Who would have thought that a backwoods country singer could unite the world through her love, talent, and infectious joy? That's exactly what Dolly Parton did, and while I plan on doing a tribute post for her, there was just not enough time for me this morning to do it right, so instead, you get more Marilyn Monroe from the Academy exhibit in Los Angeles. Two dresses from one of my very favorite Monroe flicks, “Some Like it Hot” (1959) were on display together.
Designed by Orry-Kelly, they both appear to be original (other than the shoes), based on the nearby placard:
Marilyn Monroe’s work in director Billy Wilder’s “Some Like It Hot” is often cited as her best. The film was controversial for its racy humor and story about two musicians (Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon) who disguise themselves as women to evade the Mafia. But of equal scandal were the Oscar-winning costumes by Orry-Kelly for Monroe’s Sugar “Kane” Kowalczyk. These two dresses feature carefully placed beading and sequins so that when shot in black and white, Monroe appeared partially nude.
Silk, sequins, and chiffon never looked so good. Here’s a color publicity still showing Monroe in the outfit:
This one is probably my favorite outfit she wears in the film. The amount of detail in the sequins for something that would barely be able to be seen on screen is astonishing.
Marilyn wearing the dress. At the bottom of the photo, you can see my very favorite detail - a heart on her left butt cheek:
I wonder how many people who watched the movie even caught this little detail? While Monroe looked fabulous in black and white, seeing this costume in person in full color gives one an even deeper appreciation for the craftsmanship that went into it.
Monroe and Curtis between takes:
As I approached the legendary “Seven Year Itch” (1955) subway dress, I wondered…could this be the real thing? Well, kind of, but not really.
This replica was made by the original costume designer William Travilla. He often made close copies of his most iconic film looks for publicity purposes. This version has the belt secured in the middle. For the original costume, Monroe tied the belt to the side.
Tied front and center:
As seen in the film (with Tom Ewell), tied to the side. Much better! Good choice, Marilyn!
Final outfit for today is from “Bus Stop” (1956). All original EXCEPT for the shoes, tights, and gloves.
“Bus Stop” marked a turning point in Marilyn Monroe’s career. She had recently formed Marilyn Monroe Productions and signed a new contract with Twentieth Century-Fox that gave her a higher salary and more creative agency. This design by William Travilla supported Monroe’s performance as saloon singer Chérie, who dreams of one day making it big in Hollywood. Monroe learned an Arkansas accent for the role. She asked Travilla to tone down the glamour used for her costumes in previous roles to better suit Chérie.
Monroe wearing this outfit on the larger-than-life marquee in front of Grauman’s on Hollywood Boulevard:
If you haven’t seen it yet, you have until February 28, 2027. Don’t put off for tomorrow what you can do today!
See more Academy Museum photos at my main website.
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