Marilyn Monroe dress styles. Most Expensive Marilyn Monroe Items Sold at Auction
There is one place in Hollywood where unusual rare things from all over the world are collected. And it's called the Ripley Museum "Believe it or not!" (Ripley's museum Believe It Or Not!).
The museum was founded by Robert Ripley (1890 - 1949), an American cartoonist, reporter, and amateur anthropologist who amassed his collection while traveling the world.
Going to the exhibition, I did not know what I would see.
I will not describe all the items, I will focus only on the most important for me: among other rarities, there was an exhibition of Marilyn Monroe things inside!
All captions to exhibits are only translated into Russian. I am not responsible for the accuracy of the facts! :)
This is the picture presented at the entrance:
night cap
Marilyn used this cap to protect her hair while sleeping.
The most recent photos show how badly her hair has been damaged by years of chemical exposure. A small collection of this kind of personal belongings of Marilyn was valued at $2,500. Last price - $12500!
Marilyn grew up poor and earned $10 a day for her first modeling job. By 1960, she was making over $350,000 a year. Today, after her death, Marilyn "earns" more than during her lifetime.
The heiress to her fortune, Anna Strasberg, has never even seen Marilyn.
This famous still from The Seven Year Itch was created from 16mm film stock by Erica Simmons.
Lost in a hangar in Burbank (a city in Los Angeles County) over 50 years ago, here is a copy (Sid Grauman's personal copy) of Marilyn Monroe's footprints, taken at the premiere of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes in 1953.
Monroe silk dresses. During her career, the parameters and sizes of Marilyn's dresses fluctuated. When she first appeared on the cover of Coller magazine in 1951, she measured 37-23-34 inches and a dress size two, as shown here. By 1962, her measurements were said to be 38-23-36. And she wore size 12.
FERRAGAMO shoes. These iconic shoes, among forty other pairs, were created for Marilyn famous designer Salvatore Ferragamo.
When Marilyn began her acting career at 20th Century Fox, she was making only $75 a week.
Christie's auction sold several nightgowns, pajamas and baby doll (short) shirts that belonged to Marilyn. Some of the nightgowns sold for $55,000. The short nightgown featured here sold for over $12,000. Ironically, Marilyn always slept naked.
Marilyn glass sandals. The transparent plexiglass sandals with white fox fur straps shown here are made fashion house Juel Park from Beverly Hills.
Marilyn chest of drawers from the personal effects of Anna Nicole Smith. FROM early years Anna Nicole Smith (1967 - 2007) was a big fan of Marilyn Monroe. The unique, hand-painted chest of drawers displayed here is the property of Anna Nicole Smith. He once cost Nicole an estimated $450 million.
Marilyn Monroe makeup case with cosmetics inside. Marilyn created an attractive, languid look that has become her trademark. She used the make-up style of the 50s. - simple shadows, black eyeliner and full (bright) lips.
Spotted bikini Marilyn Monroe. Not distinguished by her modesty, Marilyn wore this size 16 bathing suit ( UK ), which was regarded in those days as scandalous.
A curl of Monroe's hair. The lock of hair shown here is real. Was cut off as a child by Marilyn's mother and given to family friend(?) Lynn P u pello. Natural hair Marilyns were wavy and light brown.
Norma Jean Mortenson's birth certificate. Marilyn Monroe has not been "Marilyn" or "Monroe" since birth. As proof - an exact copy of her birth certificate. Her real name Norma Jeane Mortenson , which she changed to Norma Jeane Baker and later to Marilyn Monroe.
Licensed lunch box. This box is just one of many made under license.
Marilyn Monroe's famous sweater. This hand-knitted cardigan was worn in 1962 during a photo shoot on the beach of Santa Monica "the most photographed woman in the world. She is wearing it at the very last the picture taken.
Scarves. Marilyn wore them in New York along with large dark glasses to hide from the press and annoying fans. Wearing these scarves, she would often sit unnoticed in the park, watching the children play.
