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Marilyn Monroe embodied Hollywood glamour with a shine and optimism that were unmatched and mesmerized the entire globe. Marilyn was not just a ’50s sex queen, despite having seductive beauty, full-bodied curves, and a generous mouth. Her seeming helplessness and innocence, along with an instinctive sensuality, have won the hearts of people all around the world. She ruled the era of movie stars and is unquestionably the most well-known woman of the 20th century.
In May 1962, a particular performance of a well-known song transformed a song that had been performed countless times into a moment in history. The most well-known performance of “Happy Birthday” is still Marilyn Monroe’s breathy, sensuous rendition given at a celebration for President John F. Kennedy, and it is certainly up there among the most well-known versions of any song ever!
Due to Monroe’s extremely memorable performance, the stunning vintage dress she wore was turned into a priceless historical fashion item. Following Kim Kardashian’s appearance in the storied gown at the 2022 Met Gala, it is currently in the spotlight once more.
The crystal-encrusted gown Monroe wore to sing “Happy Birthday” to President John F. Kennedy in 1962, however, might be her most famous outfit. Jean Louis created the outfit, which was constructed of thin silk gauze. The garment was made of a material that not only gave it a sense of elegance but also made the rhinestones pop.
More than 2,500 rhinestones, which glittered in the lights and gave Monroe’s outfit a touch of glitz, were adorning the frock. Monroe had to be sewn into the dress because it was so form-fitting; this was a characteristic that demonstrated her commitment to her work and willingness to break rules for the sake of fashion.
It cost Marilyn Monroe $1,440, or almost $13,700 in 2022 dollars. Yes, especially when adjusted for inflation, that is somewhat costly. But following Monroe’s performance, the dress’s worth soared. According to The Vintage News, it sold for $1.26 million in a 1999 auction, nearly twice the estimate. But even so, it is still a bargain compared to the $4.8 million that the Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum shelled out for it in 2016, making it one of the most costly examples of pop culture memorabilia ever. It is still on display at Ripley’s Museum on Hollywood Boulevard.
Marilyn Monroe’s this iconic dress she wore when she serenaded US President John F. Kennedy on his birthday, six decades ago was worn by Kim Kardashian at the 2022 Met Gala, Kim Kardashian debuted on the red carpet of the event wearing it.
The Met Gala, famed for its illustrious guest list and lavish attire, ushers in the yearly fashion show at the Costume Institute of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. According to Vogue, the item set a record for the most expensive dress ever sold at auction when it sold for $US4.8 million in 2016. The garment, which is currently kept in a temperature-controlled vault at the Ripley’s Believe It Or Not Museum in Orlando, Florida, was flown with guards on a private jet to Kardashian’s house in Calabasas, California.
It was challenging to imagine anyone other than Marilyn Monroe wearing the infamous dress until Kim Kardashian did so. For the 2022 Met Gala, when attendees dressed in accordance with the “Gilded Glamour” theme, Kardashian wore Marilyn Monroe’s gown. Kardashian reportedly took great care with the priceless gown, only wearing the original dress for a few minutes as she ascended the steps of The Met. Shortly thereafter, she transformed into a replica. However, those few seconds in Marilyn Monroe’s gown were more than enough to make her Met Gala appearance one of the night’s most talked-about looks, if not the most.
Marilyn Monroe wore a white outfit and stood atop a New York City subway grate on September 15, 1955, when she filmed The Seven-Year Itch. Marilyn flirtatiously attempted to keep her dress down as an underground train sped past. Even though the scene was only captured for a few seconds, it has since become one of the most recognizable in film history, and that tiny white dress has since become one of the most well-known outfits ever.
The actual scene was filmed on location in New York City at the intersection of Lexington Avenue and 52nd Street a total of 14 times. The historic occasion was captured by dozens of male photographers and thousands of onlookers. None of those takes, though, were eventually used in the film.
The white party outfit for The Seven Year Itch was made by costume designer William Travilla. Travilla was adept in highlighting Marilyn Monroe’s renowned curves because she had created the opulent gowns for the film Gentlemen Prefer Blondes two years previously.
Although the dress had a V-neckline and little cleavage, he made the white halter to highlight Monroe’s breasts. The garment’s tight, crisscrossing ribbon straps that define its form also keep it big and fluffy. It is a dress that oozes with paradoxes. It moves freely and is flirtatious fun. The light clothing is kept from feeling casual, though, by a severe, cinching waistline. The monotone dress may initially seem simple and slip-like because it was specifically made for the imperceptible male eye, that is until her pleated skirt catches the wind. At that point, Monroe’s group acts as an unintentional trap. But Travilla’s creation was not a happy accident.
When it goes up for auction next month, the famous white halter dress worn by Marilyn Monroe in The Seven Year Itch is projected to sell for up to $2 million.
Actress Debbie Reynolds has listed the breezy pleated halter dress worn by the blonde bombshell for sale.
The 79-year-old actress, who has recently experienced financial difficulties, has finally made the decision to auction off her sizable collection of Hollywood memorabilia to the highest bidder.
Marilyn Monroe’s attire, especially her dresses, had a big impact on her reputation and legacy. Her edgy and glitzy look, which was distinguished by form-fitting garments, pricey materials, and edgy accessories, is still an inspiration for fashion designers and admirers today. Monroe’s gowns, whether they were white halter dresses, gold lamé gowns, or gowns with crystal embellishments, were a constant expression of her self-assurance, sensuality, and star power.
