Janet Jackson to sell personal treasures including her wedding dress in 'cathartic' auction

The sale of 1,000 items will include gowns worn to the Oscars and Met Gala, as well as a number of tour looks

Janet Jackson arrives at the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Gala, Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy, held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 5, 2008 in New York City. Getty Images

A pair of earrings which were a gift from Oprah Winfrey to Janet Jackson is on display during an auction preview at Julien's Auctions in Beverly Hills, California on February 10, 2021. Reuters

Janet Jackson performing on stage at Wembley Arena, London, on April 20, 1995. Redferns

Janet Jackson arrives at the at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party at Mortons Restaurant in West Hollywood on March 21, 1999. Getty Images

Janet Jackson poses after winning the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture award for 'Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married?' at the 39th NAACP Image Awards in Los Angeles, California on February 14, 2008. Wireimage

Janet Jackson arrives at the at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party on February 27, 2005. Wireimage

A glove belonging to Janet Jackson is on display during an auction preview at Julien's Auctions in Beverly Hills, California on February 10, 2021. Reuters

Clothing belonging to Janet Jackson is on display during an auction preview at Julien's Auctions in Beverly Hills, California on February 10, 2021. Reuters

Janet Jackson attends Uomo Vogue 40th Anniversary Celebration Party as part of Milan Fashion Week Menswear Spring / Summer 2009 in Milan, Italy on June 22, 2008. Wireimage

Janet Jackson is set to host a "cathartic" auction of more than 1,000 personal items that span her four-decade career.

The star has partnered with celebrity auctioneer Julien’s for the three-day sale, which will take place in Beverly Hills from May 14.

The auction coincides with her birthday on May 16, when the Nasty singer turns 55.

Click though the gallery above to see some of the items up for auction. 

“Janet has never done anything like this before. We’ve approached her so many times, and it has always been very hard to find anything at auction from her because she kept and archived everything,” said Martin Nolan, executive director of Julien’s Auctions.

The auction is titled Iconic Treasures From The Legendary Career And Life of Janet Jackson. Ahead of the sale, pieces are going on show for fans to see. They will be displayed at the Hard Rock Cafe in London from Tuesday, April 19 for five days. The collection will then be moved to New York and onwards to Los Angeles.

A portion of the proceeds from the auction will benefit the charity Compassion International, an organisation that works with churches around the world to relieve child poverty.

Nolan told The Observer: "Jackson has had this stuff in storage for years, and in her homes in Los Angeles, New York and London. She's been incredibly hands-on with sending personal notes on each piece, remembering what she wore and when, which we've included in the catalogue. She now feels it's time to let go."

The auction includes a number of big-ticket, and very recognisable, items. They include the Helen Storey-designed floor-length metallic silver coat worn by Jackson in the 1995 Scream music video with her brother Michael Jackson. At the time, it was valued at $7 million. Also in the auction is a Richard Tyler black coat with velvet lapels, worn by Jackson on her 1990 Rhythm Nation World Tour; and the 17th century-style ensemble worn while performing If on her 1993-1995 Janet World Tour. 

Included in the collection of personal items is Jackson’s wedding dress, which she wore for her secret marriage to dancer Rene Elizondo Jr in 1991. Dresses that she has worn to the Met Gala, NAACP Image Awards and Oscars also feature.