Why the value of iconic leather jackets keeps going up
An antiques valuer has helped UK-based leather clothing retailer Hidepark compile a list of the most valuable leather jackets to have appeared on cinema and television screens in recent years, giving new estimates of what the jackets might cost at auction today.
Top of the list is the famous red-and-black jacket Michael Jackson wore in the video he released with the song Thriller. It sold in 2011 for $1.8 million, but antiques valuer Jon White has said he is confident it would fetch $2 million now.
Two other Michael Jackson jackets appear on Mr White’s list: he has estimated that a black jacket with prominent buckles that the singer wore in the video to accompany Bad could sell for $300,000 now, while one he may have appeared in while performing Beat It would be cheaper and likely to attract a price-tag of $20,000.
Other jackets to have received a virtual revaluation from Mr White include the one Olivia Newton-John wore in Grease, the one Prince wore in the video for Purple Rain and the one Sylvester Stallone wore in Rocky.
“Jackets are often one-off, unique items,” Jon White said. “A collector can purchase a piece in the knowledge that their investment is safe.”
