Aretha Franklin’s stage dresses and accessories to be sold at November auction in New York

Stage dresses and accessories worn by the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, are to be sold at an auction in New York.

More than 30 items are included in the auction, which will be held at the Hard Rock Cafe on November 10. The outfits will be on show from November 5-9.

They will feature a spectacular array of outfits worn by the multiple Grammy award-winning singer, who died last month, aged 76. 

In all, she sold 75 million records during a career which spanned seven decades, with hits including “Respect” and “Say a Little Prayer”.

Her funeral in Detroit was attended by Bill Clinton; Barack Obama sent a personal tribute; Smokey Robinson sang from the pulpit.

Ms Franklin was impeccably dressed, wearing four different outfits during the week of public viewing of her open casket. For her final appearance, she was dressed in a full-length gold gown with sequined heels. 

The highlights of the sale include a red sequined interior dress designed by Arnold Scassi with a matching sequin romper which was worn on stage at Radio City Music Hall on September 13, 1991 and a St. John knit jacket worn September 29, 1999 at the National Medal of Arts Ceremony with Bill Clinton in Washington D.C.

Among the other lots are a denim jacket which was only given to crew members of the Blues Brothers and a pink skirt worn on April 17, 1993 in the Duets Concert AIDS benefit for the Gay Men’s Health Crisis.

There will also be a light green suit she wore on a television programme marking Oprah Winfrey’s 40th birthday.

“On and off the stage, Ms Franklin was also a great fashion legend,” said Martin Nolan, Executive Director of Julien’s Auctions, which is conducting the auction.

“This collection of her most show-stopping looks demonstrates why she was not only the Queen of Soul but the Queen of Style.”