 | |
| Designer | William Travilla |
|---|---|
| Year | 1953 |
| Type | Pink dress |
| Material | Satin |
Marilyn Monroe wore a shocking pink dress in the 1953 film Gentlemen Prefer Blondes , directed by Howard Hawks. [1] The dress was created by costume designer William "Billy" Travilla and was used in one of the most famous scenes of the film, which subsequently became the subject of numerous imitations, significantly from Madonna in the music video for her 1985 song "Material Girl". [2]
When the costume designer William Travilla, known simply as Travilla, began working with Marilyn Monroe, he had already won an Oscar for his work in Adventures of Don Juan in 1948. Travilla designed the clothes of the actress in eight films, and later claimed to have had a brief affair with Monroe. [3] In 1953 Travilla designed the costumes for Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.
Originally, Monroe was to wear a breathtaking show girl costume, costing close to $4,000 (1953 dollars). [4] It had jewels sewn onto a black fish-net bodystocking up to the breasts, then covered in nude fabric, embellished with a mass of diamonds.
During production, it became public knowledge that Monroe had posed nude for a calendar in 1949, before she became well known. Travilla was given strict instructions to design a new, less-revealing costume in order to distance Monroe from the scandal. He designed the pink dress as a last-minute replacement. [5] [6]
The pink dress was worn by Monroe in the role of Lorelei Lee in the famous sequence in which the actress sings the song "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend", the choreography accompanied by several suitors in dinner clothes. Travilla's notes reveal that Monroe wore two identical copies in the scene as it took a long time to shoot and the dress, being floor length, was very prone to getting dirt on it.
The only pink dress known to survive was auctioned at Profiles in History on 11 June 2010, with an estimated price of between $150,000 and $250,000 and described as "the most important film costume to ever come to auction". [7] The dress ultimately sold for $370,000. It was described in the auction catalog as follows:
This Travilla-designed pink silk satin strapless gown features black satin lining on the oversized bow attached at back. Features integral brassier[ sic ] with rear zipper closure (concealed with bow overlay) and interior Fox cleaning tag. Also comes with the original pair of screen-worn opera-length tubes worn over Marilyn’s arms (gloves are shown for display only) and pink satin belt with "M. Monroe A-698 1-27-3-7953" written on the inner leather lining. Originally designed to be a two-piece garment, this lot features an additional bonus having the original top made for this dress (featuring interior bias label handwritten "1-27-3-7971 M. Monroe A 698-74") that was not used in the production. This design was discarded due to the top and skirt separating when Marilyn raised her arms during the number. The gown exhibits slight toning in areas, common in silk garments from this era; otherwise in fine condition. The leather backing on the belt is cracked and missing in areas and silk exhibits fraying on edges. [8]
Marilyn Monroe wore a white version of this dress (without the bow) to the premiere of her film There's No Business Like Show Business (1954). She was photographed extensively wearing this dress with a white fur stole and with a pair of matching opera gloves.
The dress is constructed of shocking pink peau d'ange silk fabric, lined with black silk/satin, and was designed by William Travilla. The floor-length gown is strapless and features a straight neckline. The scene that features the dress is heavily choreographed, so a slit in the back of the dress was added to allow for movement. The dress also has a large "bow" on the back, which is part of the dress construction, not added on as a separate piece. The bow is lined with black satin and is pleated in back on one side of the gown and folded over and attached to the other section.
The outfit also features two-tone opera gloves. The gloves were mostly made of the same shocking pink peau d'ange fabric, whereas the palm section of was made of a lighter shade of pink suede.
The jewels Monroe wore were costume and not authentic diamonds.
Over the years the pink dress has become an icon of fashion and film, and like her white dress is often imitated and parodied. One of the most famous of all is the one represented by the singer Madonna in the music video for her 1985 hit "Material Girl". [9]
In a segment entitled "Material Girl" in the 1997 Playboy Video, Playboy's Voluptuous Vixens, SaRenna Lee capitalized on her resemblance to Marilyn Monroe by appearing in a pink dress designed for her zaftig shape.
Mexican entertainers Thalía and Aida Pierce each wore similar shocking pink dresses. Thalia wore a replica of this dress while performing "Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend" in Spain in 1991, and Pierce wore a similar pink dress in a 2001 episode of Humor es...los comediantes as a tribute to Monroe (2001 would have been Monroe's 75th birthday).
American singer Normani wore a leotard with a skirt inspired by this dress in her music video for "Diamonds" (The song itself sampling "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend" by Monroe).
In the computer game The Sims: Superstar expansion pack published in 2003, the player can see the character of Marilyn Monroe, dressed in the same famous shocking pink dress. It was also produced as a Mattel Barbie doll with Barbie wearing Monroe's pink dress. [10]
In the third episode of the second season of the American television series Crazy Ex-Girlfriend , Rachel Bloom as Rebecca Bunch wears a blue version of the dress while singing "The Math of Love Triangles", parodying Monroe's performance of "Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend". [11]
In the thirteenth episode of the fifth season of the popular teen drama Gossip Girl, main character Serena Van Der Woodsen (portrayed by Blake Lively) is seen dreaming she is in Monroe's pink dress, replicating the dance and song with her male suitors on the show.
The 2020 film Birds of Prey contains a scene referencing "Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend." Lead character Harley Quinn goes into a dream/dissociation sequence wearing an outfit of the same pink style and jewels just like Monroe's character in the film as the song plays in the background. This may also be in reference to the use of the Diamonds song in Moulin Rouge! since actor Ewan McGregor appears in both scenes.
