Iconic Wardrobe of Bombshell Raquel Welch from Golden Hollywood Era Fetches $1 Million at Auction

She was a much-loved American bombshell who took the world by storm during the golden years of Hollywood. 

And now the wardrobe of the late actress Raquel Welch has gained its own star power, fetching more than $1million (£870,000) at a recent auction. 

A necklace worn by the action heroine fetched $195,000 (£156,000) at auction in Los Angeles last week – 195 times its original asking price of $1,000 (£800). 

The iconic piece of turquoise and silver jewellery was worn by Ms Welch during an acclaimed photoshoot with celebrity photographer Terry O’Neill and was worn to the premiere of her film ‘Myra Breckinridge’ in 1970. 

The late actress Raquel Welch pictured in the 1966 caveman comedy ‘One Million Years B.C’ wearing a faux fur bikini. A faux fur style bikini inspired by her costume sold for $13,000 (£10,000)

Raquel posing in a red, white and blue starred bikini for her film ‘Myra Breckinridge’ in 1970 (left) and playing Lilian Lust in Bedazzled in 1967 (right)

The auction of Ms Welch’s personal items also included a faux fur style bikini inspired by her costume in the 1966 caveman comedy ‘One Million Years B.C’ which sold for $13,000 (£10,000). 

It was this role as the scantily clad cavewoman in the comedy that catapulted Ms Welch to stardom and solidified her status as an international sex symbol. 

Almost 500 items owned by the late Hollywood star were sold last Friday, including a two-piece bikini worn in the 1967 comedy ‘Bedazzled’ which sold for $22,750 (£18,000) and her 1975 Golden Globe award for Best Actress in a comedy, which fetched $26,000 (£21,000).

Ms Welch died in February 2023 at the age of 82 at her home in Los Angeles after a brief illness.

A necklace worn by the action heroine fetched $195,000 (£156,000) at auction

Her 1975 Golden Globe award for Best Actress in a comedy fetched $26,000 (£21,000)

The star-spangled red, white, and blue sequined swimsuit  sold for $5,850 (£4,700)