When you hear the term “fashion icon,” who do you think of? To this day, Marilyn Monroe remains the ultimate fashion icon in America, and quite possibly the world. Even though she has been dead for over half a century, the public remains absolutely fascinated by everything about this legendary actress, including her iconic wardrobe.
One reason for that fascination is that Monroe’s most famous looks were about more than looking good. As it turns out, there are secret meanings and crazy stories behind almost everything she ever wore. Just what are her best outfits, and what’s the truth behind them? Keep reading to find out!
A dress that led to divorce
Without a doubt, the most famous Marilyn Monroe outfit is the dress that she wore in The Seven Year Itch. Even if you’ve never seen the movie, you’re likely familiar with its most infamous moment: the one where Monroe walks over a New York City subway grate and has to hold down the dress to keep it from riding up any further. She’s laughing the whole time, and this image (with its uninhibited joy and undeniable sex appeal) became a pop culture phenomenon that has stood the test of time.
However, what most people don’t realize is that this killer dress may have led to Marilyn Monroe’s divorce. At the time, she was married to baseball legend Joe DiMaggio, and he reportedly thought the scene was a little too “exhibitionist.” Not only would millions of people ultimately see Monroe’s modesty very nearly exposed, but about 5,000 of her fans gathered to watch her shoot the scene.
DiMaggio was there at the time and ended up storming off the set. Rumors claim that he and Monroe had a huge fight over the matter, and since they divorced soon after, many think this dress is effectively what ended their marriage!
The dress that caused an international scandal
Aside from that aforementioned white dress, Marilyn Monroe’s other most famous outfit is the one that she wore for President John F. Kennedy. The dress in question was nude-colored, insanely close-fitting, and covered with 2,500 crystals. And the entire world saw her get on stage in 1962 to sing a certain song to sing “Happy Birthday” to JFK in the sultriest, sexiest voice that anyone could possibly imagine.
The dress alone caused a huge splash, especially because, at first glance, it looked like Monroe was actually nude. This, combined with just how saucy her singing was, led countless people to believe that she was actually having an affair with the most powerful person in the world. Just like that, Marilyn Monroe caused an international scandal by simply being too sexy for anyone to handle!
The Shocking Secrets Behind Marilyn Monroe’s Iconic Wardrobe