Portrait of Marilyn Monroe painted with nail polish. Artist Christian Ramos.
Matryoshka
A piece of Marilyn's dress from the movie " Some Like It Hot" (1959)
Beer Cup "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes". "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" was the first film where Marilyn sang and danced. For her performance, she received two awards: "Best Actress" in 1953 according to PHOTOPLAY magazine and " Best friend diamonds" from the Academy of Jewels.
Marilyn Monroe is the very embodiment of attractiveness, charm and elegance. The ease and naturalness with which she could show off in sexy outfits and seduce with a languid smile can be admired endlessly. Today we again admire Marilyn Monroe's clothing style, which corresponds to the canons true beauty and femininity.
Norma Jean Baker (well, you know, that's the real name of the legendary blonde), like any professional, started climbing from the bottom step, not realizing what lay ahead of her. And waited for her unimaginable success. Photo shoots for leading glossy magazines, constant shooting and endless parties ... Therefore, it does not seem strange to us that Marilyn Monroe was recovering exclusively alone. Let's leave the talk about which books the actress enjoyed reading until better times, and now we are enjoying her exceptional publications.
Beauty, according to Marilyn Monroe, takes time and slowness. Living in a hectic time, she could be late for meetings or shootings, but she always came to perfect shape(It is worth learning from her striving for perfection and harmony). On the red carpet and in the movies, Marilyn was the epitome of Hollywood glamour. Fitted dresses with sexy cutouts, the legendary style icon was completed with fur coats, capes or fur coats, leather gloves and precious accessories. By the way, although she sang about the fact that diamonds - best friends girls, nevertheless focused not on jewelry, but on luxurious dresses.
Evening style Marilyn Monroe are predominantly elegant silhouettes with an accentuated waist and accents on the bust line. The actress's wardrobe included dresses that are still preferred by Instagram divas and inhabitants of the Hollywood hills today - models from velvet and satin, dresses from pleated fabrics, options with a metallic effect and a deep V-neck.
The effect of a bombshell at a party in honor of John F. Kennedy's birthday was produced by her sexy dress made of fine nude silk, studded with stones (Marilyn left her underwear in the closet that evening). By the way, the actress was "sewn" into the dress right before going on stage.
Elegance, conciseness and attractiveness characterize Casual style Marilyn Monroe. The actress preferred dress shirts, stylish skirts high waist, oversized coat. Putting on a dress with floral print, striped or polka dot, she looked like she had just stepped off the cover of a fashion magazine. Monochrome sweaters looked no less impressive on her in tandem with classic trousers and business two-piece suits made of wool.
How about this great woman smiled! Let's take an example from her, because in life there are many reasons for smiling.
The object of admiration, imitation, inspiration, a real style icon - it's all about her, the main blonde of all time, the great Marilyn Monroe. From the very beginning of her dizzying career to this day, her seductive image and style are copied by thousands of women, her height and weight are considered the standard, and this is not surprising, because Marilyn is the very embodiment of femininity.
On June 1, 1926, Norma Jean Mortenson (who later received her mother's surname Baker) was born in Los Angeles, the future Hollywood star Marilyn Monroe. Difficult childhood spent in orphanages foster families, youth at the factory - it would seem that nothing foreshadowed a dizzying career for Norma. However, her natural beauty was noted by photographer David Conover, who made a report about the factory workers. It was he who advised the future star to try himself as a model. The girl’s rather high height (163 cm) and weight (about 55 - 60 kg) made her proportions ideal for a photo.
In 1945, Norma Baker began working with the Blue Book modeling agency: it was during this period that the natural brown-haired woman decided to radically change her hair color and styling. This is how famous hairstyle Marilyn Monroe - platinum lush curls to the shoulders. Then Norma takes on a more sonorous pseudonym, under which millions will recognize her.