On the performance of I'm Just Ken song during the 96th Academy Awards by Ryan Gosling, he wore a pink suit to honour Marilyn's iconic pink dress. The whole performance of the song paid homage to the "Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend" sequence from the 1953 film adaptation of the stage musical Gentlemen Prefer Blondes by Marilyn Monroe. [12]
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes is a 1953 American musical comedy film directed by Howard Hawks and written by Charles Lederer. The film is based on the 1949 stage musical of the same name, which in turn is based on the 1925 novel of the same name by Anita Loos. The film stars Jane Russell and Marilyn Monroe, with Charles Coburn, Elliott Reid, Tommy Noonan, George Winslow, Taylor Holmes and Norma Varden in supporting roles.
Leo Robin was an American composer, lyricist and songwriter. He is probably best known for collaborating with Ralph Rainger on the 1938 Oscar-winning song "Thanks for the Memory," sung by Bob Hope and Shirley Ross in the film The Big Broadcast of 1938, and with Jule Styne on "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend," a song whose witty, Cole Porter style of lyric came to be identified with its famous interpreter Marilyn Monroe.
"Material Girl" is a song recorded by American singer Madonna for her second studio album, Like a Virgin (1984). It was released on January 23, 1985, by the Sire label as the second single from Like a Virgin. It also appears slightly remixed on the 1990 greatest hits compilation, The Immaculate Collection, in its original form on the 2009 greatest hits compilation, Celebration and Finally Enough Love: 50 Number Ones (2022). The song was written by Peter Brown and Robert Rans, and produced by Nile Rodgers. Madonna said the concept of the song was indicative of her life at that time, and she liked it because she felt it was provocative.
Evening gloves or opera gloves are a type of formal glove that reaches beyond the elbow worn by women.
Birthday Eve is a limited edition single by Japanese R&B-turned-pop artist Kumi Koda. It was the second release in her 12 Singles Collection and charted No. 6 on Oricon, remaining for four weeks. The single became the first release to be limited to 50,000 units, which would be done for all but three of the singles in the collection.
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"Happy Birthday, Mr. President" is a song sung by actress and singer Marilyn Monroe on May 19, 1962, for President John F. Kennedy at a gala held at Madison Square Garden for his 45th birthday, 10 days before the actual date. The event was co-hosted by Arthur B. Krim and Anna M. Rosenberg, who sat next to the President during the star-studded event.
Fashion in the period 1700–1750 in European and European-influenced countries is characterized by a widening silhouette for both men and women following the tall, narrow look of the 1680s and 90s. This era is defined as late Baroque/Rococo style. The new fashion trends introduced during this era had a greater impact on society, affecting not only royalty and aristocrats, but also middle and even lower classes. Clothing during this time can be characterized by soft pastels, light, airy, and asymmetrical designs, and playful styles. Wigs remained essential for men and women of substance, and were often white; natural hair was powdered to achieve the fashionable look. The costume of the eighteenth century, if lacking in the refinement and grace of earlier times, was distinctly quaint and picturesque.
William Travilla, known professionally as Travilla, was an American costume designer for theatre, film, and television. He is perhaps best known for designing costumes for Marilyn Monroe in eight of her films, as well as two of the most iconic dresses in cinematic history.
"Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend" is a jazz song introduced by Carol Channing in the original Broadway production of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1949), with music by Jule Styne and lyrics by Leo Robin.
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes is a musical with a book by Joseph Fields and Anita Loos, lyrics by Leo Robin, and music by Jule Styne, based on the best-selling 1925 novel of the same name by Loos. The story involves an American woman's voyage to Paris to perform in a nightclub.
American actress Marilyn Monroe's life and persona have been depicted in film, television, music, the arts, and by other celebrities.
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes may refer to:
Queen Elizabeth II's coronation took place on 2 June 1953. Ordered in October 1952, her gown took eight months of research, design, workmanship, and intricate embroidery to complete. It featured the floral emblems of the countries of the United Kingdom and those of the other states within the Commonwealth of Nations, including the English Tudor rose, Scots thistle, Welsh leek, Irish shamrock, Canadian maple leaf, Australian wattle, New Zealand silver fern, South African protea, Indian lotus flower for India, the Lotus flower of Ceylon, and Pakistan's wheat, cotton, and jute.
Audrey Hepburn wore a "little black dress" in the 1961 romantic comedy film Breakfast at Tiffany's. The garment was originally designed by Hubert de Givenchy, with three existing copies preserved to date. A studio copy of this dress was worn during the opening scene of the film, while another during a social party held at the apartment of the main protagonist.
Marilyn Monroe wore a white dress in the 1955 film The Seven Year Itch, directed by Billy Wilder. It was created by costume designer William Travilla and worn in the movie's best-known scene. The image of it and her above a windy subway grating has been described as one of the most iconic images of the 20th century.
In the 1946 film Gilda, Rita Hayworth wore a black dress made by American costume designer Jean Louis. It was used in a scene in which the character of Gilda sings the song "Put the Blame on Mame", improvising a quick striptease, choreographed by Jack Cole. The dress has helped consolidate the image of the femme fatale, as well as being universally recognized as an icon of fashion and cinema. The Independent named it as one of the Ten Best Fashion Moments in Film.
Julia Roberts wore a red dress in the 1990 romantic comedy film Pretty Woman. The ensemble was created by costume designer Marilyn Vance, and is worn during a "transformative" scene in the film where Roberts' character accompanies her love interest to a night at the opera. Thirty years after the film's release, Vogue Paris called the off-the-shoulder evening gown as “iconic”, and said that it helped make the romantic comedy "legendary".
The fashion of actress Audrey Hepburn, both on and off-screen, has impacted trends and pop culture, and she is considered a style icon.
