One of opera’s most elegant stars, Raina Kabaivanska, has donated a number of her concert gowns for a charity auction which starts today.

The soprano, who will be 77 next month, has given many of her signature Roberto Capucci creations to E For People who are auctioning more than 10,000 items of clothing and accessories in this their 7th year. All proceeds from sales will go in favour of the Salesian Mission in Ethiopia Adwua for the construction of the first, and only, paediatric hospital.