Events in Chicago. Leona Helmsley Estate Auction.

On May 18, Leslie Hindman Auctioneers will host a Vintage Couture and Accessories auction featuring the clothing and accessories of billionaire real estate magnate Leona Helmsley. The extensive collection of fashions and accessories from the Helmsley estate includes her finest suits, handmade gowns, furs and accessories and is highlighted by the suit she was photographed wearing to her first day at prison – a classic late 1980s Chanel suit in pink wool and denim.

Well known as the infamous “queen of mean,” Leona Helmsley’s determination and marked perfectionism assisted her and her husband, New York real estate investor and developer Harry Helmsley, in amassing a fortune worth billions. Personifying the quintessential 1980s decadent lifestyles of the rich and famous, Helmsley made national news when her questionable business practices led to her indictment at the end of the decade.

In addition to the property from the estate of the real estate mogul (think custom-made chiffon gowns, her signature suits and a collection of over 200 Ferragamo shoes in a rainbow of shades…), the auction will also offer a look at other collections of vintage pieces, and a wide array of iconic Hermes Kelly and Birkin handbags.

The preview begins May 15th, and you can see the online catalogue here. Weird… and exciting!