Marilyn Monroe’s dress has surfaced in the news again. The reason? kim kardashian

The Famous Marilyn Monroe Dress

At this point, it would be hard to ignore the fuss surrounding Kim Kardashian’s latest Met Gala outfit. The story goes as follows. The theme for this year’s Met Gala—the Super Bowl of the fashion world—was “Gilded Glamour”. This subject, along with last year’s “American Independence”, was classified under a broader category: “In America: An Anthology of Fashion”. And so, Miss Kardashian showed up on the red carpet in none other than the Marilyn Monroe dress. That’s right. The very same dress Marilyn Monroe wore when she sang “Happy Birthday” to John F. Kennedy. 

And while some praised the reality TV star for her look, the public found itself deep in an uproar. In fact, the situation opened a conversation about the value of historical fashion, and its place outside and inside museums. But was it really that bad?  Is it really that big of a deal?  Here’s a run down of why exactly Kim’s wearing of the dress matters.

The History Behind the Dress 

First and foremost, it is essential to lay down why this dress is so iconic. As aforementioned, Miss Monroe wore it to JFK’s 1962 birthday celebration, where she sang “Happy Birthday”. The importance of the dress can henceforth not be divorced from this specific context.

Monroe reportedly deceived organizers, leading them to believe that she would outfit herself in a modest look. So when she appeared in a bodycon dress the exact color of her own skin tone, the response was a shock. Such an overtly sensuous outfit was far from the norm of the time, especially in presidential presence. Furthermore, the performance famously sparked rumors of an affair between Monroe and JFK. It was later theorized that it was precisely this relationship that triggered the star’s untimely death. 

So the rhinestone-studded dress is intrinsically linked to Monroe’s infamous sensuality, alleged affair, and tragic ending. It’s thus no wonder that it gained such significant fame, which was later backed by its staggering price. Indeed, in 2016, Guinness World Records declared the ensemble to be the most expensive dress in the world. For it was in that year that Ripley’s Believe It or Not! acquired the outfit at an auction for the astounding sum of $4.8 million. 

What Went Down During the Met Gala

A Worrying Forecast 

And so it was Ripley’s that the SKIMS mogul contacted to get hold of the Marilyn Monroe dress. Kim is a self-reported “big fan of auctions” and her connections allowed her to get the conversation started. To Miss Kardashian, Marilyn Monroe was the epitome of Americanness. So wearing her iconic outfit to the American-themed Met Gala seemed self-evident. 

However, issues arose as the Internet personality tried the dress on, as is shown in a now viral video. Notably, the outfit was literally made to fit Monroe and Monroe only. As a matter of fact, she had to literally be sewn into the dress. So it’s really no wonder that Ripley’s experts had to visibly force Kim into the dress. Still, their efforts were not enough to make the zipper go up. 

And though this occurrence might have been ominous, Kardashian insisted on wearing the Marilyn Monroe dress. Hence, she put herself through extreme dieting and lost 16 pounds. In the end, the celebrity showed up at the Met Gala in a famous outfit. Nevertheless, she only wore it for a few minutes, for she changed into a replica once she reached the top of the stairs. 

The Shocking Aftermath 

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Kim’s wearing of the dress sparked great controversy. Some claimed Monroe would not have approved. Others stated the influencer wasn’t worthy. But the real concern was the potential damage. 

And oh did this concern turn out to be justified. Low and behold, pictures of the dress’ current state surfaced more than a month after the event. The results were missing rhinestones, pieces hanging on by a thread, and significant stress and tear around the zipper. 

Every Cloud Has A Silver Lining 

Before going on about the negative aspects of the situation, it might help to go through the unexpected positives. 

First, there’s the possibility that Monroe might have been delighted by the whole thing. Indeed, Nick Woodhouse, the head of the company that runs the star’s estate, suggested precisely this. He argues that Monroe would have loved to see her garment at the epicenter of pop culture once more. Plus she would have allegedly seen the similarities between Kim and herself. Both strong and powerful women entrepreneurs who love the eye of the camera. 

