THE minute he walked in the joint, he knew he
had to buy it. Edinburgh hairdresser Steven Boles splashed out £3500 for a crystal-encrusted dress which he saw Shirley Bassey wear at a concert in the Capital more than 20 years ago.
It was that performance which got the 39-year-old hooked, and he has now seen Dame Shirley perform live no less than 16 times.
The gold dress - bought in a "moment of madness" - will take pride of place in his Falkirk home alongside a host of other memorabilia collected over the years.
The gown was one of 50 of the Welsh star’s dresses on sale at a charity auction at Christie’s in London. Despite being over the moon with his purchase, the best moment of the night for Mr Boles was truly priceless, as he met his idol in person for the first time.
He said: "Meeting her was something I’ve wanted to do all my life and she was very sweet.
"In the end it was really just a bit of luck. I didn’t think she would be going to the auction as it would have been quite emotional to see all these dresses being sold. They are her life.
"I literally bumped into her, in the room where the dresses were being displayed. She was really nice and autographed my invitation."
Mr Boles, who runs the Carcosa Hair Salon in Howe Street, explained how his devotion to Dame Shirley began.
"About 22 years ago, I went to a concert in the Playhouse and when she came on stage I was just spellbound.
"I just thought ‘she’s incredible’ - the voice and the way she looked. I’ve been a huge fan ever since and I was amazed that the gown she wore that night was up for sale."
He says he will never regret his decision to buy the dress.
"I hadn’t saved up or anything, it was just one of those mad moments in your life.
"I certainly wanted one, as it is a piece of showbiz history, but when I went down I wasn’t sure if I’d be bidding or not.
"The bidding was quite fierce, but it was like that for all of them. It was only after the hammer came down and it was mine that I thought: ‘God, what are you doing?’ but I think it will prove to be an investment. It is bound to be worth more in a few years time."
The gold gown, decorated with a pattern of green leaves, weighs nearly 5kg.
Mr Boles is currently keeping it in his house and plans to buy a mannequin to display it along with Bassey memorabilia including autographed CDs, books, photos and old LPs, one of which has never been opened. He said: "A lot of clients and friends have asked if they can see it [the dress] and touch it! People are fascinated by it, especially the weight.
"I wonder how she could manage to move around the stage the way she did wearing this, as it weighs so much."
The glamorous charity auction was held to raise money for the Noah’s Ark Children’s Appeal and the Dame Shirley Bassey Scholarship Awards.
Mr Boles described it as being like something out of a James Bond film, as stunning models handed glasses of champagne to the prospective bidders.
© Edinburgh News