Few people can sing like Whitney Houston, seen performing in Spain in 2002, but anyone with some spare cash can dress like her, right down to one of her black velvet bustiers. Those items and more than 300 others from a 1999 world tour, were auctioned Jan. 9, 2007, in an effort to cover unpaid storage, said Jeffrey Campisi, a lawyer for Speed of Sound, a company that has been tending to the equipment.
A man looks at his auction list as he talks on a telephone Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2007, in Irvington, N.J., near the entrance of a warehouse where costumes, microphones and production equipment used by Whitney Houston went on the auction block.
Ingrid Ammann, left, and Siri Wilson hold the dresses that they bought Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2007, in Irvington, N.J., at an auction of costumes, microphones and production equipment used by Whitney Houston on a 1999 tour. Items included velvet bodysuits, gowns and bustiers as well as microphones and memorabilia.
Beverly Brace admires the dress that she bought Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2007, in Irvington, N.J., at an auction of costumes, microphones and production equipment used by Whitney Houston on a 1999 tour. A see-through grand piano reportedly sold for more than $10,000.
Ingrid Ammann and Siri Wilson, right, show off the dresses that they bought Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2007, in Irvington, N.J., at an auction of costumes, microphones and production equipment used by Whitney Houston on a 1999 tour. The sale was held by A.J. Willner Auctions in New Jersey because the Grammy winner had allegedly fallen about $175,000 behind on storage fees for the gear.
Beverly Brace, left, and Jenice Armstrong, right, show off the dresses that they bought to friend Anita Satterfield, center, Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2007, in Irvington, N.J., at an auction of costumes, microphones and production equipment used by Whitney Houston on a 1999 tour. More than 400 of Houston's items were sold off, including designer gowns, sequin-encrusted bustiers and leopard print catsuits.
People walk out of a warehouse Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2007, in Irvington, N.J., where costumes, microphones and production equipment used by Whitney Houston on a 1999 tour went on the auction block.