Crazy Fashion Records & Bank Breakers
Lisa LeBlancIn the ever-evolving world of fashion, trends come and go like the wind. But among all the glamour and glitz, there's a hidden realm of the bizarre and outrageous. This is a place for the bold and brave who don't follow current trends. They share their new ideas and styles that can sometimes shock and amaze. Some have even earned Guinness World Records by going beyond what's considered "fashionable." Delve into the crazy, the strange, and fashion’s dynamic range that can break records—and banks!
"No, it’s a Cardigan, but thanks for asking." - Harry Dunne
The Most Expensive Sweater Sold at an Auction
The first record and bank breaker is the most expensive sweater sold at auction. It is—you guessed it!—a grey mohair five-button cardigan worn by Nirvana's frontman, Kurt Cobain. The shabby button-up sweater sold for $334,000 at a Julien’s Auctions event in 2019 at the Hard Rock Café in New York.
The cardigan became an unlikely fashion icon during Nirvana’s MTV Unplugged in 1993. It was likely made in the 1960s by The Manhattan Shirt Company, a major clothing retailer. The price could've been around $15 in the 60s, equal to about $157 in 2024. But Kurt Cobain likely bought it from a thrift store in Seattle, where he did most of his shopping.
Often, during the last year of his life, Cobain wore this cardigan in public and at home, so it’s a little worse for wear. It has cigarette burns, a missing button, and a crunchy brown stain around the right pocket. After he died in 1994, his wife gave it to their nanny. The nanny intended to give it to Kurt's daughter, Frances, when she was older, but had to sell it to pay medical bills.
The World's Most Expensive Sunglasses
In the world of eyewear, some sunglasses break the bank more than they block the sun. At the top of that list is a pair of sunglasses produced for Chopard by De Rigo Vision. The rimless glasses are crafted from 60 grams of 24-karat gold for the arms and detailed with 51 cut diamonds, with a jaw-dropping price of around $400,000.
Not far behind are Dolce & Gabbana’s DG2027B frames rimmed in gold with the brand name in diamonds for $383,609. Shiels Jewellers’ emerald-lensed masterpiece from Australia goes for a hefty $200,000. Cartier’s Panthère dazzles with white gold, 561 diamonds, and 645 blue sapphires for $159,000. Rarity and craftsmanship launch these prices into the stratosphere. Many sunglasses are often made in tiny batches or even as one-of-a-kind works of wearable art.
The auction block has its legends as well. John Lennon’s round sunglasses sold for $183,240 due to their cultural significance. Freddie Mercury’s iconic aviators and star-shaped shades snagged $49,800 at Sotheby’s. And Daniel Craig’s James Bond “Spectre” sunglasses brought in $30,570. With sunglasses full of gems or celebrity history, they prove fashion can be worth its weight in gold.
The World's Smallest Handbag
This other crazy fashion record is bonkers. A purse so small it’s barely visible to the naked eye. And, even more bonkers, it sold in an online auction for over US$63,000 in 2023. This itty-bitty photopolymer resin bag sporting Louis Vuitton’s signature monogram is only 657 x 222 x 700 micrometers!
Crafted by MSCHF, the Brooklyn-based manufacturer stated, “There are big handbags, normal handbags, and small handbags, but this is the final word in bag miniaturization.”
Although it sold for about the price of a vehicle, it's said to be "smaller than a grain of sea salt and narrow enough to pass through the eye of a needle." At least it comes with a digital microscope, so the proud owner can get to see it.
Largest Sneaker Collection + Most Expensive Sneakers Sold
Always waiting for the other shoe to drop—literally. Meet Jordan Geller, the ultimate sneakerhead who broke records with his fashion obsession. Geller earned a Juris Doctor degree and passed the bar exam, but never practiced law. Instead, he resold sneakers for a living via eBay. He chose sneakers over suits and turned his passion into a million-dollar business.
Geller founded the world's first sneaker museum, calling it the ShoeZeum. It was open for a little over a year and housed every single model of Air Jordans ever made. Every. Single. One. From the first pair that made basketball history to the latest that make fans camp outside of stores.
Think of it as Disney World, but for people who bleepin' love shoes. In May of 2012, Geller's collection consisted of 2,388 pairs, earning him the official Guinness World Record for the largest sneaker collection. Although some sources say he actually had over 2,600 pairs at one point! He went on to set two more Guinness World Records for selling some of the most expensive sneakers ever. This includes a pair of Moon Shoes that went for $437,500 and Air Jordan 1s that sold for $560,000!
What started as a passion for sneakers evolved into a cultural phenomenon that elevated shoe collecting to a new level. Geller proved that sneakers are pieces of art, history, and pure passion all rolled into one.
The World's Most Expensive Dress + Most Expensive Dress Sold in an Auction
When it comes to opulence, this dress takes the cake. The title of the world's most expensive dress goes to the Nightingale of Kuala Lumpur dress. Released in 2009, Malaysian designer Faisol Abdullah designed the dress valued at a mind-blasting $30 million. It's made of crimson silk and taffeta and adorned with 750 diamonds, including a 70-carat diamond as its centerpiece.
What occasion would call for such an extravagant creation? Top Malaysian designers chose Indian actress Kavita Sidhu to wear the Nightingale dress during a fashion show. At the STYLO Fashion Grand Prix Kuala Lumpur, Faisol said she would unveil the dress while a poem was being read.
But what is the most expensive dress sold in an auction, you ask? That would be Marilyn Monroe's 'Happy Birthday, Mr. President' dress. In 2016, Ripley’s Believe It or Not (USA) purchased it in L.A. for US$4,810,000 at Julien’s Auctions. On May 19, 1962, Marilyn Monroe wore the custom-made Jean Louis gown at a fundraiser for the Democratic Party in Madison Square Garden. Here she gave her famous performance for former U.S. President Kennedy. His 45th birthday was in 10 days. Just before her entry, Monroe had to be stitched into the dress adorned with 2,500 crystals and 6,000 hand-sewn rhinestones. This price beat the previous record holder by $200,000, the ivory rayon-acetate dress, also worn by Marilyn Monroe in the movie “The Seven Year Itch.”
Available in a gorgeous palette of colors—crisp white, classic black, soft pink, sunny yellow, and serene blue—this dress is your ticket to standing out, no matter the occasion.
Other Crazy Fashion Records
The fashion world is no stranger to the bizarre and the outrageous. And the Guinness World Records are filled with other equally eyebrow-raising achievements. For example,
- The record for the longest locks (hair) belongs to Asha Mandela of Clermont, Florida, measuring 5.96 m.
- The record for the longest fingernails is held by Ayanna Williams, who grew her nails to a combined length of over 1,306 cm (42 feet).
- Don't forget about The Notorious B.I.G.'s plastic crown that he wore during a photoshoot just 3 days before he was murdered. In 2020, the crown was sold by Sotheby’s in an auction for $594,750. It made the Guinness World Record for the “most expensive fancy-dress/costume crown sold at auction.”
Whether it's the oddity of MSCHF’s microscopic purse or the extravagance of the Nightingale of Kuala Lumpur dress, these achievements highlight the industry's penchant for the outrageous and the extreme. These records are a reminder that fashion is not just about looking good—it's about making a statement, pushing boundaries, and embracing the madness that lies at the heart of this ever-evolving industry.
So, the next time you’re browsing the racks at your local clothing store or online at, say, Lunacy Deals & Designs, take a moment to appreciate the sheer creativity and ingenuity that goes into those items. Who knows, maybe one day you'll be the one setting a new Guinness World Record for the most outrageous fashion statement of all time.
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