Seven suits worn by Margaret Thatcher, Britain's first female prime minister, will go on sale for up to $2,400 each on Monday.
A turquoise ensemble she wore on the day she was elected leader of the Conservative Party in February 1975 and a yellow dress and jacket are included in the sale by Christie's in London.
Other outfits include a gold and silver cocktail ensemble and a dark greatcoat with distinctive red lapel stitching.
"When you see the pieces in the flesh, the first thing that comes to mind is how powerful they are and how much they stand out," said a Christie's spokeswoman.
"It definitely shows that she was a woman in politics and she was making a name for herself and what she wore was a very important part of that."
Thatcher, 87, was Prime Minister between 1979 and 1990 - the "iron lady" as a Soviet journalist once called her for her uncompromising stance against foes both foreign and domestic.
Only a limited number of her personal items have ever been sold and her suits could fetch more than their $2,400 price tag because an exhibition showing the auction items has already attracted much interest, the spokeswoman said.
