Whitney Houston is set to follow in the steps of Elizabeth Taylor, Michael Jackson and Tony Curtis in having her belongings posthumously auctioned. The sale takes place in Beverly Hills, California on March 19.
The Bodyguard star's memorabilia will sell alongside collectibles linked to Charlie Chaplin and Clark Gable, and even Charlton Heston's staff from The Ten Commandments.
That the event is planned so soon after the singer's unexpected death earlier this month will undoubtedly cause consternation in some quarters.
 Whitney Houston's floor-length black dress |
Nevertheless, the auction is a great opportunity for collectors and fans to celebrate and remember the life of a singer whose career was like no other. And, as with the Taylor auction, the sale may also result in record values as collectors compete to preserve Houston's legacy.
Elizabeth Taylor's jewellery collection became the 'most expensive' ever auctioned when it sold for $115.9m last year. What's more, 54% of participants in the £6.1m auction had never bid with Christie's before.
Among the rare Whitney Houston memorabilia pieces for sale is the I Will Always Love You singer's floor-length black dress.
Given the singer's immense status, the dress has a fairly low $1,000 presale estimate - but this low valuation which will undoubtedly pack bidders into the auction room.
Houston's appearance in 1992 hit film the Bodyguard alongside Kevin Costner was perhaps her most iconic moment. The faux-pearl earrings worn by Houston are valued at $600, while the vest worn by her in the movie is listed at $400.
Dorothy Stratten’s black velvet cocktail dress – for sale priced at £950.00
We think that Houston's dress may sell for beyond its $1,000 estimate. Either way, it will be interesting to see how these rare Whitney Houston memorabilia pieces perform on the auction block.
Celebrity dresses are especially coveted among collectors, including Marilyn Monroe's Seven Year Itch Dress which brought $5.6m in 2011. But you don't need to be a multi-millionaire to own an iconic dress.
Take for instance this dress worn by the famous Canadian model and actress Dorothy Stratten, Playboy Playmate of the Month in August 1979. It is for sale at Paul Fraser Collectibles priced at £950.
