Tiffany dog bowls and Chanel handbags:Joan Rivers' flamboyant personal possessions are up for auction at Christie's today

Almost two years after Joan Rivers" death, an expansive collectionof the comedian"s jewellery, clothing and personal items from her extravagantUpper East Side penthouse will be auctioned liveatChristie"s in New York today.

Rivers was one of the first presentersto ignite the modern red carpet fashion phenomenon, famouslyaskingthe stars she interviewed"who are you wearing?"Butif you were to ask Joan what she was wearing at any given momentfur,feathers anddiamonds were allguaranteed to be in the mix.Rivers"signaturelook was all about flamboyant excess, and she was passionate about building a fine collection ofcostume fashion and theatrical antique jewellery.

My mother used to say her apartment was how Marie Antoinette would have lived if she had money and tasteMelissa Rivers

In a film to promote the auction, Rivers" daughter Melissa remembers one of hermother"s signature pithywitticisms which neatlysums up her taste;"My mother used to say her apartment was how Marie Antoinette would have lived if she had money and taste."

More than 280pieces are in the sale, which is expected to reachover $1.5 million.Theyinclude precious trinkets such asaFabergéleaf figure which is valued somewhere between$200,000 and$300,000, a silver Tiffany dog bowl and a silver Cartier shopping bag figure which reads "Joan"s Trash Bag."

As well as Rivers"collection of vintage furniture, there is a glamorous arrayof pieces from her wardrobe by some of the key designers fromthe past 40 years, includingHalston, Dolce & Gabbana, Chanel and Jean Paul Gaultier as well as Cher favourite, Bob Mackie, andfine jewellery pieces fromCartier and Harry Winston.Some of the standout looks include ablack and white feathered oversized coat with a glittering E! logo (the television network which broadcast Rivers" hit show Fashion Police!)printed in the lining, a gunmetal and silver Halston dress and coat Rivers wore to the Golden Globes in 1998 and a sleek black Vera Wang gown she wore to the Met Ball in 2001.An outlandish ochre ensemble by Oscar de la Renta which Rivers wore to a 1990 awards ceremony in New York is also part of the sale.

It"s not just fabulous eveningwear-the online auction includes many of Rivers" decorative art nouveau brooches and a selection of very jazzy jackets from a leopard print biker by Dolce and Gabbana to metallic blazers by Escada and Lanvin.There are also a number of Chanel quilted handbags withinthe online auction, including a set of three satin evening bags which currently hashighest bid of $3,200, which may sound steepbut isless than a trio of Chanels would cost if bought new.

"One of my mother"s dreams was to be left alone in a Christie"s warehouse with a satchel and nobody supervising her," Melissa Rivers says in thevideo about the collection.Rivers explains that a Harry Winston pin is the most special item to her:"I remember as a child, my mom sitting and drawing it out.It started with just a few little stones and then they would get more stones and they would add and add. I would remember my mom sitting on her dressing room floor playing with it and making little pieces of paper into different shapes of stones and adding to it."

The "Private Collection of Joan Rivers" live auction is taking place at Christie"s in New York today, but for those in the UK wanting a piece of Rivers" wardrobe there is also an online sale on Christies.com.