I sacrificed a Tuesday night’s soiree in order to spend Tuesday afternoon potentially pawning all my worldly goods (my soul was even on offer for the stunning shoe-lots) to be able to buy up bags of bargains at Daphne Guinness’s charity auction.

Hosted by Kerry Taylor Auctions, Daphne offered up a small selection of her wardrobe she no longer wears (her ‘essentials’ currently occupy their own suite at her temporary Claridges home) to be sacrificed to the hungriest bidder in aid of worthy charity WOMANKIND Worldwide. A small selection, in Ms Guinness’s relative terms, was 267 lots - most with many branded items in each.

The event was highly publicised, so it was little surprise that such a motley crew turned up to La Galleria on Pall Mall, hoping to haggle their way to some serious second-hand couture.
What was a surprise was the huge amounts the assorted school-run mums, boutique owners, generous Grandmas and hard-hitting phone bidders were willing to pay for clothes and shoes that had already spent long periods in the back of someone else’s (very large) wardrobe.

Granted, some of the lots were spectacular, but being the news-whore I am, I naively thought there was a credit crunch going on. Well, the only crunching going on here was that of red acrylic nails being unceremoniously bitten as the ladies took the bidding to new heights. One pair of red Christian Dior wedges covered in pointed metal studs sold for £3600, whilst two Stephen Spouse for Louis Vuitton bags sold for a spectacular £5550!

However, there was an abundance of desirable deals to be had – if you could beat the 1000 eBay live-bidders to the top-price before Ms Taylor hit that hammer down. Twenty-two pairs of Louboutins went for an unbelievable £600, for example, and me and my friends managed to latch on to some lovable Louis Vuitton for less than a cost of a usual night out.

The atmosphere was electric – despite the auction continuing for over three hours. The tension mounted when Tara Palmer-Tomkinson (TPT) and My Friend Tara (MFT) went paddle-to-paddle on bid for seven Marc Jacobs coats. MFT had her heart set on the lovely lilac raincoat with grey satin lining, which was part of the lot. TPT was going full-storm in an attempt to take off with the turquoise cracked leather double-breasted trenchcoat (also part of the same lot) which would shelter her delicate frame from the angry weather outside. MFT had no concern for TPT’s health and safety as she raised her Sotheby’s-printed number right in front of TPT’s over-sized sunglasses. MFT was momentarily distracted by TPT’s tall, dark and handsome companion. TPT took full advantage – finally taking the finances to a level where MFT just wasn’t willing to travel without a guaranteed return-ticket.

The auction was the most fun I have had in the day since I smashed up computer screens for fun in Peckham (www.scrapclub.co.uk). I feel I may be addicted to this less-active activity – whilst they both involve hammers, the latter combines competition with couture. And as much as I hate computers, that combination is always going to be a winner.

Filed under: Big Smoke Soirees