By: Victor Zhang
A dress worn by the late actress Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia in the first Star Wars film, A New Hope, was scheduled for auction but the bids did not meet the seller’s minimum sale price. The gown, which was expected to fetch up to $2 million, received a final bid of $975,000, falling short of the required $1 million. However, the auction company, Propstore, announced that they were open to post-auction offers for the dress. It is believed to be the only surviving costume from the film and holds significant cultural value, perhaps that cultural value will be translated into financial value with a late bid above the necessary $1 million minimum.-.
The dress appears in the final scene of the 1977 film, when Princess Leia presents medals of honor to the rebel alliance heroes, Han Solo and Luke Skywalker. It is prominently featured and is the last object seen before the director’s credit appears. Brandon Alinger, the chief operating officer of Propstore, describes the dress as a valuable piece of film history that evokes strong reactions from Star Wars fans.
Designed by John Mollo, the dress, known as Princess Leia’s ceremonial gown, is a floor-length, slim-fitting silk garment with a scooped neckline, empire waist, and a single silver-plated belt. Unlike Leia’s more conservative outfits in the franchise, the gown is less modest and showcases a different style.
During the production of the film, the budget was limited, and only one version of the ceremonial gown was created for filming and promotional purposes. It was believed to have been destroyed along with the original sets until it was discovered in a London attic, where a crew member had rescued it from being burned.
The dress underwent a meticulous restoration process by professional textile conservators, taking eight months. They removed accumulated dust, patched small holes in delicate areas, and restitched the hem and seams to meet archival standards. The auction catalog suggests that the dress can be altered to fit different dimensions if needed.
Considering the anticipated selling price, it is likely that the dress will be acquired for display in a collection rather than for personal wear.