CYNDI LAUPER AUCTIONS ICONIC '80S WARDROBE AT BONHAMS — "SUITCASE OF MEMORIES" DATES, ITEMS & DETAILS

Cyndi Lauper is sending her most famous looks to the auction block. Bonhams has announced 'Cyndi Lauper: Suitcase of Memories', a two-part sale of the singer's stage-worn outfits, memorabilia and personal items spanning her career. Part I goes under the hammer in a live auction on October 22, 2026, at Bonhams New York.

The sale is timed to the 40th anniversary of her 1986 album True Colors, whose deluxe anniversary edition arrived in September 2026 via Legacy Recordings. Lauper's 1983 debut She's So Unusual won her the Grammy for Best New Artist, and she closed her live career with the Girls Just Wanna Have Fun Farewell Tour. A 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nominee, she remains a defining voice of '80s pop — a contemporary of the icon profiled in our Madonna biography — and a touchstone for later provocateurs such as the star of our Lady Gaga biography.

The Suitcase of Memories Sale

The sale unfolds in two parts. Part I is a live auction on October 22, 2026, at Bonhams New York, 111 W 57th Street, featuring around 20–21 lots. Part II is an online sale running September 22 through October 23, 2026, giving fans around the world a chance to bid.

Highlights trace the decade that made Lauper a style icon — from music-video costumes to awards and tour gear. The announcement follows a busy season for veteran icons — read our recent story: Bette Midler receives 2026 Woody Guthrie Prize in Tulsa.

Star Items & Starting Prices

Bonhams has published starting prices for the headline lots. All figures below are starting prices or pre-sale estimates — the October 22 auction has not happened yet, and nothing has been sold.

• Leopard-print pajamas from the "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" music video (1983) — starting price $500
• Lunchbox from the "Time After Time" video (1983) — starting price $200
• Red plaid dress worn to the first-ever MTV Video Music Awards (1984) — starting price $1,000
• White blouse worn while recording "We Are the World" (1985–86) — starting price $1,000
• The iconic True Colors newspaper skirt ensemble, seen on the album cover and in the music video (1986) — starting price $1,000
• Vivienne Westwood Green Fringe Wood Bark ensemble (Spring/Summer 1985), worn on Late Night with David Letterman in 1986 performing "True Colors" — estimated $800–$1,200
• Bra and jewelry from the "True Colors" music video — starting price $1,000
• Two Billboard Video Music Awards (1984) — starting price $800
• Tour-used Fender '65 Super Reverb amplifier (early 2000s) — starting price $1,500
• Kinky Boots Tony nomination certificate — starting price $400
• "True Colors" music-video storyboard (1986) — starting price $500

What Lauper Says

Lauper framed the sale as a celebration of fashion as creative expression. In the Bonhams announcement, she said:

"To me, fashion is art, and these pieces represent that creative journey… It feels especially meaningful that this auction comes as True Colors celebrates its 40th anniversary."

Bonhams' Anna Hicks added: "Few artists have shaped popular culture with the originality and impact of Cyndi Lauper."

On rediscovering the famous newspaper skirt, Lauper told Vogue: "I thought I lost it. When I found it at the bottom of the trunk, I couldn't believe it."

Watch the Official Video

Revisit the 1983 classic that started it all — the official "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" music video:

FAQ

When is the Cyndi Lauper Bonhams auction?

Part I is a live auction on October 22, 2026, at Bonhams New York (111 W 57th Street). Part II is an online sale running September 22 through October 23, 2026.

What items are for sale?

Stage-worn outfits, memorabilia and personal items — including the "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" leopard-print pajamas, the "Time After Time" lunchbox, the True Colors newspaper skirt ensemble, a Vivienne Westwood ensemble, two 1984 Billboard Video Music Awards, a tour-used Fender amplifier and a Kinky Boots Tony nomination certificate.

How much do items start at?

Starting prices run from $200 for the "Time After Time" lunchbox to $1,500 for the tour-used Fender '65 Super Reverb amplifier, with most star lots opening at $1,000. All figures are starting prices or estimates — the sale has not happened yet.

Why is the auction happening now?

The sale is timed to the 40th anniversary of Lauper's 1986 album True Colors, whose deluxe anniversary edition arrived in September 2026 via Legacy Recordings.