I’ll admit it straight away: as someone born in 2000, the name Cilla Black doesn’t exactly pop up when I think of British fashion royalty.
My brain usually jumps to Molly-Mae, Kate Moss, or someone I’ve double-tapped on Instagram within the past 24 hours.
Cilla, to me, has always belonged to the same nostalgic box as VHS tapes and my parents’ stories about “Saturday night TV.”
And yet, when the chance came up to slip into some of her most celebrated outfits, curiosity took over.
I figured it would be a fun, slightly ridiculous experiment—something between dress-up and time travel.
To my absolute surprise, her wardrobe was packed with pieces you could drop straight into Zara, H&M, or even a Christmas party lineup today.
Discovering the Hidden Gems
Once I started digging in, it became obvious that Cilla’s closet wasn’t just full of retro patterns and 1960s glam—there were gorgeous fur jackets, flattering jumpsuits, and the kind of fancy dresses you’d see influencers fighting over online.
More than 240 of these pieces will hit the auction block on November 28, with prices beginning around £20.
The sale marks ten years since Cilla’s passing, and all proceeds will support Variety, the children’s charity she championed throughout her life.
Her family decided that sharing her wardrobe felt like the perfect tribute.
And honestly, if you’re looking for a one-of-a-kind Christmas party outfit, some of these dresses are cheaper than what you’d find on the high street—and they come with the coolest backstory imaginable.
Stepping Into the Showstopper
The first outfit I had to try was the one I’d heard the most whispers about: Cilla’s velvet ballgown from the 1969 Royal Variety Performance.
She wore it while singing in front of Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip, and Princess Anne—the first year the show aired in colour.
This dress is loud in the best possible way—turquoise velvet, feathered sleeves, sequins, structured shoulders.
It practically hums with drama. I felt like I’d wandered into a movie set.
It’s also the priciest piece up for grabs at a starting price of £350, but considering it’s a Jean Varon and John Bates design, that feels like daylight robbery—in the buyer’s favour.
Falling in Love With a Blue Dream
Then came my personal favourite: a floaty blue sequin chiffon gown from the 1970s.
It looked surprisingly modern, almost like the sort of thing you’d spot hanging in a boutique window and immediately convince yourself you “needed.”
Cilla wore it in her 1979 “Bright Eyes” music video—one of those soft-focus, emotional classics.
It’s being auctioned in a bundle starting at £60, which feels impossibly low for something that pretty.
A Feathered Fantasy
Next up: a sleeveless white dress trimmed in extravagant pink ostrich feathers—a very Cilla signature.
I expected to hate it. I ended up loving it.
It was comfortable, flattering, and… oddly bridal?
It’s another Jean Varon/John Bates creation, starting at £200, and honestly, someone bold could absolutely get married in it and startle every guest in the room.
Cilla wore a similar outfit on her show in 1968 while performing “You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling.”
Sunshine Yellow and Spotlight Ready
The yellow sequin gown from a 1971 episode of her “Cilla” show immediately made me think of something the Princess of Wales might wear.
It isn’t my colour—yellow washes me out with zero mercy—but it’s undeniably elegant.
It starts at £70 and would look stunning on someone who has more luck with warm tones than I do.
The Sparkling Showpiece I Struggled Into
The final piece was the trickiest: a near-sculpted sequin gown from the 1970s.
Getting into it felt like squeezing into a second skin, but the moment it was on, I got why Cilla wore something similar in a 1973 TV performance.
It’s colourful, daring, very Taylor Swift–coded, and starts at just £70.
A Legacy Preserved in Fabric
Every penny raised from this auction goes toward helping disadvantaged and disabled children across the UK, something Cilla cared deeply about.
Laurence Guinness, the Chief Executive of Variety, put it beautifully: Cilla knew that disabled children face challenges in every era—and those from low-income families face even more.
Her wardrobe was preserved lovingly by her children after her death in 2015, almost like a time capsule of her life, her career, and her unbelievable sense of style.
Her music career kicked off in Liverpool’s Cavern Club, where she impressed The Beatles while working in the cloakroom.
She soared through the 1960s with hit after hit—Anyone Who Had a Heart, You’re My World—before becoming the queen of UK Saturday-night television with Blind Date and Surprise Surprise.
Her wardrobe reflects every stage of that journey—glamour, grit, humour, and pure showbiz magic.
Exploring the Collection
If you want to browse the pieces or register for the sale, the full catalogue is available through Nesbits Auctions.
It’s a rare chance to own something genuinely unique, full of history, sparkle, and a little bit of Cilla’s spirit.
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