Auction recap / Bonhams
Bonhams Realizes $111,605 in Cyndi Lauper: Suitcase of Memories, Part I
The single-owner sale achieved a 100% sell-through rate, led by the iconic True Colors newspaper skirt look.
Auction highlights
THE TRUE COLORS NEWSPAPER SKIRT LOOK 1986
Estimate$1–2KSold$45,500Latest bid$35,000
A "TIME AFTER TIME" SHOE ASSEMBLAGE MOBILE MADE BY CYNDI LAUPER 2026
Estimate$1–1.5KSold$11,050Latest bid$8,500
Estimate$1–1.5KSold$6,500Latest bid$5,000
THE LEOPARD PRINT PAJAMAS FROM THE "GIRLS JUST WANT TO HAVE FUN" MUSIC VIDEO 1983
Estimate$500–700Sold$5,850Latest bid$4,500
A FRAMED POSTER FOR CYNDI LAUPER'S 1983 DEBUT ALBUM SHE'S SO UNUSUAL
Estimate$500–700Sold$5,460Latest bid$4,200
THE WHITE BLOUSE FROM THE RECORDING OF "WE ARE THE WORLD" AND RELATED MATERIAL 1985-1986
Estimate$1–1.5KSold$5,200Latest bid$4,000
THE RED PLAID DRESS WORN TO THE FIRST-EVER MTV VIDEO MUSIC AWARDS 1984
Estimate$1–1.5KSold$5,200Latest bid$4,000
Estimate$1–1.5KSold$4,550Latest bid$3,500
Estimate$1–2KSold$2,860Latest bid$2,200
THE LUNCHBOX FROM THE "TIME AFTER TIME" MUSIC VIDEO 1983
Estimate$200–300Sold$2,600Latest bid$2,000
CYNDI LAUPER'S PERSONAL FAUX CHEETAH AND RED, GREEN, PINK, AND BLACK VINYL SOFA 1980s
Estimate$0.8–1.2KSold$2,600Latest bid$2,000
TWO BILLBOARD VIDEO MUSIC AWARDS PRESENTED TO CYNDI LAUPER 1984
Estimate$0.8–1KSold$2,210Latest bid$1,700
Estimate track marks the pre-sale range; the tick marks the sold price. Lot photography: Courtesy Bonhams.
Contextual data provided by Pricing Culture Analytics; this is not an exhaustive list. Pricing Culture Analytics organizes publicly available auction data to analyze and produce insights.
In a sale that closed on 23 October 2026, Bonhams presented a curated selection of personal memorabilia and stage-worn attire from the collection of pop icon Cyndi Lauper. The auction, titled Cyndi Lauper: Suitcase of Memories, Part I, realized a total of $111,605,[1] with 21 of 21 lots sold, representing a 100% sell-through[1] rate. Bonhams served as the official results source for the sale, confirming the complete clearance of the offered lots [S1].
The auction featured highly recognizable artifacts from the peak of Lauper's 1980s career, including pieces from her most famous music videos and promotional shoots. Among the highlights was the newspaper skirt look styled by Laura Wills of the NYC vintage shop Screaming Mimi's and photographed by Annie Leibovitz for the cover of the True Colors album [S2]. The sale also included personal creations, such as a hand-painted shoe mobile made by Lauper herself, reflecting her long-standing practice of using footwear as a canvas for personal and artistic expression [S3]. Other key items included jewelry worn in the "True Colors" music video and an Interview magazine photoshoot [S4], as well as a pair of leopard print pajamas originally belonging to Lauper's grandmother, which were worn in the landmark music video for "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" [S5].
Auction highlights
Sale file- THE TRUE COLORS NEWSPAPER SKIRT LOOK 1986 | estimate $1,000 to[9][8][7][4][3][2] $2,000 | sold for $45,500[2]
- A "TIME AFTER TIME" SHOE ASSEMBLAGE MOBILE MADE BY CYNDI LAUPER 2026 | estimate $1,000 to $1,500[9][8][7][4][3] | sold for $11,050[3]
- THE BRA AND JEWELRY FROM THE "TRUE COLORS" MUSIC VIDEO AND THE MATTHEW ROLSTON INTERVIEW MAGAZINE PHOTOSHOOT 1986 | estimate $1,000 to $1,500 | sold for $6,500[4]
- THE LEOPARD PRINT PAJAMAS FROM THE "GIRLS JUST WANT TO HAVE FUN" MUSIC VIDEO 1983 | estimate $500 to[6][5] $700 | sold for $5,850[5]
- A FRAMED POSTER FOR CYNDI LAUPER'S 1983 DEBUT ALBUM SHE'S SO UNUSUAL | estimate $500 to $700[6][5] | sold for $5,460[6]
- THE WHITE BLOUSE FROM THE RECORDING OF "WE ARE THE WORLD" AND RELATED MATERIAL 1985-1986 | estimate $1,000 to $1,500 | sold for $5,200[8][7]
- THE RED PLAID DRESS WORN TO THE FIRST-EVER MTV VIDEO MUSIC AWARDS 1984 | estimate $1,000 to $1,500 | sold for $5,200
- A VIVIENNE WESTWOOD GREEN FRINGE 'WOOD BARK' ENSEMBLE Vivienne Westwood, 'Mini-Crini' Collection, Spring/Summer 1986, worn 1986 | estimate $1,000 to $1,500 | sold for $4,550[9]
The results of this sale demonstrate the enduring appeal of pop culture artifacts from the MTV era, particularly those associated with iconic visual moments. The 100% sell-through rate across all 21 lots indicates a focused collector interest in well-documented, artist-consigned memorabilia that carries direct provenance from the performer's personal archives.
Sources
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