Back in 2001, Britney Spears dominated MTV with her sultry dance moves in the video for “Overprotected.” Part of her outfit for the clip was a hot pink bra — which, for the right price, can now be yours.
That piece is just one of 901 different items of music memorabilia that are being sold off at Julien’s Music Icons auction this week. The annual music sale takes place at the Hard Rock Café in Times Square on Friday and Saturday, but window shoppers can also check out the swag at the public display opening Tuesday.
In years past, Julien’s has fetched bank-busting prices for such pieces as the red jacket worn by Michael Jackson in the 1983 video for “Thriller,” which sold for $1.8 million in 2011. In 2014, a Rickenbacker guitar owned by Beatle George Harrison netted $657,000.
“Over the years, artists and collectors have seen the prices we get for music memorabilia, and they want to be a part of it,” explains Julien’s executive director Martin Nolan. “That’s why our inventory has expanded so much this year.”
In addition to auction standards such as guitars, records and clothing, you can pick up weirder pieces like Steven Tyler’s credit card, the Jackson family Rolodex and even a fake passport created for Beyoncé for her role in 2006’s “The Pink Panther” movie.
You don’t even need to be at the Hard Rock Café to get in on the action: A downloadable app allows you to bid from practically anywhere in the world. If you’re willing to flash the cash, here are some of the items worth seeking out.
Britney Spears’ bra
Estimated sale price: $1,500 to $3,000
You won’t get much closer to the pop tart than owning the lace bra she wore in the 2001 video for the song “Overprotected” (which was nominated for a Grammy). The brand and size tag have been cut off — which, according to Nolan, is not unusual. “Celebrities are often very private about their cup sizes and suppliers,” he explains. “It’s still a great conversation starter. But if you’re looking to resell down the line, it’s best not to wear it — or at least, don’t tell anyone you wore it!”
Beyoncé’s crown
Estimated sale price: $1,500 to $3,000
This Michael Cinco-designed crown — worn in the creepy 2013 video for “Haunted” — gives fans the chance to experience life as pop royalty (servants and minions not included). But expect plenty of competition in bidding — and be ready to pony up the cash. “Beyoncé’s very hot — her stuff usually sells for two to three times the asking price,” says Nolan.
Taylor Swift’s blouse
Estimated sale price: $2,000 to $3,000
Swift is the biggest star in the world right now, and this simple blue blouse worn in the video for 2012’s “Begin Again” will see bids flying in. “We haven’t sold any of her clothing but we get requests for her stuff all the time, particularly from places like Japan, so anything Taylor-related is a good investment,” advises Nolan.
Lady Gaga’s face cage
Estimated sale price: $2,000 to $4,000
“When Gaga goes to walk the dog, she makes a statement,” says Nolan, and the New Yorker certainly did in 2012 when she was photographed in New York wearing this metal face cage embellished with gold chains that she wore en route to a Rolling Stones concert. The Hannibal Lecter-goes-glam piece was created by avant garde designer Ken Borochov of Mordekai.
Madonna’s stars and stripes tank top
Estimated sale price: $20,000 to $30,000
She might not set the charts alight the way she used to, but Madge is still hot on the auction block. Anything related to the New York icon still attracts interest, and this piece — worn during the songs “Human Nature” and “Don’t Tell Me” on the Material Girl’s 2001 “Drowned” world tour — is no different. “It’s only a small piece of clothing, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it fetched $50,000 to $60,000,” notes Nolan.
Michael Jackson’s silver shirt
Estimated sale price: $6,000 to $8,000
Believe it or not, Jacko’s groundbreaking Bad world tour (which ran from 1987 to early 1989) was his first solo concert run. This shirt was worn on the tour’s first leg and was designed by Bill Whitten, who also outfitted Jackson in his world-famous glove. “Michael’s estate has never sold any of his stuff, but Michael was very generous and gifted a lot of his things to people,” states Nolan. “This piece was originally given to someone he used to work with, who then sold it later.”
Jimi Hendrix’s vest
Estimated sale price: $40,000 to $60,000
Hendrix’s brief solo career burned brightly for just three years before the rock star passed away in 1970, so memorabilia is very rare. “Very few of his items ever come on the market,” says Nolan, so this unique lamb-fur vest (which Hendrix is seen wearing in the interview segments of the PBS documentary “The Jimi Hendrix Experience: Hear My Train a Comin’ ”) is one of a kind.
George Harrison’s guitar
Estimated sale price: $400,000 to $600,000
The Beatles arrived in America in 1964, but they were honing their craft in England for years before. This Maton Mastersound MS-500 guitar was loaned to George Harrison by a Manchester shop in the summer of 1963. “He used it on a string of dates across the UK before returning it to the store,” says Nolan. The guitar was owned for decades after by Roy Barber, a member of the obscure British band Dave Berry and the Cruisers, before being sold in 2002 by Barber’s widow.
Elvis and Priscilla Presley’s wedding certificate
Estimated sale price: $25,000 to $30,000
Eight minutes was all it took for Elvis and Priscilla to tie the knot in 1967 in Las Vegas — but the staff at the Clark County Registry for Marriages was not quite as efficient with the paperwork. “Elvis and Priscilla never received this copy of the marriage certificate,” notes Nolan. “The clerk kept this original document for themselves before later selling it!” What happens in Vegas, doesn’t always stay in Vegas.
Elvis’ karate uniform and certificate
Estimated sale price: $6,000 to $8,000 and $1,000 to $2,000, respectively
In the 1970s, Elvis became obsessed with martial arts and often stopped his concerts to give befuddling karate demonstrations. “When you’re the King, you can do whatever you want,” explains Nolan — and Elvis often did. The uniform was kept at his instructor’s studio in Memphis for private lessons, while the card (certifying Elvis’ black-belt status) was later gifted to the wife of Elvis’ stepbrother, Billy.
Elvis’ Stutz Blackhawk car
Estimated sale price: $400,000 to $600,000
This two-door coupe (which is still in working order) gives an Elvis fanatic the chance to roll like the King, although it���s probably not a good idea to mirror his recklessness. “Elvis bought this car in 1971 as a replacement for the exact same one he had totaled,” says Nolan, laughing. A year after buying it, he gifted it to his house doctor in Las Vegas.