Over 200 costumes and personal items of pop music and movie legend Olivia Newton-John are due to be sold by Julien’s Auctions in Los Angeles in a two-day Icons & Idols auction on November 1 and 2.
After being diagnosed with breast cancer in 1992, Newton-John, 70, was inspired to help create The Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness and Research Centre in her home city of Melbourne.
A portion of the auction proceeds will go to the centre. Newton-John is currently battling a reappearance of the cancer.
One of the high points of the auction will be the sale of Newton-John’s black leather jacket and skin-tight pants from the 1978 movie Grease, which are expected to fetch up to $200000 (about R2.8million). The pants were so tight Newton-John had to be sewn into them for the filming.
Another item from Grease is a custom-made 1950s-inspired petal-pink lace gown which was worn to the 1978 premiere of the movie at The Mann’s Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles (top estimate $5000).