As promised, we told you we would let you know what historical Michael Jackson items will go under the hammer at Julien’s Auctions. The auction house has now revealed its catalogue for the upcoming Michael Jackson: The Fashion Legacy auction, and some of the pieces are truly extraordinary.
Julien’s Auctions is presenting another major Michael Jackson auction as part of its Celebrity & Pop Culture Experience, taking place December 7–9, 2026, at Rosewood Abu Dhabi.
The Michael Jackson: The Fashion Legacy Day Auction will take place on December 7-8, 2026, at 10:00 AM GST in Abu Dhabi, featuring 398 lots covering different eras of Michael Jackson’s extraordinary career.
The collection includes stage costumes, music video outfits, personal clothing, prototypes, and designs created by Michael Jackson’s longtime costume designers Dennis Tompkins and Michael Bush. Many of these pieces are also featured in Michael Bush’s highly anticipated illustrated book, KING OF STYLE II: Dressing Michael Jackson.
While some items are backup outfits, costume concepts, or pieces that collectors might consider interesting additions to their collections, others carry considerable historical significance and represent moments that helped define Michael Jackson’s legacy.
Some of these pieces are arguably important enough to be preserved in a museum rather than disappearing into private collections where fans may never see them again.
SMOOTH CRIMINAL COSTUMES
Among the most recognisable pieces are several jackets, trousers, and shirts associated with Michael Jackson’s legendary Smooth Criminal look.
The Estate already possesses a Smooth Criminal outfit displayed at MJ ONE in Las Vegas, but several additional pieces are now being offered.
Although these costumes are undeniably iconic, questions surrounding the provenance and individual histories of some of the pieces deserve careful consideration before collectors make their decisions.
THE 1990 L.A. GEAR PHOTOSHOOT JACKET
One particularly interesting item is a black leather motorcycle jacket worn by Michael Jackson during several photoshoots, including a 1990 L.A. Gear advertisement featuring model and actress Milla Jovovich.
The heavily embellished jacket features rounded, studded sleeves, epaulets, and an attached belt. A Dennis Tompkins/Michael Bush label is present, and the lot also includes a poster of Michael wearing the jacket.
The piece recalls Michael’s highly publicised multi-million-dollar endorsement agreement with L.A. Gear in September 1989, which launched his MJ Signature sneaker line for the 1990 back-to-school season.
REMEMBER THE TIME – 1992
The auction includes several fascinating pieces connected to Michael Jackson’s spectacular Remember the Time music video.
Among them are a backup black hooded coat worn in the production, Egyptian costumes worn by supermodel Iman and actor Eddie Murphy, and a colourful striped Egyptian headdress created by Dennis Tompkins and Michael Bush.
The headdress is particularly interesting because it was originally intended for Michael himself.
According to the auction description, Michael secretly hid the headdress in his trailer because he did not want to wear it!
DANGEROUS WORLD TOUR
Several gold padded costumes associated with Michael Jackson’s Dangerous World Tour are also included in the sale.
The Dangerous era remains one of the most visually spectacular periods of Michael’s career, and the tour costumes continue to be among the most sought-after pieces of Michael Jackson memorabilia.
THE 1995 VIBE MAGAZINE COVER
Another important piece is the oversized white wool Tommy Hilfiger letterman sweater worn by Michael Jackson for the June/July 1995 cover of VIBE Magazine.
The sweater features navy blue trim and represents one of Michael’s most memorable magazine appearances during the mid-1990s.
The lot also includes the magazine itself.
THEY DON’T CARE ABOUT US AND STRANGER IN MOSCOW
The auction also features clothing associated with two of Michael Jackson’s most powerful music videos.
Several T-shirts and a vest worn during the filming of They Don’t Care About Us in 1995 are included, alongside scraps of a T-shirt connected to the Stranger in Moscow music video.
While these may appear less spectacular than stage costumes, they are directly connected to two important productions in Michael’s musical history.
GHOSTS – 1996
Michael Jackson’s extraordinary short film Ghosts is represented by several items, including a frilly shirt and an additional suit ensemble created for Michael’s character, The Mayor.
The auction description explains that multiple versions of the suit were made and worn by Michael and his doubles during filming.
These production pieces offer an interesting glimpse into the elaborate costume work behind one of Michael’s most ambitious cinematic projects.
MICHAEL JACKSON AND NELSON MANDELA – 1996
One of the most historically meaningful pieces is a military-style jacket worn by Michael Jackson at a private birthday celebration for Nelson Mandela in South Africa in July 1996.
