Mike Benet dress with sequined Minnie Mouse on the bodice
The dress is made of black netting material with velvet red polka dots. It has a fully sequined Minnie Mouse wearing a red dress and tiara holding fabric red flowers. The condition is good with minor fading under the arms and of the fabric flower stems she’s holding
Size 8 tea length dress
Other
Yes
Hi Michelle,
Thank you for contacting Mearto with your appraisal inquiry.
Rather than an individual, Mike Benet was a clothing label and company that became well known for formalwear—especially prom dresses, bridesmaid dresses, and evening gowns—from the 1960s through the 1990s.
Mike Benet Formals was founded in Pittsburg, Texas, in the early 1960s. The company specialized in special-occasion dresses and grew into one of the better-known American manufacturers of formalwear. During the 1990s, ownership changed hands, and operations were relocated to Dallas, Texas.
One reason the label became widely recognized was its presence in the beauty pageant world. Mike Benet gowns were worn by contestants in events such as the Miss America and Miss Texas pageants, and they also appeared on television programs including The Lawrence Welk Show.
the company did produce officially licensed Disney formalwear during the late 1980s and early 1990s. These gowns are among the most sought-after pieces bearing the Mike Benet label today, though I've not been able to find any that have been sold at auction, which is the best way to determine value (what bidders are willing to pay for this).
I'm aware that a few online sellers may be asking a few thousand dollars for similar dresses but I've not seen any evidence that they have actually sold those dresses for that much.
If you're looking to sell this, I would contact an auction house that specializes in fashion - both antique and vintage - and which will have the right audience for this. Augusta Auctions in Bellows Falls, Vermont, is one such auction house and they'll put their own estimate on this but I would imagine it would be low - perhaps as low as $500-700 - to generate as much interest among buyers as possible; I would absolutely not be surprised if this sold for more than that. You might also try Van Eaton Galleries in LA, or Heritage Auctions in Dallas, both of which have dedicated Disney auctions.
It's worth noting that you'd be paying them a commission and the cost to send them the dress (they can probably give you an idea of estimate from photographs free of charge)
Please let us know if you have additional items to appraise, or questions/concerns, and thank you again for using Mearto.
~ Delia
