Uma Thurman’s Iconic Pulp Fiction Costume Is Heading to Auction
By Alexus Mosley
More than 30 years after Pulp Fiction first hit theaters, Uma Thurman’s unforgettable Mia Wallace costume is heading to auction, giving collectors the rare opportunity to own one of cinema’s most recognizable looks.
The ensemble, consisting of Mia’s crisp white button-up shirt and slightly cropped Agnès B kick-flare pants, will be offered by Propstore during its Entertainment Memorabilia Live Auction, taking place Aug. 26–29. The costume is expected to fetch between $15,000 and $30,000.
For a look so simple, its impact has been anything but. With her blunt black bob, bold red lipstick, and effortlessly tailored separates, Mia Wallace became one of the defining style icons of the 1990s. Her outfit for the famous Jack Rabbit Slim’s twist contest alongside Vincent Vega (John Travolta) proved that sometimes the coolest fashion moments aren’t necessarily the flashiest.
Photo Credit: Propstore
According to Propstore’s Director of Asset Management, Maegen Hensley, the costume perfectly captures the spirit of both the decade and the character. “It’s the epitome of the ‘90s: simplistic, quirky, fun,” Hensley said. “And that’s exactly what the character embodies.”
Costume designer Betsy Heimann previously revealed that Mia Wallace’s wardrobe was inspired in part by Quentin Tarantino’s earlier film, Reservoir Dogs. Rather than dressing Mia as a traditional mob wife, Heimann envisioned her as someone eager to prove she could hang with the boys—an attitude reflected in the crisp tailoring and minimalist styling that made the character feel effortlessly cool.
The costume itself also carries a fascinating piece of film history. According to Propstore, it was consigned by a Pulp Fiction crew member who kept it after production wrapped in 1994. While multiple versions of the costume were created during filming, experts authenticated this particular ensemble through several production details, including custom alterations sewn inside the garments that distinguish it from replicas.
The Mia Wallace costume will headline Propstore’s four-day Entertainment Memorabilia Live Auction, which features more than 1,400 film and television lots, alongside hundreds of sports and entertainment memorabilia items. Among the event’s biggest attractions is another John Travolta fashion classic. The legendary white three-piece suit he wore as Tony Manero in Saturday Night Fever is expected to sell for between $200,000 and $400,000.
Few film costumes have achieved the kind of lasting cultural influence that Mia Wallace’s has. Just a white shirt, black trousers, and enough attitude to make one of the simplest outfits in movie history one of its most unforgettable.