US actress Gwyneth Paltrow has announced she is auctioning the dress that she wore to the Oscar Awards in 2000 to raise funds for Covid-19 relief efforts.
In a video posted to Instagram, Paltrow, 47, said she was selling the hand-beaded Calvin Klein dress as part of the “All in Challenge“, which raises money to provide food to those in need.
The Avengers: Endgame actress, who separated from Coldplay singer Chris Martin in 2016, said the dress held “sentimental value” – despite it featuring in a blog post about her worst ever looks for her lifestyle brand, Goop.
“There are so many millions of people in this country who are deeply affected by the COVID crisis,” Ms Paltrow said in the Instagram clip.
“We are going to be in for a period of difficulty. We all really need to band together.”
Ms Paltrow, who wore the dress to the 72nd Academy Awards, said the end of 90s look garment was back in fashion.
She added: “It was a hand-beaded Calvin Klein dress. I wore it to the Oscars the year after I won. It’s very end-of-the-’90s, which is back in style now, so I thought it would be a good one to donate.”
Bids for the dress started at $2,500 (£2,009) but have since surpassed $4,000 (£3,214) with just a few days of the auction remaining.
The “All in Challenge” is spearheaed by actor Leonardo DiCaprio, who along with Robert De Niro is offering one fan the chance to join them on the set of the next Martin Scorses movie, Killers of the Flower Moon.
Meanwhile, comedian Ellen DeGeneres announced she would donate $1 million to the fund following a challenge from DiCaprio and De Niro.
“Finally, I have been so devastated by seeing all the people lined up waiting for food. Every time I see those cars and those people, I cry,” the 62-year-old said of her decision to donate.
“I can’t imagine what it’s like to be sitting for hours and hours waiting to get food and hoping there’s even going to be any left by the time you get there. It’s heartbreaking and it’s overwhelming.”
Proceeds from the All in Challenge will be divided between US charities Meals on Wheels, No Kid Hungry, The World Central Kitchen and America’s Food Fund.
