Marilyn Monroe’s Top 10 Most Iconic Outfits

In honor of what would’ve been Miss Norma Jean’s 91st birthday this June 1st, I put together some of her best and most recognizable outfits. While Marilyn looked fabulous in everything she wore, these are are especially fabulous!

10. Here’s Marilyn in one of her best colors – white! This one has her wrapped in white fur. Winsome in White Fur, NY, 1955 © Milton H Greene / Archive Images

9. Marilyn in glasses! Fabulous 50’s cat eye glasses! This image is from the 1953 movie How to Marry a Millionaire where she played Pola Debevoise.

8. Next up is Marilyn Monroe in a casual black turtleneck. Photographed in the spring of 1953 by Alfred Eisenstaedt at Monroe’s Beverly Hills home for LIFE Magazine.

7. No one wore high waisted short shorts like Marilyn wore high waisted short shorts!

6. We’re now getting down to the gown portion of our post! These fabulous matching red sequined gowns designed by William Travilla were worn in the 1953 movie Gentlemen Prefer Blondes by Marilyn and her co-star Jane Russell.

5. The infamous gold Travilla gown that she wore when she sang Happy Birthday Mr. President to JFK. Marilyn photographed at President Kennedy’s Birthday Gala, May 19th 1962.

4. This pink beauty is another one of the many William Travilla designed dresses that Marilyn has worn. Worn in the 1953 movie Gentlemen Prefer Blondes during her Diamonds Are A Girl’s Best Friend number.

3. Ah, the gorgeous Travilla (yet again!) gold lame gown from Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (again!).

2. The “Ballerina” series is one of Milton & Marilyn’s most recognized collaborations and was created in October of 1954 at his New York studio. Marilyn was in New York for the opening of the Seven Year Itch. Designer Anne Klein sent various outfits for Marilyn to wear, however all were 2 sizes too small, so the poses in this sitting amusingly deal with her problem of holding up the ill-fitting tulle and satin dress. The most recognized image from this sitting was chosen as one of Time-Life’s 3 most popular images of the 20th Century.© Milton H. Greene, 1954

1. Finally! Another gorgeous Travilla designed dress, it’s the most iconic dress Marilyn Monroe ever wore. The image is from the 1955 movie The Seven Year Itch and the dress even has it’s own Wikipedia page!

Which of Marilyn’s iconic dresses is your favorite?

xo
Justine

Vera & Schumacher

Wonderful article on Vera Neumann and her prints with Schumacher.

cristina buckley

Vera (Neumann) had a prolific career as an artist and designer. Her hand painted designs have appeared on everything from scarves to dinnerware, bedding, fashion, and towels. Her first foray into licensing her name and artwork was with the fabric house F. Schumacher in 1947. It was a pairing of two textile powerhouses. The first design Vera did for Schumacher was called “Tibet”, a landscape of Himalayan pine trees and traditional architecture.

“Tibet” by Vera Neumann

One of Vera’s most popular and recognizable designs with Schumacher was her “Jack in the Pulpit” which was introduced in 1949. This fabric was used in the Sun Room of the White House by the Trumans in 1952. “Jack in the Pulpit” remained available in Schumacher showrooms until 1986 – a noteworthy long run for any pattern. It featured ferns, one of Vera’s signatures that she depicted in many of her patterns.

“Jack in…

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Label Love: The Gap

It was 1987. I was just entering the 7th grade and I was a sucker for everything Reebok and Gap. I was a tiny little yuppie in training. While my love for Ronald Reagan and hi-top aerobic sneakers in every color of the rainbow waned, my love of the Gap did not. I still love the Gap.

Label Love: The Gap

Does Andie not rock the denim on denim look? Swoon with the bandanna belt!

Andie MacDowell for The Gap, Vogue, March 1986.

I’ve got this awesome vintage Gap denim shirt in the shop right now!

Vintage 80’s Gap Chambray Denim Shirt by Vintspiration

I would snap this boyfriend cardigan up in a hot second.

The Gap, December 1987. Photograph by Herb Ritts.

I spy some coral color love.

Gap – ELAINE IRWIN & JOHN PEARSON Gap Ad 1989 via Top Models of the World.

Head to toe love. HEAD. TO. TOE.

The Gap, Seventeen magazine, August 1985. Photograph by Barry McKinley.

I love these relaxed pleated front black and white houndstooth plaid cotton pants from The Gap that I have listed in the shop.

vintage 80s GAP mens HOUNDSTOOTH pleated pants 32 x 34 by Vintspiration

Oh Joni, those pins on your jean jacket are just so perfect.

Joni Mitchell for Gap by Herb Ritts circa 1990

The perfect colorful one piece bathing suit.

Naomi Sims for The Gap

And we all need a little vintage Darryl Dixon love. In bell bottoms and a newsboy cap. You go, Norman Reedus!

Ho, Ho, Hulett

Hulett was an artist and worked on some of my favorite classic Disney animated films including Fantasia, Dumbo, Bambi, Cinderella, and Sleeping Beauty among many others.

Hulett at work at Disney Studios, circa 1940’s
appears to be working on Lady and the Tramp

Some sweet vintage holiday illustrations by Ralph Hulett to keep you merry and bright.

Ralph Hulett

Vintage Ralph Hulett Christmas card © 1955 by the Estate Of Ralph Hulett

Ralph Hulett

Ralph Hulett

Ralph Hulett

Ralph Hulett

Ralph Hulett

Ralph Hulett

Ralph Hulett

Additional info on Ralph Hulett
California Painter Tony Peters Blog
Bodega Bay Heritage Gallery

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and Vintage Wonder to you and yours!

Label Love: Dale of Norway

Dale of Norway have been making woolen products since 1879. Their classic cozy sweaters have been copied endlessly, but they’re the original Norwegian wool sweater. Over the years they’ve wafted in and out of style but in my humble opinion have always been a staple of classic like Pendleton.

Their products are made by hand and they’ve been the official supplier of sweaters for the Norwegian ski team and the winter Olympics since 1956. In fact, each Olympic season a special sweater is made and are considered collectible.

vintage dale of norway dusty rose cardigan sweater m by vintspiration

80s dale of norway sweater, blue fair isle sweater, blue fairisle sweater, blue nordic sweater, blue ski sweater, reindeer snowflake by trashyvintage

Vintage Dale of Norway Wool Sweater Cardigan / Blue White Nordic Snowflake Pattern / Vintage Scandinavian Folk Knit by VintageByBeth

1970’s vintage Dale of Norway Nordic blue wool vest s/m by WindingRoadVintage