CHICAGO – Leslie Hindman Auctioneers will sell designer clothing and accessories from the estate of Betsy Pickering Kaiser on Sept. 11. Betsy Pickering Kaiser, friend and muse to the American fashion designer James Galanos, was one of the most successful models of the 1950s and early 1960s. The auction will include 380 lots of suits, coats, gowns and accessories that she collected throughout her lifetime. She died on Feb. 22. LiveAuctioneers.com will provide Internet live bidding.

While most of the clothing presented in the auction was designed by Galanos, the sale also includes 
items by Chanel, Bottega Veneta, Fendi, Hermès, Louis Vuitton, Salvatore Ferragamo and others.

In conjunction with the preview for the auction, there will be a tag sale held Sept. 6-8 at Leslie Hindman Auctioneers in Chicago. The tag sale will feature clothing and accessories that Kaiser purchased at Trillion, a high-end boutique in Palm Beach. Also offered in the tag sale are 174 bolts of fine vintage fabrics, including rare examples by Abraham and Gandini, which she purchased from Galanos in the late 1990s.

Throughout her career, Kaiser appeared on the cover of important publications including Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Mademoiselle, Charm, Town & Country and GQ. She was inducted into the International Best Dressed List Hall of Fame in 1971. Her listing in the Hall of Fame reads: “Mrs. Michael Kaiser (Betsy), socialite, Galanos muse, former model.”

Over the years, Kaiser made significant donations from her Galanos collection to a number of museums, in particular, the Metropolitan Museum of Art. In accordance with her wishes, the proceeds from the auction will benefit LoveLife, the largest HIV/AIDS prevention, education and awareness organization in South Africa.

For inquiries contact Yanet Ramirez, 312-447-3288 or yanetramirez@lesliehindman.com.

View the fully illustrated catalog and sign up to bid absentee or live via the Internet at www.LiveAuctioneers.com.

ADDITIONAL LOTS OF NOTE