I couldn’t let the day pass without paying homage to this legendary jazz great. If the actress and singer still lived, she would be 95 today. Rest in Peace, Ms. Horne.
June 30, 1917 – May 9, 2010
The Estate of Lena Horne opened for pre-auction viewing with an intimate reception at Doyle New York. The event took place this past February which, quite fittingly, was Black History Month as well as NYC Fashion Week.
Below are a few behind-the-scenes photos from the Lena Horne Estate Auction Private Preview.
Metallic Embroidered Long Cardigan Coat | Sold For $750
Auction bidders, that included a number of prominent celebrities and institutions, had their choice of jewelry, accessories, gowns, memorabilia, decorations, silver, furniture, books and fine art from Ms. Horne’s home on Manhattan’s Upper East Side.
Louis Vuitton Soft Leather Vanity Case, Inscribed LH | Sold For $6,250
Ms. Horne’s monogrammed makeup case really caught my eye!
Ms. Horne’s amazing jewelry collection. This is just one small section – all 3 walls were lined with cases of jewelry.
Mrs. Gail Lumet Buckley (Lena Horne’s daughter) giving gracious remarks with her daughters, Jenny and Amy Lumet
Mrs. Buckley with husband, Kevin Buckley, a gentle, smiling man who held her glass of wine and Chanel bag throughout the entire evening.
Louis Vuitton Steamer Trunk | Sold For $20,000
Ms. Horne’s trunk was stamped several times by the French Cruise Line on which she frequently traveled with her husband. She married her husband in Paris, and their marriage remained a secret for around 14 years as interracial marriages were illegal in the US in the 1950s.
Me with Gail Buckley and James Lipton
Long-time friends Ruby Dee Davis and Gail Lumet Buckley
In attendance that evening was an eclectic array of Ms. Horne’s close friends and family, private art dealers, and Apollo Theater board and management. Among the celebrity guests were Cicely Tyson, Angelica Huston, Geoffrey Holder, Leslie Uggams, Ruby Dee and many others. VIP guests included NAACP Chairman Roslyn Brock and President Benjamin Jealous, as well as members of the NAACP board of directors.
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Great post! Love your dress, with the classic/vintage cut to it. Horne in some way!
Thx sis. That’s the look I was going for!
I love the fashion statement you have here and it really looks amazing…
Aww, thanks lady. Yeah, i loved the vintage look of the dress (although it actually wasnt vintage, lol).
What amazing pieces she owned, naturally…
Yes! And nothing in her collection surprised me. Fabulous, just like she was.
*GASP*..I am INFERNALLY jealous! LOL..I mean OMG! Lena Horne? AND you saw James Lipton and Ruby Dee too?? *faints*
lol, i was lucky to be there! 🙂 a friend invited me.
see this is why you need to move to nyc asap. cool events/opportunities all the time!!!
What a great event! You look gorg! Love the white dress!
Thanks girl! Yeah, I was excited about my dress – it felt appropriate with the classic/vintage cut to it.
Man, she was gorgeous! Such ease, class and panache. RIP, lovely lady.
Yes, she truly was all of those things! A diamond in the rough.
A family full of beauties and a beautiful you two! Who held your camera 🙂 How utterly outrageous that they would have to hide their marriage!
I know, Sukhmandir. That makes me very sad. Fortunately, we’ve come so far since then!
Thank you so much! 🙂
beautiful post about an amazing woman!
Thank you Anna! Isn’t she incredible? I felt very honored to be there.
Lovely tribute. I am stumbling this one.
Thank you Linda! I appreciate you. ((hugs))
Lovely tribute to Lena Horne!
Carol, thank you so much! I just couldn’t let the day pass without acknowledging Ms. Horne in some way!
Wonderful… And yet, stunning at the same time!
Mines up as well at Spotting Sunsets
Have a great WW!!
She truly was stunning, wasn’t she?! Thank you. 🙂
Great tribute.
Thanks so much, Indrani. 🙂 Im a couple days early but just had to share it!
She was so stunning and talented. I love that steamer trunk! Great post!
Oh, I know Carol. She really was. And that steamer trunk – I live for it!
she was always so stylish looking…
I know! A true icon!
That is just fabulous – I’m almost speechless….
btw, you get a new site?
I LOVE this look!!
Thank you Tammi! I still have the PrissyMommy site, this one is strictly style, beauty, and glamour! 🙂 I needed a “change,” ya know?!
What a great thing to share, thanks for sharing with us all!
Thank you Pippa!!! 🙂 I felt so honored to be there, and was really excited to share with ya’all.
You win for most fabulous WW!
http://www.gaynycdad.com
Awww, thanks Mitch!!! It’s the subject of my post that makes it fab! 🙂
She was beautiful. And Yakini, you look gorg, as always! Love the dress and clutch!
Thanks Alicia! She was indeed beautiful and, even in passing, her spirit in the room was larger than life.