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Lomita Man Selling Collection of 55,000 Dresses

GARDENA (CBSLA.com) A Lomita man who built a massive collection of dresses over 56 years is putting the 55,000 frocks up for sale.

Paul Brockmann began collecting dresses after he first laid eyes on his wife, Margot, dancing in a ballroom in Germany. Brockmann said he knew then he never wanted her to wear the same dress twice.

"I spent every dime that I had, that I could buy a dress with, I did," said Brockmann.

Still, the dresses are Paul's passion. According to his wife, there are a lot of dresses in the collection that she has never worn.

"The collection is just like if you're a stamp collector or a car collector," Brockmann said.

The collection was kept secret for years, out of Mr. Brockmann's concern that it would raise questions.

"If anybody would find out that I was collecting the dresses, they'd maybe think 'what kinda guy is this?'" said Brockmann. It wasn't until his daughter found the dresses in his garage that he told her about the collection he had built.

Now the couple is selling the dresses for a bargain, with the hopes of using the money from the sale towards fulfilling a lifelong dream of dancing together at the New Year's Eve Ball in Vienna.

The collection can be found online at 55thousanddresses.com and on eBay.

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