Whitney Houston clothing sells at US auction

A bustier worn on stage by the late singer Whitney Houston has made $18,750 (£11,700) at an auction in Los Angeles.

The 13 items of memorabilia relating to the star made a total of just over $80,000 (£50,000), said celebrity auctioneer Darren Julien.

Pearl earrings worn by Houston in The Bodyguard went for $2,812 (£1,756).

Meanwhile, a gold cape worn by Elizabeth Taylor in Cleopatra sold for nearly $60,000 (£37,500) on Friday at a an auction in Texas.

The cape had been wrapped in tissue and stored in a wardrobe for years, the previous owner told Heritage Auctions.

The anonymous seller said her mother had acquired the cape from a costume company following the film's premiere.

The movie was released in 1963.

The gold-painted leather cape fetched nearly three times its expected estimate.

"This piece is the epitome of glamorous and it was worn by one of Hollywood's greatest leading ladies at the very peak of her fame, power and beauty," said Margaret Barrett, director of entertainment and music memorabilia for Heritage Auctions, in a statement.

Other Houston items that sold at Julien's Auctions in Los Angeles included a grey velvet dress worn by the singer at a pre-Grammys party in 1996, which went for $11,250 (£7,025).

More Houston items will be auctioned at Julien's in June.

Darren Julien said interest in Houston collectibles had increased hugely since her death on 11 February.

He said most of the items sold on Saturday were provided by Houston's friends and family after she died.

Houston accidentally drowned in a hotel bath the night before this year's Grammy awards.

She is best known for big ballad hits such as I Will Always Love You and One Moment in Time.