Monroe's film career, which began rapidly in the 1950s, becomes an incentive for the actress to create her own recognizable, unique style. Marilyn shows herself in public and screens in seductive, sometimes even provocative, feminine outfits that are instantly copied by numerous fashionistas of that time.
Iconic Makeup: Hollywood Look of Marilyn Monroe
Ideal porcelain skin, lush eyelashes, neat arrows and bright red lipstick (pictured below) - this is a recognizable image that has become a real classic. Makeup in the style of Marilyn Monroe is still relevant today, because it emphasizes beauty in the most advantageous way. female face without overshadowing his natural features.
And, of course, the famous make-up in the style of Marilyn Monroe is unthinkable without the famous “fly” (in the next photo) - the actress made the mole on her cheek her “highlight” and certainly emphasized it with a brown pencil.
All facets of temptation: the style of Marilyn Monroe on the screen and in life
The ideal parameters, height and weight of the actress allowed her to wear almost any outfit - Marilyn looked incredibly feminine even in wide men's shirts and cropped trousers. However, the actress gave her preference to emphatically feminine, seductive outfits that fit the figure.
Dresses
Dresses have always been the main item in the wardrobe of the actress.
Throughout her life, the weight of the actress fluctuated slightly, but the proportions remained unchanged - and Marilyn skillfully emphasized seductive curves with tight-fitting styles.
Many Marilyn Monroe dresses have become iconic and recognizable: a snow-white dress with a deep neckline and flying pleated skirt, so effectively captured in the photo fluttering in the wind. Semi-sheer bodycon embellished with rhinestones flesh color a dress in which the actress congratulated the president on his birthday (despite its apparent lightness, its weight was several kilograms). Bustier cyclamen dress with bow and matching gloves from the movie Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (next photo). A black dress with a white bow on the chest - all of them have become one of the most recognizable wardrobe items in the history of fashion.
Stills from the film "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes"
In the wardrobe of the film star, two favorite styles of dresses can be distinguished: a tight-fitting case that sits like a second skin and a fitted dress with a flared skirt (pictured below).
Many of Marilyn's dresses were very deep neckline and opened the shoulders and arms. To wear so revealing dresses with dignity and control of her weight, Marilyn performed daily exercises with dumbbells.
Skirts and trousers
AT ordinary life preferred discreet style: One of the actress's favorite outfits was a simple sweater or turtleneck paired with a fitted, knee-length pencil skirt.
Marilyn chose smooth fabrics and preferred simple basic colors- black, grey, white or beige. Flared flying skirts were also present in the wardrobe of the star - she combined them with shirts or cropped tops.
The growth of the actress allowed her to wear cropped trousers - many photos have been preserved in which the star is captured in her favorite plaid trousers.
Tops, blouses and jackets
Jackets were a favorite item everyday wardrobe stars - she preferred narrow, fitted models, often trimmed with fur models.
The actress's wardrobe included a lot of sweaters, turtlenecks and tops, which today we would call crop tops - cropped models ending under the bust. However, with the exception of the photos from the resorts, the star did not bare her stomach and paired such tops with high-waisted skirts and trousers. This style visually increased growth and emphasized feminine proportions.
Another favorite wardrobe item of the film star is white shirts in men's style. Marilyn tied them under her breasts, tucked them into trousers, or wore them for graduation. Perfect growth and the weight of the actress allowed her to look seductive even in loose clothes.
Outerwear
In public, Marilyn often appeared in luxurious or capes.
The actress's favorite was white coat from ermine. were also present in the diva's wardrobe: throwing it over her shoulders, Marilyn even descended from the plane ladder as a real diva. The next photo shows the actress's favorite black and white coat.
Shoes
“Give a woman a pair of stilettos and she will conquer the whole world,” said the great Monroe. Marilyn knew what she was talking about - she partly owes her famous exhilarating gait to the shoes on high heels. Pumps and open-toe sandals with thin heels are the favorite models of the actress. To visually increase her height and make her legs even longer, Marilyn often chose nude models.
