Sunny von Bülow’s Daughter Talks Fashion and Christie’s Sale

Like her mom Sunny von Bülow, who relayed an easy type, Ala von Auersperg has drawn upon that and never simply outlined her personal poise, however constructed a enterprise round it.

Eight years after beginning her signature firm, von Auersperg is branching out into new classes, providing wholesale, internet hosting extra trunk exhibits and pairing up for collaborations. The designer reimagines a number of the artwork on canvas that’s featured in her work for her attire.

Her mom, whose given identify was Martha Sharp Crawford, was the only inheritor of Columbia Gasoline and Electrical chairman George Crawford. A member of excessive society in Manhattan and Newport, R.I., the fair-haired von Bülow was recognized for her impeccable style. A couple of dozen items of knickknack that when belonged to her had been auctioned in Tuesday’s “Magnificent Jewels” sale at Christie’s in New York, and exceeded pre-sale estimates.

After watching a livestream of the sale, von Auersperg mentioned she was thrilled with the result. Whereas Magnificent Jewels racked up $44.4 million in gross sales, the “Magnificence in Design: Magnificent Jewellery from Sunny Crawford von Bülow and Ala von Auersperg Isham” generated $1.4 million, in accordance with a Christie’s spokesperson. Von Auersperg, who was previously often called Princess Annie-Laurie Auersperg, mentioned Tuesday, “I believe it was an actual praise to my mom truly that the sale did extremely nicely.”

There was nothing bittersweet about bidding adieu to these jewels since they weren’t being worn and had sat in a vault for 40 years, von Auersperg mentioned. Having saved a number of the items that her mom wore and that Von Auersperg continues to put on, the designer mentioned she could be very pleased with what stays. All in all, she mentioned the Christie’s sale was a good way to perpetuate her mom’s reminiscence, “as a result of she was a girl of monumental type and style.

“This can be a testomony to that,” she mentioned.

Whereas some affiliate von Bülow with the epitome of stylish, others recall how her second husband Claus (who was not von Auersperg’s father) was tried twice for tried homicide. Sunny von Bülow died in 2008, after having spent the final 28 years of her life in a coma. Her daughter, who cofounded the Nationwide Heart of Victims of Crime and the Mind Trauma Basis to honor her mom’s reminiscence, declined to remark in regards to the trial.

The standout items within the Christie’s public sale had been a a Van Cleef & Arpels carved Colombian emerald, ruby, and diamond necklace, which bought for $289,800, in addition to an Artwork Deco necklace with pure pearls, cultured pearls and diamonds, which fetched $302,400 — greater than triple the pre-sale opening estimate.

Exterior of the Christie’s sale, Tiffany & Co. just lately purchased some earrings for its everlasting assortment that von Bülow had designed with the corporate. Von Auersperg then scrolled up pictures of her mom carrying these designs.

Very influenced by her mom’s type, von Auersperg mentioned, “However I’ve additionally created my very own type, as you do through the years. There’s little doubt that she had unbelievable style, and it wasn’t flashy. It was simply innate. She wasn’t in any respect a show-off. She liked stunning issues, however she wasn’t in any respect involved about displaying it to her associates.”

Whereas the Hulu sequence “Feud: Capote vs. The Swans,” has revived curiosity within the stylishness of Outdated Guard socialites like Babe Paley and CZ Visitor, von Auersperg mentioned, “I don’t consider my mom as in any respect swan-like, as a result of she was shy. She actually didn’t exit that a lot. However she liked creating stunning atmospheres for her household and gathering stunning issues.”

Von Bülow additionally excelled at floral preparations, in accordance with von Auersperg, who recalled how large baskets of flowers can be carried in from the reducing backyard at Clarendon Court docket in Newport and her mom would create “these fabulous preparations” in an immense urn for her household.

Throughout a joint interview, she and her daughter Sunny Kneissl Zweig, who’s director of gross sales and advertising and marketing at her mom’s firm, highlighted their plans for the clothes enterprise. Taking a look at a photograph of von Bülow, Zweig mentioned, “Every little thing was extremely traditional at the moment. It was about being elegant, stylish and traditional. My mom has definitely carried that ahead in her designs. It wasn’t in regards to the hottest pattern.”

In flip, the American-made Ala von Auersperg assortment is designed to be timeless and is geared for ladies between the ages of 35 and 65. Began eight years in the past with a deal with caftans that integrated the art work that von Auersperg painted, the corporate nonetheless makes a speciality of proprietary prints, however younger types are actually within the combine too reminiscent of swimwear and a three-piece “beach-to-blacktie” set of a spandex prime and backside with a mesh layer. There are additionally jackets, and cotton and silk attire, pareos, separates and a perfume and bug spray.

By way of a collaboration with the perfume specialist Veronique Gabai, von Auersperg will debut a collaboration on June 20. Consumers will be capable of purchase Gabai’s Sur la Plage perfume in a sleeve with considered one of on Aersperg’s prints, or Gabai’s Saint Tropez pendant in a equally printed pouch.

Whereas nearly all of von Auersperg’s enterprise is at present bought on-line, the model can be accessible in her signature Palm Seashore boutique, by way of private buying in New York Metropolis, and in choose specialty retailers. There are additionally 45 trunk exhibits deliberate for this yr — a slight enhance in comparison with final yr. With most consumers primarily based alongside the Japanese seaboard and in Texas, the corporate just lately tapped into California. Wholesale, which at present accounts for about 20 % of the annual quantity, is one other alternative, the founder mentioned. Trying forward, the plan is to introduce signature plates and different tabletop objects.

Within the meantime, the summer-friendly model will host particular occasions in Newport, R.I., Nantucket and Cape Cod, Mass., and Bermuda — all locations the place post-COVID-19 many second owners began spending extra time. An upcoming annual luncheon, trend present and buying alternative for 50 visitors in Newport is a favourite date on the calendar for von Auersperg. Fastidious about match and that includes on-line movies of girls not simply carrying her designs, however transferring in them, she mentioned, “I consider in making ladies really feel stunning. While you really feel nice, you exit and have a superb time.”