Thatcher power suit sold for $39,670 at auction

[September 05, 2012]  LONDON (AP) -- A turquoise wool suit that Margaret Thatcher wore on the day she was confirmed as Conservative Party leader has sold at auction for 25,000 pounds ($39,670).

An anonymous bidder bought the dress suit, by British designer Mansfield, at a Christie's auction in London late Monday.

Separately, a buyer in South Korea snagged six other striking outfits on auction, all of which were worn by Thatcher in the 1970s before she became prime minister.

Those outfits included a canary yellow dress with navy trim and a matching jacket that the former leader wore to the Conservative Party Conference in 1975; a blush pink outfit Thatcher wore in a BBC show in which she was interviewed about her skin care regime; and a silver and gold cocktail ensemble.

In total, the outfits fetched a little more than 73,000 pounds -- far exceeding the initial estimates of 1,000 to 1,500 pounds for each outfit.

The sales were part of a "London" themed auction that included royal, Olympic and political memorabilia.

[Associated Press]

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