## Sydell Miller’s Legacy of Beauty: A Sotheby’s Auction Showcases a Life of Style and Impact
Sydell Miller, alongside her husband Arnold, left an undeniable mark on the beauty landscape. They established Ardell, the world’s first pre-cut strip eyelash sets, in the 1970s, and in 1980, launched Matrix, a groundbreaking salon-quality haircare brand that set a new standard. While the name Sydell Miller may not be instantly recognizable, her impact on the industry was profound. This month, Sotheby’s is celebrating her legacy with the online auction, ‘A Legacy of Beauty: The Fashion Collection of Sydell Miller,’ showcasing her remarkable collection of jewelry, couture, and handbags.
The auction offers a glimpse into the extraordinary life of a woman who embraced luxury and style with an unparalleled passion. Among the treasures available are stunning pieces from renowned jewelers like Graff, Harry Winston, Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, David Webb, and Tiffany & Co., as well as iconic couture garments from Chanel and Valentino, and coveted handbags by Hermès, Louis Vuitton, Dior, and more.
“It’s amazing that she’s not more of a household name, considering what a dramatic impact she had on revolutionizing the beauty industry and inventing components of it,” reflects Frank Everett, vice chairman of jewelry at Sotheby’s New York. “Then, in other aspects of her life, what she accomplished as a philanthropist, collector, mother and grandmother… The impact and the legacy she leaves. I don’t know how she managed to squeeze so much into her life.”
Sydell’s life was a testament to the power of ambition and self-expression. Just as she empowered women to experiment with their image through her innovative beauty products, she herself reveled in expressing her personal style through her wardrobe and art collection, which included works by Picasso, Monet, and Kandinsky. She was a woman unafraid to make her own decisions.
“By far, the vast majority [of her jewellery collection she] purchased herself. I think it’s important to note that’s part of her legacy, the way she supported women and empowered women in her industry to take care of themselves and develop their businesses. So, self-purchasing was probably something that came quite comfortably to Sydell Miller. She drove that collection herself.”
Her entrepreneurial spirit and discerning taste are evident throughout her collection. “What a wonderful eye for details she had,” exclaims Everett. “I particularly love that she bought sets of things. So, when she came across a design she liked, she bought the necklace, bracelet, earrings, brooch, all of it. I think that’s an interesting component, and it falls nicely into two wonderful groups of day and night jewellery. This is something that you don’t get much anymore. The modern woman is obsessed with finding things she can wear all the time. But women of Sydell’s generation wanted the opposite. They loved a piece of jewellery that they could wear occasionally, two or three times a year – they’d be matching jewels to outfits.”
The auction features a remarkable array of pieces, including impressive white diamond sets and unexpected finds. Everett’s favorite piece is a pair of cultured pearl and diamond ear clips by Hemmerle, which he describes as a “very modern take on an 18th-century girandole.” There are also stunning 70s and 80s pieces by Tiffany & Co. designed by Angela Cummings, whose modern sculptural designs are experiencing a resurgence in popularity.
But Sydell’s appreciation for style extended beyond exquisite jewelry. Her love for fashion was evident from the very beginning of her career. In the 1960s, she convinced her husband to let her open a fashion boutique above his hairdressing salon, offering separates in an era when dresses were the norm.
Lucy Bishop, handbag and fashion expert at Sotheby’s, describes Sydell as “belonging to one of the most exclusive clubs in the world, that of a Chanel Haute Couture client.” The auction includes breathtaking ensembles from the last 20 years of her life, featuring classic Chanel tweed suits and exquisitely embroidered and beaded gowns. Her handbag collection includes iconic pieces like the Hermès Kelly, Chanel 2.55, and Flap bags, showcasing her enduring appreciation for timeless designs. Yet, she also embraced fun and unique pieces, as evidenced by her Chanel Hula Hoop bag. “She was a lady who clearly liked to have fun,” observes Bishop.
Sydell Miller understood the transformative power of style, for both herself and others. “We’ve come up with some beautiful, flowery names for our single-owner collections,” muses Everett. “But I don’t think there’s ever been one more appropriate than ‘A Legacy of Beauty’ for Sydell Miller. This is what she pursued in every phase of her life.”
‘A Legacy of Beauty: The Fashion Collection of Sydell Miller’ is more than just an auction; it’s a celebration of a life lived to the fullest, a life that left an enduring mark on the world of fashion and beauty. Visit sothebys.com to explore this captivating collection and experience the legacy of Sydell Miller.
