Beschreibung:

Freddie Mercury's early stage-worn wrap-around top by Wendy de Smet
with a pair of black satin flared trousers, 1972-1975
a bespoke dancer’s top of high quality stretch black velvet with three-quarter length sleeves and long ties to wrap around the waist and tie at the side, labelled ‘Wendy de Smet’; and a pair of bespoke black satin flared trousers, fastening at the waist with two black buttons and concealed hook and eye fastening, the interior waistband with black cotton lining, unlabelled
(qty 2)
This combination of wraparound top and satin flared trousers was a staple of Freddie’s stage wear from early 1972. In June 2023, Wendy Edmonds (née de Smet) confirmed the account of how she came to make costumes for Freddie that was published in Queen in Cornwall by Rupert White (2011). Wendy Edmonds created Freddie’s famous ‘Mercury Wing’ catsuits (see lots 44, 150 and 151), but prior to that Freddie asked her make dancer’s wrap-around tops for him: "I made him these wrap-around tops to wear on stage. He was very specific about what he wanted and he’d ask me to copy things. So he had these little women’s ballet tops, crossover things, and he’d give me the stretch velvet and say ‘Can you copy this?’"
Wendy has examined all the wrap-around tops included in this auction and confirmed that she made this plain black top from high-quality stretch velvet that Freddie provided for her, which he acquired from Borovick’s in Broadwick Street, London. She recalls that Freddie gave her a plain black woollen top to copy it from (see lots 40 and 108), and that he hand-decorated these tops himself: "Freddie knew how to sew. He was pretty good, so for example, he’d….sew on sequins himself”. See also lots 118, 141-143.
Freddie appears to have stopped wearing this style of top as stage wear after 1975, when he started wearing his famous catsuits.
LITERATURERupert White, Queen in Cornwall, 2nd Edition, Athena Publications, 2022, pp.276-277.
SPECIAL NOTICENo right to reproduce or commercially exploit the copyright or other intellectual propertyor image rights in any lot is included with the sale of the lot (including but not limited tosong lyrics, sketches, drawings and garment designs). Queen Productions Limited, QueenMusic Limited and other rights holders reserve all their rights. No right to exhibit in public or reproduce this lot is included with the sale of this lotwithout the prior written consent of Queen Productions Limited, who shall act in good faithto consider any such requests.