THE BALLOON MAN

Circus widow sells designer wardrobe

East London and West Essex Guardian Series: Circus widow sells designer wardrobe

From:  guardian-series.co.uk

By Francesca Tye

25th April 2014 

The designer clothing collection of Hannalore Smart, widow of circus king, Billy Smart Junior, went on sale to the public at Westfield last night.

Mrs Smart, of Betts Lane, Nazeing, was born in Berlin in 1945 and moved to Los Angeles when she was just 20 to work for Pan American Airways. However, she spent the majority of her life touring with famous circus impresario Billy Smart Junior.

She initially developed a passion for clothes through her mother’s role as a seamstress and started collecting pieces.

East London and West Essex Guardian Series: Circus widow sells designer wardrobe

Her daughter, Baccara Smart said: “She always had a thing for clothing. She loved the theatre of it and never threw anything away. She had an antique store, but hardly ever sold anything because she didn’t ever really want to sell things, she would always say ‘Oh no, I don’t feel like selling that today’.”

The unusual collection includes pieces by Chanel, Gucci, Prada, Vivienne Westwood and Manolo Blahnik, spanning three decades

Bacarra said: “A lot of the items are coming back into fashion, there’s a lot of 80’s stuff which is very trendy. I’m not sure about the clip-on bikinis though.

“I am looking forward to seeing how much the clothes will make. A few buyers wanted to whip it all up in one go, but I couldn’t do that. This sale will really show my mum’s taste in fashion."

The sale is hosted by former editor of Vougue.com Abi Chisman in Designer Jumble, her pop-up shop at Westfield.

Mrs Chisman said: "This astonishing collection tells the story of an extraordinary woman, with an eye for new fashion talent and a love of life.”

Proceeds from the sale will go towards The Alzheimers Society.