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Samantha Cameron was lauded for her style throughout the 2015 election and wore an £882 dress by British design duo Preen on the day her husband David Cameron was elected Prime Minister.
The cobalt blue shift dress will now be auctioned alongside the maroon tie that David Cameron wore on the historical day.
The structured dress by Justin Thornton and Thea Bregazzi was a modern and sophisticated choice, with structured sleeves, a calf length hemline and featuring a checked and abstract palm print.
The two items will be sold as one lot in an auction by Smart Works in association with Christie’s.
The British charity, of which Cameron is an ambassador, assists unemployed, vulnerable women by providing interview clothes and training.
The dress which the Cefinn designer wore to meet the Queen and when she returned to 10 Downing Street is among 33 lots donated by influential members of the fashion industry.
All of the donors were asked to give an item representing “a particularly important moment, memory or achievement from their fashion journey”.
Cameron says she chose the dress as it made her feel confident.
“You know you will be having to stand in front of the world’s press and hundreds of photographers, so the pressure is on and you need to make sure it is a dress that you feel really confident in,” Cameron explained to The Telegraph.
“Being photographed on the steps of Downing Street was never something I particularly looked forward to, but if you’re going to do it, you might as well be prepared and do it as well as possible”, she added.
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Other lots include a black Hermes Birkin bag has been donated by its namesake Jane Birkin with an estimate of £8,000 – £10,000, corsets which Victoria Beckham wore in the Noughties and Betty Jackson sunglasses which Absolutely Fabulous actress Joanna Lumley wore in the show.
The auction started today and will run online until 15 September 2020 for Christie’s account holders to bid.
Caitlin Yates, the Head of Sale, Private & Iconic Collections for Christie’s in London explains: “The online sale provides fans, admirers and collectors with the era-defining memento from our iconic donors and support such a noble cause at such a profound moment”.
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