Seventies pop and Tv icon David Cassidy is auctioning off a collection of elaborate stage costumes from his early career to raise money for charity.

The I Think I Love You hitmaker is famous for his bedazzled Nudie Suits, designed by late tailor-to-the-stars Nudie Cohn, and he is preparing to put a number of the classic outfits, including his very first costume, a fringed, white one-piece, on sale in May (13).

Displaying the suits during an appearance on U.S. breakfast show Today on Thursday (21Mar13), he said, "These were all from different eras of the '70s... I wore these on tour and all during the 1970s. They're one offs; they're all hand done."

The 62 year old joked, "It's amazing what happens to your body as you get a little older. I was probably 120 pounds at the time (I wore them) and I'm not sure I could fit into them (now)!"

All proceeds from the sale of the outfits will benefit the Alzheimer's Association of America and the cause is one particularly close to Cassidy's heart after losing his mother to the degenerative disease in December (12).

He added, "I'm sure some of you know how difficult it is for family members and friends, et cetera, so what I'm doing is auctioning all of these off and 100 per cent of the proceeds are going to go to charity."

The outfits will go under the hammer as part of Julien's Auctions' forthcoming Music Icons sale in New York on 18 May (13).

The event will also feature costumes and memorabilia from Michael Jackson, Elvis Presley and David Bowie, as well as a rare electric guitar played by The Beatles stars John Lennon and George Harrison, which is expected to fetch as much as $300,000 (£188,000).