Sneak peek at society darling Karin Upton Baker’s wardrobe
Sydney’s cashed-up fashionistas will be able to get their hands on some of society darling Karin Upton Baker’s personal items, which are going up for sale and available for viewing this Friday — and Annette Sharp is giving you a sneak peek. SEE SOME OF THE INCREDIBLE ITEMS
Confidential
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Sydney’s cashed-up fashionistas and trophy hunters are expected to converge on Woollahra’s prestigious Queen St this Friday when auction house proprietor Andrew Shapiro opens his door to first viewings of a sale of some haute couture moments from society darling Karin Upton Baker’s astonishing Karen-to-Karin life.
With a “capsule” of the famously glamorous former Harper’s Bazaar Australia editor’s extravagant wardrobe up for grabs on August 25 – estimated to be just one-tenth of Upton Baker’s actual couture wardrobe – everyone from Upton Baker-collector Roxy Jacenko and her chicken heiress bestie to a host of the city’s aspiring fashion influencers are expected to head to the auction house for a little try-on and a brush with Upton Baker’s fashion collection which conservatively has been put at several million dollars.
It’s enough to send a couple broke, come to think of it.
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Garments and apparel by Hermes, Chanel, Gucci, Balenciaga, Prada, Armani, Yves Saint Laurent, Christian Dior and Mui Mui — most of which were at one time stored in a sunken dressing room chamber built by Upton Baker’s formerly smitten (but recently estranged) property developer husband Gary when the pair still called Elizabeth Bay home — go under the hammer for a fraction of what fashion-obsessive Upton Baker and her gift-showering husband paid for them.
Now the property of Mr Baker, the garments and jewels were once the stars of Upton Baker’s Instagram account although in more recent weeks many images have sadly been taken down.
Luckily for us – and you, dear reader – your columnist was able to store a few before Upton Baker purged them.
As Upton Baker’s public record shows, Sydney society is what one makes of it and any venue – whether it be the Ivy, Sydney’s equivalent of legendary New York disco nightclub Studio 54, or revamped railway workshop Carriageworks in Eveleigh – can be elevated when one is turned out in a fortune in diamonds and couture.
So from the Hermes Australia MD’s archives to yours, let’s this week take a walk through some of auction items ahead of the forthcoming sale.
1 LOT 20 Art deco diamond double clip brooch. 18ct white gold with 14 class set round brilliant cut diamonds, 12 end set baguette diamonds, and 276 pave set round single cut diamonds. Estimated total diamond weight 13.5ct. Worn here by previous owner Karin Upton Baker on a big night out at the Ivy. Estimate $30,000-$50,000
2 LOT 42 Hermes orange Birkin bag, as seen here on the arm of Karin Upton Baker, here standing alongside fellow bag lover Donna Hay. Height 25cm (bag, not Hay). Most expensive handbag in the auction ladies and gentleman. Estimate $40,000-$60,000
3 LOT 75 Calfskin tan leather Hermes Cavalliere jacket — size 40 — as seen here on previous owner Karin Upton Baker, getting a little cuddle here from fashion icon Jane Birkin.
4 LOT 20 Karin Upton Baker looking elegant at Carriageworks, Eveleigh, in Art Deco Diamond Double Clip Brooch — worn as two separate dress clips. Estimate $30,000-$50,000
5 LOT 24 Close up of the Fleur de Lis Pendant/Brooch set featuring 111 round brilliant cut diamonds set in 18ct white gold, estimated 3.5ct. Seen here on Karin Upton Baker’s Instagram page alongside a mini Kelly bag. Estimate $10,000-$15,000
6 LOT 17 Hermes headscarf Serenite, clearly a fave. Estimate $200-$400
7 LOTS 38, 17 and 29 Hermes Australia boss Karin Upton Baker clasping Lot 38, a Hermes Toile H Birkin Bag in natural canvas, ($6000- $10,000), with Lot 17, a Serenite Hermes scarf nonchalantly worn at shoulder ($200-$400), and Lot 29 Two-Tone Gold centre bracelet, 56gm of 18ct white and yellow gold ($8000- $12,000) on wrist.
