Almost 50 years since she graced the silver screen, Marilyn Monroe remains a familiar icon of femininity and sensuality. Since her untimely death in 1962, the many portrayals of her both on and off screen are testament to the influence she has had, and her unique style.
Most recently she has been brought back to life by Michelle Williams, in the just-released film My Week with Marilyn. The film takes place during her filming of The Prince and the Showgirl with Laurence Olivier, and is based on the real-life diary account of young Colin Clark, an assistant on the film who embarks on a fleeting romance with the blonde bombshell.
Of course, one of the most iconic images of her is the photograph of her in a billowy flowing white dress being blown up around her by an updraft from a subway grate (a scene recently immortalised 26ft tall in statue form on Chicago’s Magnificent Mile). But Monroe’s influence went far beyond that brief moment where PR and lechery combined, and today her image of ultimate femininity has led to a revival of interest in vintage dresses that emphasise a desirable hourglass figure.
Be a blonde bombshell
The pouty lips, the platinum blonde hair and the enviable, curvaceous figure were a huge part of the Marilyn Monroe look, but it was also the clothes she wore and the way she wore them. The 1950s dresses that she wore were all designed to enhance her femininity and subtly boost her sex appeal. She favoured figure-hugging numbers in red, white, cream and black, bold colours for a bold public persona. As she once said, “I’m very definitely a woman and I enjoy it.”
For those who want to recreate the Marilyn Monroe look, it’s all about pencil skirts, halter neck 1950s vintage dresses, bullet bras and high heels (another Monroe quote: “I don’t know who invented high heels, but all women owe him a lot”). Despite her undeniable natural beauty, she was also no stranger to make-up and lipstick, with bright red shades a must for the latter.
So, get yourself a ticket to My Week with Marilyn, or rent one of her old films, head to the vintage clothing store, and create your own tribute to the legend that was Marilyn Monroe.
Article courtesy of Fever Designs
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