10 of Marilyn Monroe’s Most Iconic Dresses—and the Stories Behind Them
Diamonds are a girl’s best friend, but dresses are her uniform.
The year was 1954, and Marilyn Monroe was in the middle of filming her movie The Seven Year Itch when she stepped on a subway grate. Behind the scenes, a wind machine helped blow the skirt of Marilyn’s white halter dress up around her hips, and the rest, as they say, is history. But while Marilyn Monroe’s white dress might be the image she’s most known for, it was far from her only iconic outfit.
Over her tragically short career—Marilyn, née Norma Jeane Baker, died in 1962 at the age of 36—the actor was known for wearing figure-hugging dresses and outfits that would make the Hollywood censors blush. She defined the pin-up style of the ’50s, all while capturing headlines as one of the industry’s most sexy and daring stars. Decades later, she remains a global sex symbol, as well as a popular Halloween costume, and her outfits are still just as adored. Here’s a look back at Marilyn Monroe’s 10 most iconic dresses and the stories behind the looks.
Marilyn Monroe filming ‘Seven Year Itch’
Marilyn Monroe is synonymous with this white fit-and-flare gown, which she wore in the 1955 classic, The Seven Year Itch. The gown was by costume designer William Travilla, who worked with Marilyn on many of her most iconic movie looks.
Marilyn Monroe in ‘Gentlemen Prefer Blondes’
Another William Travilla original—this time made for 1953's Gentlemen Prefer Blondes—Marilyn Monroe's bubblegum pink “Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend” dress has been copied many, many times, by everyone from Madonna to Kylie Jenner, but nothing has really come close to the original sheath dress.
Marilyn Monroe singing “Happy Birthday” to JFK
![actress marilyn monroe sings happy birthday to president john f. kennedy at madison square garden, for his upcoming 45th birthday.](https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/gettyimages-517387764-68dd788b83b6a.jpg?crop=0.884xw:0.970xh;0.0731xw,0 "Marilyn Monroe Singing "Happy Birthday" to JFK")
In 1962, Marilyn appeared at then President John F. Kennedy's birthday gala to sing “Happy Birthday, Mr. President”—a sultry take on a classic song that remains a cultural touchstone. But it wasn't so much what she was singing that made headlines as it was what she was wearing. Marilyn wore a nude gown, adorned with tiny crystals, that left very little to the imagination.
P.S. Yes, this was the Kim Kardashian Met Gala dress.
Marilyn Monroe in ‘All About Eve’
It's tough for a young star to stand out when sharing the screen with Bette Davis, but in her 1950 breakout role in All About Eve, Marilyn managed—in part thanks to this rushed gown.
Marilyn at the ‘How to Marry a Millionaire’ premiere
Marilyn Monroe wore a strapless gown to the 1953 premiere of How to Marry a Millionaire. The white, lace gown—another William Travilla design—featured a sexy sweetheart neckline, and in classic Marilyn fashion, she accessorized the look with diamond chandelier earrings, a fur-lined jacket, and opera gloves.
Marilyn Monroe in ‘Some Like it Hot’
Perhaps Marilyn's most daring on-screen look, this embellished gown from 1959's Some Like It Hot featured a translucent mesh upper and a low-cut back. The form-fitting dress was rumored to have been so tightly tailored to her body, she had to be sewn into it and cut out of it.
Marilyn visiting the troops in Korea
Marilyn took some time away from her 1954 honeymoon with Joe DiMaggio to perform for the troops in Korea—and of course, she dressed up for the occasion. Or perhaps it's more accurate to say that she dressed down, given that she was in Korea in the middle of winter wearing nothing but a sparkly purple cocktail gown.
Marilyn Monroe promoting ‘Gentlemen Prefer Blondes’
Another iconic look from William Travilla, designed for filming and promotion of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, this gold halter dress was a bit of a new silhouette for Marilyn—trading in a curve-hugging skirt for a deep v-neck.
Marilyn Monroe at the ‘There’s No Business Like Show Business’ premiere
Marilyn frequently wore embellished gowns in her films, but for the premiere of There's No Business Like Show Business she went simple, yet glam, in a white silk column dress paired with matching opera gloves and a fur shawl.
Marilyn on the set of ‘Gentlemen Prefer Blondes’
This orange mermaid gown from Gentlemen Prefer Blondes is a showstopper. Unlike many other iconic Marilyn looks, however, this one was unable to be archived because it sadly no longer exists. According to reports, jazz singer Abbey Lincoln burned the dress after giving the gown new life in 1957 because she didn't want to be known for wearing Marilyn's dress.
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