Then there is the undeniable truth that Kim’s wearing of the Marilyn Monroe dress multiplied its fame. Of course, some might argue that it didn’t need it. Yet it seems that newer generations aren’t aware of the powerhouse that was Monroe. So the SKIMS entrepreneur showing the dress off started conversations. Conversations that have helped keep Monroe’s legacy alive, all these years later. 

In that sense, it very well could be that Kim wearing and tearing the dress was a necessary evil. A questionable tool to boost Monroe’s legacy, to keep her celebrity alive and shining. And as the very existence of this article proves, the whole fiasco did just that. 

The Undeniable Negatives 

Dress and Its Historical Value 

But it’s obviously not all sunshine and rainbows. The negative consequences to Kim Kardashian’s actions are very real. Evidently, the strain that the whole thing had on the garment is the main one.

Here, it is essential to understand the importance of the preservation of historically significant pieces of clothing. For in the world in which we live, to live is to dress. Surely, clothes are an essential part of our interactions with others and with the environment that surrounds us. In short, clothes are, whether we like it or not, intrinsically tied to the human experience. So why shouldn’t we preserve them? Isn’t it the same as preserving history? 

Undeniably, the fashion of a certain time is the product of the society which produced it. Fashion reflects the socio-political realities of the era it belongs to. So preserving clothes in museums is preserving a moment in time, a reminder of a particular moment in history. Herein lies the historical value of fashion. 

In such a light, the preservation of the Marilyn Monroe dress is a serious topic because of what it entails. The garment is, for instance, a reminder of the celebrity culture of the time. A time when certain celebrities were reduced to a certain type. A time during which Monroe was continuously reduced to her role as a dumb, sexy blonde—even off film. Moreover (and perhaps paradoxically), the ensemble symbolizes Monroe’s rebellious attitude to a society that attempted to police her choices. As was previously mentioned, Monroe was expected to dress modestly for the event. 

So those who bemoan the dress’ damage also bemoan the damage done to the traces of an era. It isn’t just that an old star’s outfit is no longer in perfect condition. It’s that the remainder of the conditions of a specific point in time and space is eroding. And that’s a hard pill to swallow. 

A Dress That Belongs To All 

Now it might very well be objected that Monroe would have been okay with it all. So why are we all so mad about it?

Well, there are plenty of reasons. Most importantly, it is necessary to call into question the relevance of Monroe’s will in this specific situation. Surely, it was her dress. Yet the progressive digitization of our world has made it so that fashion is no longer exclusively for the wealthy. Today, easy access to the Internet means that everyone gets a say over what celebrities wear to the red carpet. Indeed, fashion is now a fascination for all. 

And so both in its historical value and fashion-related import, the Marilyn Monroe dress has become the people’s heritage. It is no longer just about what the performer would have wanted. It is also about the place of the ensemble within humanity’s right to the preservation of fashion and history. 

So the damage done to the garment is not only damage to Monroe’s legacy. It is also damages the world’s right to its history. 

So What’s the Real Conclusion?

The truth of the situation is that Kim Kardashian wore that Marilyn Monroe dress. Even if one does not like it. It’s a reality, so there is really no point in debating what shouldn’t have or should have happened. 

Rather, it is now important to learn from the experience. Sure, it isn’t so bad. Kim’s doings catapulted Monroe to the center of pop culture anew. But the historical value of fashion and humanity’s right to its preservation warns us against allowing this to happen again. 

And we can be sure that museums all over the world are currently working. Working to ensure that the pieces of fashion history will stay where they are. In fact, the International Committee for Museums and Collections of Costume, Fashion and Textiles is working on that. The organization has announced the creation of a new committee that will prevent this from happening ever again. In that sense, the least we can say is that Kim’s dubious doings opened up a much-needed conversation. 

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