Keira Knightley’s emerald green dress from the 2007 film “Atonement” is headed back to the auction block, with Christie’s estimating it could sell for between $130,000 and $160,000 on December 9.
The gown last sold at auction in 2008 for $35,000, roughly $55,000 in today’s dollars. Designed by Jacqueline Durran, who later won Oscars for her costume work on “Little Women” and “Barbie,” the dress features an open back, a gathered waist and a flowing skirt that author Ian McEwan described as evoking a “mermaid.”
“The dress remains so iconic in part because of the design,” said Thais Hitchins, head of sale at Christie’s London. “The bias cut and drop back add a modern sensibility to the classic design, resulting in its timeless quality. Equally, this dress is so beloved because it does what so few garments can… It captures those enduring qualities of desire and lust which retain an eternal appeal.”
The gown’s influence has shown up repeatedly on red carpets and runways. Alexa Chung wore a custom version by Nensi Dojaka in 2024, and designer Tory Burch referenced it at Vogue World in 2025. Victoria Beckham and Chanel have each drawn on the design in recent collections.
For New Yorkers, the original dress is currently on free public display at Christie’s in Rockefeller Center through November 17. It sits near a Jean-Michel Basquiat painting, a series of Warhol screenprints, and a Monet valued at $12 million to $18 million — all viewable at no cost.
Shoppers looking for a more affordable version of the look don’t have to go far. Aritzia sells a similar green silk dress for under $200, Free People offers a vintage-leaning emerald option for $270, and Quince has an $80 stretch satin dress with a comparable silhouette. Burch’s own green slip dress, inspired in part by the costume, currently retails for about $600.
