Fabulously rare PRN wardrobe department collection of over 400 pieces of dyed fabric swatches used to create the various iconic tour outfits worn by Prince and the New Power Generation between 1989 and 1992, a prolific three-year period that covers the Nude Tour (1990) and the Diamonds and Pearls Tour (1992), Prince’s popular Batman era, the release of the Graffiti Bridge album and movie, and his controversial performance of ‘Gett Off’ at the 1991 MTV Video Music Awards on September 5, 1991, when he famously exposed his ‘bare’ buttocks to millions of live television viewers. Prince’s posterior was, of course, not actually bare, but rather a realistic skin-tone fabric cover, examples of which are included with this collection. Every one of these dye fabric samples was presented to Prince and the wardrobe department for outfit approval.
The collection is highlighted by a three-ring binder that contains 109 sleeves and a total of 91 invoices that date from March 24, 1989, to September 10, 1992, with all documents issued by master fabric dyer Marliss Jensen at the Iris Color Studio (ICS) in Minneapolis, Minnesota. All of the invoices, which are annotated with sample descriptions and prices, are issued for “PRN” or “PRN Productions,” with the majority featuring their original affixed fabric dye samples and/or their stapled check receipts for “Graffiti Bridge, Inc.,” “R & A Productions,” “PRN Productions, Inc.,” and “Paisley Park Enterprises.” Numerous embroideries are also present, as are many original dye sample request sheets that the PRN wardrobe department sent to ICS, which also retain finished sample swatches. Among the sheets are handwritten notes from lead designers like Helen Hiatt and Heidi Presnail.
The binder standout is assuredly the section related to Prince’s cheeky 1991 MTV performance, which is comprised of four ICS invoices dated August 23 to 28, 1991. These contain a total of 10 swatches, three for his iconic “Cotton & Viscose Lace Dye Yellow” suit and seven “dye nude color” fabric swatches of silk and georgette. Some newspaper clippings about the event and its famous ‘butt suit’ are included.
Supplementing the binder is a large array of loose fabric swatches (and a white right-handed glove) of varying shapes and sizes, including several more ‘nude-tone’ and ‘yellow lace’ examples. The plethora of design materials found in this collection proved pivotal to the ever-growing touring wardrobe of Prince and the NPG during this very busy and influential period. Serving as a time capsule of sorts, these color samples represent the never-ending aesthetic evolution of one of Prince’s most meaningful eras as a fashion icon. His unique ability to mix styles, fabrics, and colors with equal doses of glamour and audacity played a significant role in shaping fashion trends during the 1980s and beyond.
The Prince Estate is not affiliated, associated, or connected with RR Auction or this auction, nor has it endorsed, authenticated or sponsored the items available for auction. Further, The Prince Estate has not licensed any of its intellectual property to RR Auction.