Beauty secrets of the great blonde
The ideal parameters and weight of the actress are not so much a gift of nature as a result continuous work stars above. Every morning the actress began with exercise with small dumbbells - it was they who helped the actress strengthen pectoral muscles and be proud of a seductive bust, and also keep thin waist. Swimming helped the actress quickly lose weight before filming.
The growth of the actress required her to keep a weight of 53 - 55 kg, and at the beginning acting career the actress's menu was mainly fast food (hamburgers and peanut butter). Subsequently, Hollywood nutritionists developed for Marilyn special diet, which helped to quickly get in shape before filming. The actress maintained her weight by eating mostly proteins and refusing complex carbohydrates.
The phenomenon of Marilyn Monroe has many components: it is not only beauty, but also unique style, naturalness, the ability to reveal your femininity with the help of clothes, and also confidence in your irresistibility and self-love.
The style of the legendary Hollywood diva still excites female hearts and the minds of collectors. The editors of the site decided to find out fashion preferences Marilyn from the beginning of her career until her death in 1962.
Before fame and million-dollar contracts in 1941, Marilyn Monroe, who at that time was called Norma Jean Baker, was a simple girl from the factory. She worked hard and didn't worry too much about her appearance. Modest suits consisting of jackets straight cut, turtlenecks and skirts below the knee, were her main clothes. The beach wardrobe of the future star consisted of playful and at the same time quite chaste outfits, like a cropped top and a fluffy miniskirt. 16-year-old Monroe liked to wear frivolous and romantic floral patterns.
In 1945, Marilyn Monroe was already a fairly well-known model, however, she was still far from a successful acting career. At that time, the star was already aware of her sexuality and fully understood the impact she had on men. In 1948, the first film with her participation was released, where she sang and spoke. In the promotional pictures, the actress did not try to hide slender legs and a magnificent bust, choosing skimpy costumes for this.
AT Everyday life Monroe was modesty itself. No prominent necklines, no sequins: only elegant two-piece suits, classic trench coats. Marilyn Monroe saved dresses with a deep neckline and a narrow silhouette for fans, whose number only grew every day. In promo pictures, the star appeared exclusively in the form of a sexy and seductive diva.
In 1951, naive flowered beach sets were replaced by rather provocative bikinis for those times. Two-piece swimsuit polka dots emphasized the most important thing - appetizing forms Monroe.
AT home environment Marilyn Monroe looked as stunning as she did on the red carpet. She managed to look sexy even in a dark sweatshirt and loose-fitting white cropped trousers.
Marilyn Monroe, 1941
In 1954, Marilyn Monroe went to raise the spirit of American soldiers in Korea. It was the star's first such large-scale tour. She spent several weeks in Korea and took part in nine performances. Monroe prepared thoroughly for the tour. Even in daytime she performed on stage in full dress: in luxurious dress with sequins and stilettos. True, she did not disdain to wear shapeless “male” clothes. And even in it, the main sex symbol of American cinema looked very sexy!
In the mid-50s, it was hard to find a star who looked sexier than the great Marilyn Monroe. On the red carpet, and beyond, Marilyn had no equal. Luxurious silk dresses that fit exactly to the figure, gloves above the elbow and, of course, an exquisite fur scarf - Monroe looked like an elegant porcelain figurine in designer outfits.
The actress very soon became the favorite of the paparazzi. Lucky for us, they took a lot of entertaining pictures of Monroe in everyday life. Judging by the photo, she loved feminine outfits, but most often preferred skirts, jackets and simple blouses.
In 1956, Marilyn Monroe married the American playwright Arthur Miller, with whom she had been married longer than all her previous husbands - almost five years. The couple traveled extensively in between filming. One of these trips - to London - was captured by the ubiquitous paparazzi of that time. The actress stepped off the ladder like the real movie star she was, wearing oversized sunglasses and a sexy dress that emphasized her breasts.
