Colin Firth's famous 'wet shirt' from 'Pride and Prejudice' sold for mind-blowing price at auction

Mr. Darcy became the heartthrob of every bibliophile who loved novels by renowned fiction author Jane Austen. When women were simply spellbound by Austen's words describing Darcy's personality, imagine their delight when they saw him come to life on screen. Yes, that's what the 1995 series rendition of "Pride and Prejudice" by BBC did to many worldwide. Particularly when Colin Firth, playing Mr. Darcy, walked out of a lake in a "wet linen shirt," he managed to surge up the popularity of both himself and the shirt. Nearly three decades on, this legendary shirt continues to captivate fans, recently fetching a staggering price at Kerry Taylor Auctions.

On March 5, the iconic Mr. Darcy's white linen "wet shirt" was purchased for £20,000 ($25,000) in London. Not sure how the 1800s-style, long button-down linen shirt would be appropriate in today's scenario, but its whopping sale value shows how priceless that lake scene was for many. Along with the famous shirt, Darcy's boots, moleskin breeches and velvet waistcoat were also sold. Auctioneers had pegged the sale at about £10,000 ($12,700), yet Mr. Darcy's famed attire ultimately garnered over double the estimated value.

For a little recap, the famous scene shows Mr. Darcy indulging in deep thoughts, going for a quick swim in the lake in Pemberley estate. When he walks out of the lake across the estate, he is completely drenched while unexpectedly meeting Elizabeth Bennet. Speaking of this iconic scene, costume designer Dinah Collin, who originally designed the "wet shirt," said, "Mr Darcy's 'wet shirt moment' was never scripted" and added, "Because on-screen male nudity was not permitted (taking into account the BBC watershed and US broadcasts) the idea of the 'wet shirt' was born. Our way around this was for Colin Firth to be filmed ¾ length wearing just the Irish linen shirt (copied from an antique original) which clung to the body."

The impact of the lake scene took Firth's fame to the next level, transforming him from a "respected classical actor" to a British heartthrob overnight. Speaking to The Washington Post, Heather Thomas, a trustee of the Jane Austen Society, said, "We cannot guess what Austen would have made of 'the shirt,' but her novels contain plenty of seductions and elopements, so she understood the force of sexual attraction as she understood all aspects of the human heart." Even after decades, the scene still has a remarkable impact. Harnessing this aspect, Chris Van Dusen, the creator of Netflix's Bridgeton series, included a similar scene in one of the episodes where Anthony Bridgerton, played by Jonathan Bailey, trips over Kate's (Simone Ashley) dog, Newton, and emerges from a lake dripping wet in a white shirt, as per Entertainment Weekly.

Thanks to Mr. Darcy's charm, the sale of the "wet shirt" would aid in funding arts education. Bright Foundation, a charity founded by the well-known costume designer John Bright, provides free access to creative activities and visual and performance arts for children and young people who can't afford their interests. In a statement released by the auctioneers, Bright said, "My life's work has been committed to costume design for film, TV and theater, and I feel incredibly fortunate to have been able to pursue this path. It is my firmly held belief that the arts and creativity can shape happier and healthier children and enable young people to reach their full potential."