An object of admiration, imitation, inspiration, a real style icon - this is 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 Jeane Mortenson (who later took her mother's surname Baker) was born in Los Angeles - the future Hollywood star Marilyn Monroe. A difficult childhood spent in orphanages and foster families, youth at a factory - it would seem that nothing foreshadowed a dizzying career for Norma. However, her natural beauty was noted by photographer David Conover, who was reporting on the factory workers. It was he who advised the future star to try himself as a model. The girl’s rather tall height for those times (163 cm) and weight (about 55 - 60 kg) made her proportions ideal for photos.
In 1945, Norma Baker began collaborating with the Blue Book modeling agency: it was during this period that the naturally brown-haired woman decided to radically change her hair color and style. This is how Marilyn Monroe's famous hairstyle comes into being - platinum fluffy shoulder-length curls. Then Norma takes on a more sonorous pseudonym, under which millions recognize her.
Monroe's film career, which began rapidly in the 1950s, became an incentive for the actress to create her own recognizable, unique style. Marilyn shows herself in public and on screens in seductive, sometimes even provocative, feminine outfits, which were instantly copied by numerous fashionistas of that time.
Iconic makeup: Marilyn Monroe's Hollywood look
Perfect porcelain skin, lush eyelashes, neat eyeliner and bright red lipstick (pictured below) - this is a recognizable image that has become a true classic. Makeup in the style of Marilyn Monroe is still relevant today, because it perfectly emphasizes the beauty of a woman’s face without overshadowing her natural features.
And, of course, the famous makeup in the style of Marilyn Monroe is unthinkable without the famous “spot” (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: Marilyn Monroe's style on screen and in life
The actress's ideal parameters, height and weight allowed her to wear almost any outfit - Marilyn looked incredibly feminine even in wide men's shirts and short trousers. However, the actress gave her preference to emphatically feminine, seductive outfits that hug her figure.
Dresses
The main item in the actress's wardrobe has always been dresses.
Throughout her life, the actress's weight fluctuated slightly, but her proportions remained unchanged - and Marilyn skillfully emphasized her seductive curves with tight-fitting styles.
Many of Marilyn Monroe's dresses have become iconic and recognizable: a snow-white dress with a deep neckline and a flowing pleated skirt, so impressively captured in the photo fluttering in the wind. A translucent, tight-fitting, flesh-colored dress, decorated with rhinestones, in which the actress congratulated the president on his birthday (despite its apparent lightness, its weight was several kilograms). Cyclamen bustier dress with bow and matching gloves from the movie “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” (in the next photo). A black dress with a white bow on the chest - they all became one of the most recognizable wardrobe items in fashion history.
Stills from the film "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes"
In the film star’s wardrobe, there are two favorite styles of dresses: a tight-fitting sheath that fits like a second skin and a fitted dress with a flared skirt (pictured below).
Many of Marilyn's dresses had a very deep neckline and exposed her shoulders and arms. To wear such revealing dresses with dignity and control her weight, Marilyn performed exercises with dumbbells every day.
Skirts and trousers
In everyday life, she preferred a discreet style: one of the actress’s favorite outfits was a simple sweater or turtleneck combined with a tight-fitting knee-length pencil skirt.
Marilyn chose smooth fabrics and preferred simple basic colors - black, grey, white or beige. Flared, flowing skirts were also present in the star's wardrobe - she combined them with shirts or cropped tops.
The actress's height 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 in the star's everyday wardrobe - she preferred narrow, fitted models, often trimmed with fur.
The actress's wardrobe included many sweaters, turtlenecks and tops that today we would call crop tops - cropped models that end under the bust. However, with the exception of photos from resorts, the star did not expose her belly and combined such tops with high-waisted skirts and trousers. This style visually increased height and emphasized feminine proportions.
Another favorite item of the film star's wardrobe is white shirts in men's style. Marilyn tied them under her breasts, tucked them into her trousers, or wore them to graduation. The actress’s ideal height and weight allowed her to look seductive even in loose clothes.
Outerwear
In public, Marilyn often appeared in luxurious or capes.
The actress's favorite was a white ermine fur coat. were also present in the diva’s wardrobe: draping it over her shoulders, Marilyn even descended from the plane like a real diva. The next photo shows the actress’s favorite black and white coat.
