‘Ferris Bueller's Day Off' Sweater Vest Worn by Matthew Broderick Sells for $279,400 at Sotheby's New York Auction

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2 days ago

The famous sweater vest worn by Matthew Broderick in the 1986 John Hughes teen comedy 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off' sold at auction on Tuesday for $279,400 via Sotheby's in New York City. The sweater vest attracted 11 bids.
Broderick wears the memorable photomatched vest during the 'Twist and Shout' sequence of the '80s film. 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off' follows the titular character on an epic day playing hooky in Chicago at the end of the school year.
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'Few items in film history carry the instant recognition and cultural weight of Ferris Bueller's sweater vest. It's more than just a costume — it's a piece of 1980s Americana that embodies a character, a decade, and a universal sense of youthful rebellion,' Ralph DeLuca, Sotheby's vice chairman, popular culture, said in a statement.
'As Sotheby's launches its newly dedicated Popular Culture department, offering this vest at auction marks a fitting start — an item that reflects the spirit of a beloved film and connects with audiences across generations.'
'Ferris Bueller's Day Off' marked Oscar-nominated American costume designer Marilyn Vance's fourth collaboration with director John Hughes, the filmmaker behind such teen classics as 'The Breakfast Club' and 'Sixteen Candles.'
Prior to working on 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off,' Vance collaborated with Hughes on his films 'The Breakfast Club' and 'Pretty in Pink,' the latter of which Hughes wrote but did not direct. According to Sotheby's, the sweater vest was one of Vance's initial ideas for creating the costumes for the titular character.
Vance found the camel and chocolate brown sweater with its striking geometric pattern reminiscent of leopard print at Marshall Field's, according to Sotheby's. She cut the sleeves off to give the piece its memorable look.
The 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off' sweater vest sale coincides with the debut of Sotheby's newly dedicated Popular Culture department, led by DeLuca. Moving forward, Sotheby's will host dedicated multi-auction sales events twice a year — in October and April — for items spanning film, TV, music and comics.
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