Colin Firth’s Mr. Darcy’s wet T-shirt in ‘Pride and Prejudice’ among dozens of costumes for sale

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It was him shirt that stole the hearts of a generation and is now available to purchase.

The legendary white button-down shirt that cemented Colin Firth’s reputation as an on-screen heartthrob in “Pride and Prejudice” is expected to fetch thousands of dollars at auction.

Firth immortalized Jane Austen’s Mr Darcy in the BBC’s 1995 adaptation of the book. Viewers were especially captivated by Firth’s iconic shot in episode four of the series, which saw him go for an impromptu swim in a lake, fully clothed, only to run into love interest Elizabeth Bennet (played by Jennifer Ehle) once he returns to dry land.

Darcy proved to be Firth’s breakthrough and he followed it up with a series of film roles, including in 2001’s “Bridget Jones’s Diary.”

The white linen shirt, obviously already dried, could sell for up to $12,700 when potential buyers bid for it on Tuesday, according to Kerry Taylor Auctions who is organizing the sale.

The 1810s-style garment, designed by Dinah Collin, features a label from couturier Cosprop that reads: “CP Darcy Wet shirt.”

Recalling the moment the shirt made movie history, Collin said on the auctioneer’s site: “Mr. Darcy’s ‘wet shirt moment’ was never written. It came up in conversations between myself and the late Christopher Prins, who was then head of menswear at Cosprop. In the scene, Mr. Darcy is seen emerging from a lake after taking a refreshing swim on a hot summer day. Because male nudity was not allowed on screen (taking into account the dividing line between the BBC and American broadcasts), the idea of ​​the ‘wet shirt’ was born.

“Our solution was to film Colin Firth ¾ length wearing only the Irish linen shirt (copied from an old original) that clung to his body. The scene caused a sensation at the time and transformed Colin Firth from a respected classical actor to something of a sex symbol overnight.”

The T-shirt is one of dozens of items from the Cosprop store that will be auctioned in aid of arts education charity The Bright Foundation, set up by Oscar-winning costume designer John Bright.

Other famous outfits up for grabs include Drew Barrymore’s costume as Danielle in “Ever After: A Cinderella Story” and the hooded cape and heather green dress worn by Meryl Streep in “The French Lieutenant’s Wife.”

Also for sale is Robert Downey Jr.’s Sherlock Holmes costume from the 2009 film “Sherlock Holmes,” as well as that of his co-star Jude Law, who played Dr. Watson.

Among the other celebrities whose suits will be auctioned are Keira Knightley, Cate Blanchett and Gwyneth Paltrow.

Bright, who along with fellow designer Jenny Beavan, won the Oscar for best costume design in 1986 for Merchant Ivory’s “A Room With A View.”

Quoted on the auction house’s site, he said: “My life’s work has been committed to costume design for film, television and theater and I feel incredibly lucky to have been able to follow this path. “I firmly believe that the arts and creativity can create happier, healthier children and allow young people to reach their full potential.”