King of Pop’s iconic wardrobe pieces to be displayed in Abu Dhabi ahead of auction

Fans of Michael Jackson will have the opportunity to view four of the singer’s most recognisable clothing items in Abu Dhabi this winter, before they go under the hammer at a major auction organised by Julien’s Auctions.

Public display at Emirates Palace

The iconic pieces from the King of Pop’s wardrobe will be exhibited to the public in the lobby of the Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental from 29 November to 5 December. The display features the red-and-black leather jacket worn by Jackson in the 1983 “Thriller” music video, the rhinestone-studded glove and loafers associated with his performance of “Billie Jean” at the Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever special, and two pairs of loafers used during the making of “Thriller” and rehearsals for Motown 25.

The collection will then be auctioned at Rosewood Abu Dhabi from 7 to 9 December as part of Julien’s Celebrity & Pop Culture Experience, an event that assembles memorabilia, fashion and cultural artefacts linked to some of the world’s most famous figures.

Handwritten note from Jackson

The loafers worn during the “Thriller” video come with a signed note from Jackson to his choreographer. The note reads:

“I wanted to write you a note to say thank you for Thriller. What we did together means a lot to me. You understood the feeling of it right away and helped bring it to life in a way I’ll never forget. The dancing told the story without needing words, and that’s something special. I want you to have the shoes I wore in the Thriller video. They’ve been through all the rehearsals and filming, and it feels right that you keep them. I hope they remind you of what we made together and how important your part was in it. Thank you for your talent, your patience, and your heart. Love, Michael Jackson.”

Auction estimates

Julien’s Auctions has released estimated prices for three of the four headline lots. The estimate for the “Thriller” jacket is available upon request. For the other items:

• The Motown 25 glove: estimated at $600,000 to $800,000 (approximately Dhs2.2 million to Dhs2.94 million).
• The Motown 25 loafers: estimated at $60,000 to $80,000 (approximately Dhs220,000 to Dhs294,000).
• The Thriller loafers: estimated at $30,000 to $50,000 (approximately Dhs110,000 to Dhs184,000).

Bidding registration is available through the Julien’s Auctions website.