The black jacket features a red collar, epaulets, an armband, cuffs, and extensive gold detailing, including braiding, studs, and stars.
A Dennis Tompkins/Michael Bush label is present, and Michael signed the cuff, although the signature has now faded.
The jacket is accompanied by a photograph of Michael and Nelson Mandela at the event.
Michael famously sang Happy Birthday to the South African president during the celebration.
BLOOD ON THE DANCE FLOOR – 1997
The auction also includes Dolce & Gabbana backup trousers and a shirt associated with the Blood on the Dance Floor music video.
These pieces represent another important visual chapter in Michael’s career, when his fashion and choreography continued to evolve.
HISTORY TOUR SPACE SUIT AND ARMOUR PROTOTYPES
Among the more unusual offerings are prototypes associated with the futuristic costumes developed for Michael Jackson’s HIStory World Tour.
These pieces offer collectors an opportunity to acquire designs and concepts connected to one of Michael’s most elaborate touring productions.
YOU ROCK MY WORLD – 2001
A particularly interesting costume comes from Michael’s 2001 You Rock My World music video.
The suit was designed by Michael Kaplan, while the shirt carries a Dolce & Gabbana label.
The interior of the jacket features handwritten “1/3”, indicating that it was one of three suits produced for the music video.
Additional outfits worn by extras during the same production are also included in the auction.
MEN IN BLACK II – 2002
One of the more unusual items is a black wool suit worn by Michael Jackson in the 2002 science-fiction comedy Men In Black II.
The suit is labelled Verri and Made in Italy.
Michael’s appearance in the film remains a memorable moment for fans. He reportedly loved the original Men In Black so much that he personally contacted director Barry Sonnenfeld to request a role in the sequel.
According to the story accompanying the lot, Michael initially refused an offer to play an alien, insisting instead that he wanted to wear the iconic black suit, white shirt, and black tie of an official MIB operative.
THE NEVER-TO-BE-SEEN ONE NIGHT ONLY CONCERT – 1995
Perhaps one of the most fascinating groups of items in the auction are two Smooth Criminal blazers created for Michael Jackson’s planned One Night Only concert at New York’s Beacon Theatre in December 1995.
The white and blue striped jackets feature blue vertical piping and a central snap-button closure. Dennis Tompkins/Michael Bush labels are present.
Two versions were created, as the designers routinely prepared multiple pieces for Michael.
The concert was ultimately cancelled after Michael collapsed during a rehearsal on December 6, 1995.
Just two days earlier, Michael had attended a press conference and open rehearsal at the Beacon Theatre, producing memorable photographs of him alongside legendary French mime Marcel Marceau.
These jackets represent a fascinating reminder of a concert that fans never had the opportunity to experience.
100 NORTH CAROLWOOD DRIVE
Some of the household items connected to 100 North Carolwood Drive also bring back memories of one of the most controversial Michael Jackson auctions ever organised.
In 2011, Julien’s Auctions announced the sale of the contents of Michael’s final rented residence, where he lived with his children while preparing for This Is It.
The announcement generated enormous outrage among fans, particularly after the headboard of the bed associated with Michael’s death was initially included in the sale.
Following widespread criticism and a request from Michael’s Estate, the headboard was withdrawn.
The controversial sale nevertheless went ahead, with numerous household furnishings and personal items finding new owners.
The appearance of further items associated with this residence inevitably brings back those memories and raises questions about how Michael’s personal history should be preserved.
A LEGACY THAT DESERVES PRESERVATION
Julien’s Auctions has assembled an impressive collection spanning decades of Michael Jackson’s career, from music videos and tours to magazine covers, film appearances, and personal moments.
For collectors, the auction offers an extraordinary opportunity to acquire pieces of Michael’s history.
For fans, however, there is another perspective.
Many of these objects are not simply clothes. They represent moments in music, fashion, cinema, and popular culture that millions of people remember.
Some of these pieces deserve to be accessible to the public, preserved for future generations, and displayed in a permanent Michael Jackson museum where their stories can be told properly.
The auction will take place on December 8, 2026, at 10:00 AM GST in Abu Dhabi.
You can explore all 288 lots through the official catalogue HERE.
And for those interested in the extraordinary craftsmanship behind Michael’s legendary costumes, Michael Bush’s KING OF STYLE II: Dressing Michael Jackson is also available through Julien’s Auctions.
Michael Jackson’s fashion legacy continues to inspire generations. The question remains whether these historical treasures will eventually find their way into a public collection where everyone can appreciate them, rather than remaining hidden away in private hands.
Please also read “Something ain’t Right” article.
