DORIS BRYNNER : THE EXPLORATION OF COSMOPOLITAN ELEGANCE IN PARIS

Sotheby’s Paris pays tribute to Doris Brynner, a defining figure of twentieth century cosmopolitan elegance, during Haute Couture Fashion Week.
Presented from 23 to 26 January 2026, the exhibition invites visitors into the private and artistic world of a woman whose style transcended decades and cultural borders.
Organized ahead of an international auction, the presentation highlights a life shaped by taste, independence and aesthetic intuition, under the guidance of her daughter Victoria Brynner and the auction house itself.

Rare jewellery, haute couture garments and art objects form a multifaceted portrait where fashion and society intersect.
Among the standout pieces are a Bulgari brooch once owned by Audrey Hepburn, a diamond gifted by Elizabeth Taylor and an ivory evening gown by Cristóbal Balenciaga photographed by Inge Morath.
Sketches by designers such as John Galliano and Karl Lagerfeld complete the narrative, revealing the breadth of influences that surrounded Doris Brynner and her role as muse and collector within international creative circles.

More than a display of exceptional objects, the exhibition offers insight into how a singular personality shaped her own aesthetic between Paris and Hollywood.
Born in Zagreb in 1931, raised in Chile and settled in France in the 1950s, Doris Brynner moved fluidly through artistic and social worlds, forming close ties with figures such as Frank Sinatra and Elizabeth Taylor while collaborating with designers including Pierre Cardin.
The exhibition traces how elegance, fashion and personal history intertwine within the cultural landscape of a century.