Colin Firth's shirt sells for £25,000 at auction

The famous shirt worn by Colin Firth in Pride And Prejudice has achieved a record price at auction.

Colin Firth's iconic shirt from Pride And Prejudice auctioned for £25,000

The white shirt worn by Colin Firth as Mr Darcy in the 1995 BBC adaptation of Pride And Prejudice has sold for £25,000 at a London auction. Initially expected to fetch between £7,000 and £10,000, the shirt more than doubled its estimate during the bidding. The shirt, which features in the memorable 'wet shirt moment', was auctioned alongside other costumes worn by various stars, including Meryl Streep and Johnny Depp, as part of the Lights, Camera, Action sale. Costume designer Dinah Collin revealed that the iconic scene, which helped establish Firth as a sex symbol, was unscripted and creatively designed due to BBC regulations on male nudity.

The sale of Firth's shirt reflects the lasting impact of the 1995 adaptation on popular culture. This moment not only transformed Firth's career but also shaped how romance is portrayed in period dramas. The high auction price indicates the power of nostalgia and fandom, with audiences willing to pay for a piece of cinematic history. Additionally, this trend of auctioning film memorabilia highlights the growing market for collectibles tied to beloved films and television series.

Highlights

The auction proceeds support arts education, furthering the legacy of costume design.