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Amy Winehouse (2009)
Photo: TOBY MELVILLE / REUTERS
It's a sad piece of pop and fashion history: a mini dress that singer Amy Winehouse, who died in 2011, wore at her last official concert, was auctioned in California.
The green and black strap dress, designed by her longtime designer and stylist Naomi Parry, fetched more than $ 243,000 (around 210,000 euros) at the auction in Beverly Hills on Sunday.
Julien's Auctions had put the estimated price at $ 15,000 to $ 20,000 in advance.
16 bids were received for the dress, but initially nothing was known about the buyer.
The Brit, who became world famous with hits like "Back to Black" and "Rehab", wore the dress in June 2011 at a concert in Belgrade.
At that time she was already marked by her alcohol addiction.
The 27-year-old stumbled across the stage and was booed.
Shortly afterwards, she canceled her planned tour of Europe.
On July 23, the singer was found dead in her London apartment.
Alcohol poisoning was given as the cause of death.
The dress was one of over 800 souvenirs that went under the hammer at the two-day auction.
Many pieces were auctioned well above their estimated price.
A heart-shaped red leather bag designed for Winehouse by the Moschino label was estimated at $ 20,000.
It brought in just under 205,000 dollars (around 177,000 euros), as »Julien's Auctions« announced on Twitter.
Birthday greetings brought in $ 3,200
A turquoise brassiere that the singer wore in the music video for "You Know I'm No Good" brought in a good $ 25,000, and two of the British star's stuffed animals fetched over $ 6200.
A birthday card that Winehouse had received from singer Adele was also auctioned.
In the auction catalog it was listed at $ 200 to $ 400, and in the end the price skyrocketed to $ 3,200.
Amy's parents, Mitch and Janis, helped put the auction together.
Part of the proceeds will go to a good cause - the money will go to the Amy Winehouse Foundation, which aims to protect young people from alcohol and drug abuse.
jok / dpa
