Prince’s Iconic PURPLE RAIN Shirt Is Going Up for Auction

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Prince, who passed away but left an indelible mark on music, began his album releases from 1978 with “For You.” However, it was the movie and soundtrack for “Purple Rain” in 1984 that solidified him as a pop culture legend. In the film, Prince often donned a frilled white shirt reminiscent of a musician from an 18th-century royal court. This same shirt was worn during the final scenes where he performed “Baby I’m a Star,” “I Would Die 4 U,” and the title track “Purple Rain.” Now, this historic shirt is set to be auctioned off at Bonhams with a starting bid of $55,000. Experts predict it could fetch up to $90,000. Take a look at pictures of the legendary shirt below:


As per Bonhams, the famous “Purple Rain” shirt worn by Prince is made from white silk, featuring a high-neck collar that gathers at the top, and three layers of ruffles. It boasts long sleeves with ruffled mock French cuffs, faux pearl buttons running along the front, and shoulder pads. Inside its neck is a label bearing Prince’s signature purple and white color scheme. This item comes complete with a letter of authenticity from Juanita Escovedo, stating that it was crafted during the filming of “Purple Rain” and gifted by Prince to his protégé Sheila E. The legendary drummer eventually sold this shirt as part of a charitable initiative at a later date.

Purple Rain, not just for Prince, but significantly impacted the entire realm of pop music. The film generated four top ten hits, with “When Doves Cry” and “Let’s Go Crazy” reaching number one. The influence of Purple Rain wasn’t confined to Prince and the Revolution; artists like The Time and Apollonia 6 from the movie also gained popularity on radio and MTV that year. As a result, the Minneapolis sound spread worldwide. Owning a piece of that era through this Bonhams auction is owning a slice of pop culture that resonates till today. The auction concludes on January 22, at 12:00 PST.

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2025-01-10 02:03