Elegant and feminine - Marilyn Monroe's style can be described with just two in simple terms. To create perfect image, it was enough for her to wear a sheath dress, a checkered coat and a pair of hairpins. No wonder this style - ladylike - came back into fashion in 2012. Looks stunning!
Clothing set - turtleneck + skirt:
Kit for Marilyn:
Black silk dress by Ceil Chapman (1953):
Dress for Marilyn:
Black classic dress(1955):
Dress for Marilyn:
Jean-Louis dress (1961):
Dress for Marilyn:
Cropped plaid trousers (1952-1953):
Pants on Marilyn:
Red silk dress (1957):
Dress for Marilyn:
Plain knitted coat (1961):
Coat on Marilyn:
White summer dress(1955):
Dress for Marilyn:
Pucci dress (1962):
Dress for Marilyn:
Evening dress (1958-1960):
Dress for Marilyn:
Black silk dress with bow by John Moore (1958):
Dress for Marilyn:
elongated denim skirt(1951):
Skirt for Marilyn:
Insulated blouse (1960):
Jacket for Marilyn:
Patterned silk shirt (1962):
Shirt on Marilyn:
Long black dress with sleeves:
Dress for Marilyn:
First Wedding Dress(1942):
Dress for Marilyn:
Summer beige dress striped (1957):
Dress for Marilyn:
Black Evening Dress With openwork insert(1959):
Dress for Marilyn:
White dress (1960):
Dress for Marilyn:
White casual dress:
Dress for Marilyn:
White ermine coat:
Fur coat for Marilyn:
Warm sweater in Mexican style:
Sweater for Marilyn:
Long fitted silk dress by Jean-Louis (1962):
Dress for Marilyn:
One of the most famous dresses Marilyn is a pleated white midi outfit from the 1955 film The Seven Year Itch. By the way, the film itself would not have such popularity if it were not for the famous skirt blowing scene. The movie is called far from the best in Monroe's career. The authorship of the dress belongs to William Travill, a designer who has worked with Marilyn more than once.
William Traville, by the way, created more than one legendary outfit for Marilyn. He, like no one else, knew the taste of the actress. “Creating clothes for Marilyn was an act of love, I adored her,” the fashion designer wrote. So, two Travilla dresses from the movie “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” became popular in 1953. Performing the famous song “Diamonds are the girl's best friends” , Marilyn appears in a strapless pink silk satin dress with a large decorative bow on the back and long gloves.
During the performance of the song "Two Little Girls from Little Rock", Monroe and Jane Russell appear in identical red dresses with sequins and a deep V-neckline that reaches almost to the waist. To the disappointment of the audience, the fashion designer had to comply with the requirements of censorship and sew body jersey into a deep neckline.
In 1959, Marilyn starred in the film that made her famous all over the world - Only Girls in Jazz. The comedy received an age limit due to Monroe's translucent dress, in which she performs the song "I wanna be loved by you." The outfit was made by the film's costume designer, Orry-Kelly. The action of the picture takes place in the 20s, however, Marilyn's outfits are not straight cut, as was fashionable in those days. The film's costume design was specifically designed to emphasize the actress's sexuality. It looks like Marilyn's sheer midi dress in sequins is without underwear, but the cups of a specially designed shelf bra are sewn into the dress.
What kind of underwear did the actress wear in the movie Only Girls in Jazz?
It may seem that there was no linen under the dresses at all, but after carefully examining the photographs and reading the recollections of eyewitnesses, I realized that the absence of linen was just a beautiful illusion. In this photo you can see that the straps from the bra sewn into the dress go down the back. And there is no “lower floor” (as well as under the white dress):
Monroe told the dressers that she even sleeps in a bra so that her breasts do not lose their elasticity. Although she told reporters something else: “I sleep naked. All I wear at night is a drop Chanel perfume No. 5".
By the way, when “Some Like It Hot” (“Only Girls in Jazz”) was released in 1959, costume designer Orry-Kelly offended Puritan viewers: in Kansas the film was banned from viewing, and in Memphis, Tennessee they put "adults only" restriction.
