‘Effortlessly cool’ Christine McVie is the Fleetwood Mac member to channel in 2024
A collection of Christine McVie’s belongings, including 73 items from the Fleetwood Mac member’s personal wardrobe and 112 items of jewellery, are going up for auction in Nashville – and online – this month. The on-stage outfits of the singer and songwriter who died in November 2022 may have often been somewhat upstaged by Stevie Nicks’ big boho capes, Mick Fleetwood’s top hats, and even (depending on the era) Lindsey Buckingham’s curly hair. However, McVie’s sharp signature style, everywoman appeal and great taste is expected to attract attention from a wider range of women than many auctions of a similar ilk.
“Unlike some artists who cultivate wildly over the top stage personas, McVie had a very elevated but wearable style,” says Laura Woolley, managing director and head of consignments and appraisals at Julien’s Auctions, which is hosting the sale. “No meat dresses in this auction!” she adds, alluding to the famous ‘gown’ worn by Lady Gaga on the red carpet in 2010.
Woolley explains that the demographic of buyers she might see engaging with celebrity sales is constantly changing, especially for this kind of artist. “Fleetwood Mac’s global popularity and enduring legacy has a very wide reach and we expect to see that in the people taking part in this auction as well. Given McVie’s exquisite taste in furnishings, clothing and jewellery, I expect that this auction will also draw the attention of a higher demographic of women than some of our other auctions.”
During the seventies – a decade otherwise known for its sartorial decadence, particularly when it came to stage performers – McVie veered towards the power of simplicity and longevity. While most of us admire Stevie Nicks’ ability to make a gothic full-length dress look cool, we would also steer well clear of copying it for ourselves. By contrast, McVie favoured the type of clothing that is effortless and easy to wear: think the perfect fitting high waist jeans teamed with a white or black T-shirt, chunky oversized hoop earrings and aviator shades – an outfit still being worn around the world five decades later.
Fast forward to the eighties – MTV and the band’s Tango In The Night era – and she was still keeping it simple and timeless, sporting crisp white shirts and tailored jackets. In fact, the white skirt she wears in the video for “Little Lies” is currently having a moment on Instagram, with influencers who weren’t even born when the song was released wearing look-alike versions of this simple cotton garment. McVie paired hers with a black blazer, and it was this sharper look that she continued to favour in later life, including while she was on the An Evening With Fleetwood Mac tour in 2018-19, when many of the items up for auction date from.
McVie knew the power of a good jacket to elevate any outfit, and the sale is a veritable smorgasbord of them, with 27 on offer in a variety of styles and materials. Velvet duster coats, for example, were one of McVie’s favourite go-to items. “This is the style of jacket McVie was wearing on tour during this era [2018-19] and there are so many photographs of her wearing her velvet duster jackets,” says Woolley. “Her personal assistant shared with us that she would often buy things in multiples when she liked them and she had copies of this velvet duster made because she loved it so much. But, this is the original from which the others were copied.”
Christine McVie’s 2018-2019 era velvet duster, bid estimate: US$600-$800, Julien’s
Another style that McVie had multiples of is asymmetric zip leather jackets, one of which is expected to garner a lot of attention from bidders. “The leather moto-style jacket is one of the staples of McVie’s wardrobe. This example was worn on multiple occasions and it still has a small brooch on the lapel as she last wore it,” explains Woolley. “There are a number of jackets in this style in the sale and I think they should do quite well because they have such an effortlessly cool look about them.”
Christine McVie’s 2017-18 leather jacket, bid estimate: US$1,000-$2,000, Julien’s
A pinstripe blazer ensemble is also expected to be one of the most popular lots of the auction. One of McVie’s favourite outfits, she wore it multiple times, including on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in 2018. Made using a vintage vertically striped fabric, the fitted blazer, designed by rsn boheme (Randee St. Nicholas) comes as a complete outfit, with a black beaded camisole, black velour J Brand skinny jeans and a pair of black suede Zadig & Voltaire combat boots all included.
One area where McVie loved to be a bit more showy, however, was with her jewellery. Items on offer include nearly thirty statement rings, sets of costume jewellery and plenty of brooches – perfect for pepping up one of those blazers. “She clearly had a love for jewellery and she built an exceptional collection of beautiful and interesting pieces,” continues Woolley. “I certainly expect that buyers fully intend to wear her jewellery items.”
The same applies to the clothing on offer, with expectations that the auction will attract bids from those not only looking to buy a piece of rock ‘n’ roll history, but to make a quality investment for their wardrobes, too. Because while bagging yourself an outfit from a more flamboyant stage performer will secure you a talking point, where are you going to wear a sequin jumpsuit, for example, unless you have tickets for ABBA Voyage? A black wool Armani suit, on the other hand, worn by McVie to the Ivor Novello Awards in 2013, could be your go-to party piece for years to come. Throw on a black Saint Laurent blazer from 2017 with a pair of jeans and a T-shirt whenever you like, because it’s a look that will not ever go out of style.
“Her on- and off-stage clothing are not worlds apart, and for that reason I think people could be interested in some of these pieces to wear,” agrees Woolley. “And there is nothing quite like the moment someone compliments you on the jacket you are wearing and you can reply, ‘Thanks, it’s actually Christine McVie’s.’”