Shoes
“Give a woman a pair of high-heeled shoes and she will conquer the whole world,” said the great Monroe. Marilyn knew what she was talking about - she owes her famous exhilarating gait partly to high-heeled shoes. Pumps and open-toe sandals with thin heels are the actress’s favorite models. To visually increase her height and make her legs even longer, Marilyn often chose nude models.
Beauty secrets of the great blonde
The actress’s ideal parameters and weight are not so much a gift of nature as the result of the star’s continuous work on herself. Every morning, the actress began with physical exercises with small dumbbells - they helped the actress strengthen her pectoral muscles and be proud of her seductive bust, as well as maintain a thin waist. Swimming helped the actress quickly lose weight before filming.
The actress's height required her to maintain a weight of 53 - 55 kg, and at the beginning of her acting career, the actress's menu consisted mainly of fast food (burgers and peanut butter). Subsequently, Hollywood nutritionists developed a special diet for Marilyn that would help her quickly get into shape before filming. The actress maintained her weight by eating mostly proteins and avoiding complex carbohydrates.
The phenomenon of Marilyn Monroe has many components: it is not only beauty, but also a unique style, naturalness, the ability to reveal one’s femininity with the help of clothes, and also confidence in one’s irresistibility and self-love.
This dress has its own name - “Happy Birthday, Mr. President” and its fascinating romantic story.
In March 1961, the actress Marilyn Monroe offered to sing in front of US President John Kennedy at the upcoming celebration of his birthday. The celebrations were to take place in the most prestigious concert hall, Madison Square Garden. Marilyn agreed and began to prepare for the performance, but in her own way...
She turned to the most famous fashion designer in America at that time, Jean Louis, with a clearly formulated order: to make for her “a truly historical, extraordinary dress, the likes of which no one has ever had before.”
"In a word,- the actress emphasized, - it has to be something that only I can wear.”
The fashion designer began by starting to watch all the films with the participation of his famous client. Subsequently he will tell:
“Marilyn had amazing control over her charming body; it was in constant motion, but it was done naturally and elegantly. And it dawned on me - I grabbed it, realized what I had to do - play up this gift of her to provoke... In general, I drew a sketch of a dress that creates the full effect that she is naked.”
Front and back view of the dress
This is how this idea was born. The question arose - what to sew from? A small handicraft silk-weaving factory in France is given the task of producing airy, literally like a spider's web, flesh-colored fabric, using the smallest machines and the finest thread. When the weightless fabric was delivered to Los Angeles, the entire fashion designer's team, consisting of excellent specialists in their field who studied in France, set to work right in Monroe's house in Brandwood.
It was long and painstaking work, one hundred percent done by hand. The pattern was made directly by the customer herself. With a constant glass of champagne in her hand, she posed for hours, standing on a stool in front of the masters who were conjuring around her. A real masterpiece was created! The dress, unlined, sleeveless, and open-backed, was like a dummy, an integral copy of Monroe’s body shapes with the intention of showing these shapes in all their naked beauty. It turned out that these tight-fitting clothes looked like her second skin. At the same time, she should not be wearing any underwear...
Completely naked, she was enveloped in this web-like fabric, on which six thousand diamond sparkles were scattered. The dress was fastened with a thin snake zipper and microscopic hooks - all flesh-colored. It was designed in such a way that the straps supported the charming breasts of the actress, who at 36 years old was in the prime of beauty and fame. The outfit cost her 12 thousand dollars - a huge amount at that time.
Meanwhile, the meticulous organizers of the show showed constant interest in what the film star was going to wear before the president of the country. The actress understood perfectly well that the guardians of American morals - puritans and terrible hypocrites - would not allow her to go on stage, in fact, in the dress of the king from Andersen's fairy tale. Knowing this, she demonstrated one of her myriad of outfits - a very modest evening dress made of black satin, which was approved by the organizers of the evening. That's why we are women, to resort to little tricks!
And now, the culmination of the event is Marilyn Monroe's performance on May 19, 1962 at a gala concert in Madison Square Garden on the occasion of John F. Kennedy's anniversary.
Until the very last moment before going on stage, she remained tightly wrapped in fur in order to avoid scandal and the ban on singing in such an outfit, which could well be expected from the organizers of the holiday.
But when she appeared before the public, there was a shock - the noble assembly could not come to their senses: Monroe’s luxurious figure, sparkling with diamond sparks, appeared in all its charming charm. Without giving anyone time to come to their senses, she, addressing the presidential box, sang “Happy Birthday, Mister President!”