The design of the film's costumes was specifically designed to emphasize the sexuality of the actress - we know that in the 20s of the twentieth century, dresses had a rectangular silhouette. Left: silent film actress Gloria Swenson, 1920s, right: Marilyn Monroe on the set of a film.
But in the 1950s in Hollywood, no one aspired to authenticity, it was more important to emphasize the physical virtues of the actress than to keep the era. American film critic Roger Ebert describes the scene in which Monroe sings in a "naked" cocktail dress as "a striptease in which nudity would be superfluous":
As for underwear, bra cups of a special design were sewn into similar Monroe dresses between two layers of fabric.
Marilyn had a size 36D, but the tailor shop usually tried to cut the cups of the bodice in such a way that the chest seemed even larger.
The authentic Monroe bra, designed for the famous pleated dress from The Seven Year Itch and sold at auction for $5,200, shows the style of the bra the actress loved. Today, this style is called a shelf bra:
Another Monroe bra was sold for $ 7,000 and the same principle is also used here, the chest is actively fixed and enlarged due to pads from below:
As for why dresses fit tightly on the actress, everything is simple here: they were sewn up before each shooting directly on Monroe herself.
Thanks to the skill of costume designer Orry-Kelly, the audience did not even notice that the actress was pregnant during filming, and 10 years older than it is indicated in the script. Costume Designer Orry-Kelly:
In March 1961, Monroe was asked to sing in front of US President John F. Kennedy at an upcoming celebration on the occasion of his birthday. The celebrations were to take place in the most prestigious concert hall Madison Square Garden. On this occasion, Marilyn ordered a dress from the then fashionable designer Jean Louis. A dress made of thin flesh-colored silk, studded with stones, was sewn directly onto Marilyn before going out. The actress covered her almost naked body with a fur cape (there was no underwear under the dress) and opened it only when she went on stage to sing for Kennedy. The outfit cost the actress $12,000, but a couple of years ago it was sold at auction for $1.3 million.
For the Photoplay award in 1953, Fox gave the actress a dress in which she appeared in promotional shots for "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes." A golden outfit with drapery was sewn directly onto Marilyn.
And during the legendary performance for the American troops in Korea in 1954, Monroe was brilliant Cocktail Dress deep lilac on thin spaghetti straps from Sila Chapman.
There were many couture outfits in the wardrobe of the actress, but Marilyn knew how to transform any outfit on herself. For a photo shoot with the famous photographer Milton Green in 1954, Monroe tried on a tutu. The actress was far from the proportions of a ballerina, and the dress could not even be closed on the back. However, the photo session turned out to be very gentle and acquired a legendary status.
Another famous photo shoot of Marilyn is in the garden with her husband Arthur Miller. Photographed in 1957 by Sam Shaw on Monroe, blue knitted dress in peas on thin berets. Sundress in lightly in provincial style on Marilyn turned into a feminine elegant dress.
The last outfit in the life of the actress was her favorite soft green sheath dress from Emilio Pucci. Marilyn Monroe was buried there on August 5, 1962.
Marilyn had a personal style. Personal style does not mean suits and dresses from the screens. For example, White dress from "The Seven Year Itch" pink dress from Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. It wasn't Marilyn's personal style, it was her props, the things she wore to do her job. Marilyn's personal style was much simpler and more stylish.
Favorite colors-beige, red, black, cream and white.
Favorite Designers Marilyn's favorite store was Bloomingdale's, her favorite shoe designer was Salvatore Ferragamo.
Favorite wardrobe item- pencil skirt.
Favorite scent- Chanel No. 5.
Favorite shade of lipstick-Guerlain Rouge Diabolique (now called Guerlain Kiss Kiss No. 522).
Favorite mascara- Helena Rubinstein
Favorite cosmetic brand- Erno Laszlo, Nivea, Anita of Denmark.
