When 20th Century Fox was planning the 1963 production of “Cleopatra,” the studio allotted what was then the staggering sum of $194,800 to Elizabeth Taylor’s wardrobe. An example of where all that money went can be seen in the intricate leather and gold cape that Taylor wore in two scenes of the movie. When it goes on sale at Heritage on May 30th, bidding for the cape will start at $10,000, but the final tally is expected to be many times higher, perhaps even more than Taylor’s entire wardrobe budget for the notorious film.
Update: the cape sold for $59,375.
Designed to resemble the wings of a phoenix, the cape is adorned with thousands of beads and sequins. Taylor wore it in the scene in which she enters Rome, and also in the one in which she commits suicide, using the venom from an asp’s bite. Also on the block will be a wig Taylor wore in the movie.
