Vivien Leigh outfit sold for $137,000

The actress used the outfit for portraying the character of Scarlett O’Hara in 1939 classic film “Gone with the Wind”

An outfit worn by actress Vivien Leigh in the film “Gone with the Wind” has been sold for137, 000 US dollars, according to a report by BBC. The dress was displayed at an auction held in Beverly Hills, California and was among 150 items offered by collector James Tumblin, the former head of hair and make-up department of Universal Studios.

The gray jacket and skirt with black zigzag appliqué was one of dresses worn by Vivien Leigh for her portrayal of Scarlett O’Hara in 1939 classic “Gone with the Wind” and it was expected to fetch more than 100,000 dollars at the auction.

The film Gone with the Wind which set against the backdrop of American civil war and the era of reconstruction was nominated for 10 Academy Awards and managed to win five of them including Best Actress for Vivien Leigh. The story was based on the 1936 Pulitzer winning novel of the same title written by Margaret Mitchell.

James Tumblin who originally bought the dress in $20 from a costume shop, started collecting outfits, props and other unique items associated with Gone with the Wind in early 1960s. The moment which urged him to collect Gone with the Wind related items was when he saw a dress lying on the floor of a costume company. The dress turned out to be one of the dresses of Vivien Leigh as Scarlett O’Hara in Gone with the Wind. He decided to buy the dress when he was told that it will be thrown away very soon. Tumblin has collected more than 30,000 items from the movie so far. He continues to collect and exhibit them across the country.