Monroe took off her fur coat only on stage
The actress later recalled:
“When I found myself in front of the ramp to sing, I felt the audience’s breath taken away - everyone thought that I was completely naked...”
Needless to say, “Mr. President John Kennedy did not miss the opportunity to personally thank Monroe for the wonderful gift.
Undoubtedly, every guest was curious to look at Monroe up close, and every man was curious to take a photo as a souvenir.
Marilyn and opera diva Maria Callas
The concert at which Marilyn Monroe sang for John Kennedy was the last in her life... A few months later, the actress committed suicide, and soon the 35th President of the United States was assassinated in Dallas.
A few years ago, the dress was sold at auction for a fabulous sum - $1.3 million! It was bought by two New York businessmen - Peter Siegel and Bob Chagrin. “We have made the deal of the century,” the entrepreneurs say. “In fact, the dress costs at least $3 million!”
March 16, 2017
At one time, this woman was the most desirable in the world. She was considered a goddess, she was worshiped and imitated, she excited the hearts of millions of men. Have you already guessed who it is? We are talking about an unsurpassed film star Marilyn Monroe.
There are legends surrounding this iconic personality. She surprised and amazed with its originality, that's why they loved her. Today we’ll talk about one of the diva’s most scandalous performances - her performance of the song “Happy Birthday” at President Kennedy’s birthday.
Marilyn decided to sing this song in a very provocative manner, so much so that this performance became a landmark moment in her career. This is what I understand, PR!
But the audience was impressed not only by the manner of performance, but also the dress that Monroe wore to the holiday concert. It can confidently be called the prototype of the now popular “naked” dresses.
You already know what it looked like without me. Maybe, only a caveman has not seen this famous dress. But just in case, I visualize it.
President Kennedy's birthday took place in Madison Square Garden. The event was attended by more than 15,000 people, including many celebrities. Although First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy was not there...
Marilyn's dress was almost as popular as the performance itself. Translucent, flesh-colored and with a deep neckline, it hugged the diva’s body so closely that it seemed she could barely move. And, perhaps, the most interesting thing is that there was no underwear underneath...
Studded with 2,500 rhinestones, it sparkled in the spotlight. Monroe ordered a dress from designer Jean Louis and called this outfit "leather and beads". It was originally priced at $12,000 and sold 37 years later for $1.26 million.
This is Marilyn's performance and the image itself was carefully planned. Rumor has it that the actress had high hopes for the event. At that time, the romance between the actress and the president was no longer a secret to anyone, which is why this flashy performance had such an effect.
It is unknown how this story could end... They say that after this trick, Kennedy wanted to break up with the actress. But all these are unconfirmed facts.
Famous performance turned out to be one of the last public appearances Marilyn Monroe. Three months later, she died from an overdose of sleeping pills, and Kennedy himself was killed 18 months later.
Despite the revealing unpleasant facts from the personal life of this beautiful woman, we never stop loving her. Images of Marilyn still excite the hearts of fans, and modern stars inspired by her example, putting on the “naked” dresses we already love to go out. Well, let's thank Marilyn Monroe for that!
12 chosen
On the first day of summer, the most famous blonde of the 20th century was born. Many, looking at Marilyn Monroe, exclaim: what is special about her! She is so ordinary, not a beauty at all. But those who communicated with her personally remember that she had feminine magic, a charm that even very good photographs are not always able to convey... In honor of Marilyn Monroe’s birthday, we remember her images that have become iconic...
White flowing dress
The white pleated crepe dress from The Seven Year Itch (1955) was created by costume designer William Travill. This image of the star in a white dress, the hem of which rises from the air flows from the subway hatch, has become iconic.
Dress “Happy Birthday, Mr. President"
Wearing a shimmering beaded dress, Marilee sang a congratulatory song at the celebration of John F. Kennedy's birthday. The congratulations came with a subtext: in the dress the actress looked almost naked, and in the traditional birthday song there was room for erotic intonations. Journalists wrote that it felt like Monroe was making love to the president in front of forty million Americans.
Fashion designer Jean Louis fulfilled the actress's request: to sew a historical dress in which only she could be imagined. The dress cost $12,000 in 1962, and 37 years later it was sold for 1.26 million.
Dress from Some Like It Hot
The silver dress from the movie Some Like It Hot (1959), in which Marilyn sang I wanna be Loved by you, was designed by costume designer Orry-Kelly.
Despite the fact that Marilyn was pregnant during filming, dresses were chosen that emphasized every curve of the actress’s body.
