This Wednesday will be the release of "My Week with Marilyn" directed by Simon Curtis and starring the lovely Michelle Williams as Norma Jeane.
Michelle Williams plays the classic blonde bombshell.
Marilyn Monroe was more than just a movie icon — her fashion taste has been immortalized in photographs and re-created by fans and designers alike. Just before the movie release, let's take a look into the style of Hollywood's former golden girl.
William Travilla was the costume designer who designed some of Monroe's most memorable looks. In "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" she wore a gold gown that was deemed as too revealing as the sheer dress tightly hugged her well-known curves. The bombshell was always up for a little drama in her fashion choices.
Before they had the Sports Illustrated swimsuit editions, in 1951 Monroe was already donning the two-piece classic bikini. This polka dotted frock is almost as famous as her white dress in the classic subway scene. Retro bikinis have also been making a comeback and many celebrities have been snapped wearing the '50s look. On the British GQ cover, Kristen Stewart is transformed from her recent gloomy Bella Swan persona into a provocative, pin-up girl sporting a black version of Monroe's two-piece.
The Jean Louis dress was famous for not only being so tight, sheer and encrusted with 2,500 rhinestones, but it's the dress that she wore to the celebration of John F. Kennedy's 45th birthday in 1962. The dress became even more memorable when the actress sang "Happy Birthday, Mr. President." Below is a video of the iconic moment.
Finally, the most famous of every look, the ivory, pleated creme "subway" dress that Monroe wore in "The Seven Year Itch." This dress isn't just the most famous in film, but in the fashion world, too. I would say this and Audrey Hepburn's Givenchy dress from "Breakfast at Tiffany's," are the most famous film fashions ever. Even in recent times there haven't been dresses as iconic as these two have been.
Monroe's signature blonde locks and classic bright red lips is a look that celebrities continue to recreate, like Scarlett Johansson, Gwen Stefani and Christina Aguilera on the red carpet and in magazines. While retro styles have been recently making a come back, even when they leave, Monroe's make-up will forever be here to stay.
Despite her untimely death at the young age of 36, Monroe's image and impact on fashion have been forever immortalized into our minds. She inspired celebrities of her time and today. Truman Capote, Andy Warhol and Ella Fitzgerald all admired her style and character. Today, almost five decades after her death, celebrities in the fashion world continue to pay homage to the icon with many recreated looks seen in pop culture.
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Andy Warhol was captivated by the iconic status Marilyn Monroe had in the celebrity world.
