating the piece like a couture time capsule, and with good reason. According to Morgane Halimi, the auction house’s global head of handbags and fashion, "Few garments so gracefully capture the spirit of a turning point in American history."
The Auction
The piece “carries the quiet strength of a woman whose influence went far beyond fashion,” and is a museum-like reminder of the moment America set foot on Camelot. As for the long-awaited sale, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for collectors to snap up a piece of cultural magic. The auction will run from December 5th to 8th at Sotheby’s New York.
Other Fashion Firepower
The glittering wares will be in the spotlight, including an enchantingly glamorous Alexander McQueen velvet gown dripping with trumpet pearls from his fall 2007 collection, expected to fetch $7,000 to $12,000. Fashion fanatics can also enjoy a jumpsuit from Yves Saint Laurent or a blue and gold Chanel tweed jacket from Karl Lagerfeld’s Pre-Fall 2019 collection.
Luxury Handbags
And then there are the bags – the real showstoppers. A rare sterling silver Mini Kelly from Hermès from the 1990s could bring $80,000 to $150,000. Even the baby of the bunch — a black 2024 Chevre Chamkila Birkin 20 with sleek palladium hardware — is expected to cost $40,000 to $60,000. Overall, it’s more than just a wool coat – it’s a piece of Camelot up for grabs, and only the bravest fashion collectors need apply.