Blue polka dot dress
Sam Shaw photographed Marilyn Monroe and her husband Arthur Miller at Roxberry Farm in England. It was he who photographed the actress on the ventilation grill in a white dress.
These shots even became stamps (series “In Memory of Marilyn Monroe”, 2015).
Black dress with open back from Dior
These shots are some of the last in the life of Marilyn Monroe. They were taken six weeks before she passed away.
0 November 25, 2016, 21:21Recently, the famous dress of Marilyn Monroe - the same one in which he performed his sweet Happy Birthday, Mr President at the birthday of US President John F. Kennedy, was auctioned in Beverly Hills for a record 4.8 million dollars. This is the largest amount for which an artist's wardrobe has ever been sold. The excitement is understandable - the dress is truly legendary. Let's tell you why.
Of course, the dress made of translucent fabric, embroidered with two and a half thousand crystals, did not appear out of nowhere - it was created by fashion designer Jean Louis, who persistently promoted in Hollywood the image of an uninhibited and sexy woman, one who has nothing to hide when it comes to her figure.
It was Jean Louis who invented the famous black satin dress for Rita Hayworth’s heroine, in which she teased the imagination in the film “Gilda” - Rita just slowly took off her glove, and men were already going crazy from such frankness.
The script for the film was mediocre, but the film is still considered iconic for the era of “Golden Hollywood” - largely thanks to Rita’s outfit, which emphasized all the curves of her figure.
Rita Hayworth in the movie "Gilda"
No less hype arose after the release of the film “From Here to Eternity,” in which the designer dressed the lead actress Deborah Kerr in a sexy black swimsuit.
No, this, of course, is not a bikini, and today it is difficult for us to understand why one could be indignant here, but back in 1953, such a swimsuit, outlining all the features of the female body, looked, in the opinion of the public, simply indecent and outrageous.
Deborah Kerr in the movie "From Here to Eternity"
Further - more: on the set of the film "Too Hot a Handle", a rather flat and mediocre Hollywood comedy, Jean Louis creates such a revealing outfit for the lead actress Jayne Mansfield, completely strewn with sparkles, that the dress has to be retouched in editing, literally covering up the visible nipples.
In general, the designer’s style was understood—he was moving towards nudity slowly but surely. And he finally reached the pinnacle of his creativity when he met Marilyn Monroe, who ordered him a special dress for a special occasion, John F. Kennedy’s birthday.
Jayne Mansfield in "Too Hot a Handle"
1962 Marilyn interrupts filming, drops everything and flies to New York, to Madison Square Garden, where the US Democratic Party is throwing a grand reception in honor of the president's 45th birthday - 10 days ahead of schedule.
Monroe just returned to cinema after prolonged depression and gall bladder surgery, which cost her 10 kilograms. She still longs for Kennedy's love, and he has already made the final decision to leave the actress.
Evening, a huge stadium with 15 thousand spectators, including a nervous Kennedy. Monroe is late - on purpose or not, but she makes herself wait. And when he finally takes the stage, the tension in the hall reaches its peak. And after Marilyn appears, everyone completely freezes - she is wearing a “naked” dress.
Translucent fabric and crystals in the spotlight create the effect of a naked body, and this effect is like a bomb exploding. It is no coincidence that Monroe herself called the dress “leather and beads,” but no one looked at the beads as soon as the star got on stage.
The very sight of Monroe has a magnetic effect on the audience, but she opens her mouth and exhales: “Happy Birthday, Mr President.” You can’t call it a song: Monroe purrs, sighs, whispers - turning her sexy voice into a weapon of mass destruction. But Marilyn turned to only one person - Kennedy.
Later, someone will say that it was unbearable to watch: it was like watching Monroe make love to the president in front of everyone.
Marilyn Monroe talks to John Kennedy after a performance
What Kennedy was thinking about when he watched this speech by Monroe addressed to him, we will never know. We will never guess what Marilyn felt, standing alone on stage, blinded by the spotlight and practically naked - in front of thousands of people. The heroes of this story are long dead, but the dress is alive.
In 1962 it cost $12,000, and in 1999 it was sold at auction for $1.3 million. Now the amount has grown to almost 5 million. And for some reason we are sure that this is not the final price - there will be other owners who want to touch the legend and buy Marilyn’s outfit.
But no one will wear it anymore anyway - the dress has turned into a museum exhibit, which means that Norma Jeane Baker will remain its first and only owner once and for all.
Photo Gettyimages.ru
