Marilyn Monroe’s ‘The Seven Year Itch’ White Dress — Everything to Know About Her Iconic Costume and Where It Is Today
Among the most famous costumes in cinematic history, Marilyn Monroe’s white dress in “The Seven Year Itch” stands on its own. The iconic white frock, with a scintillatingly cinched waist, halter neckline and midi pleated skirt, is synonymous with Monroe’s iconoclastic image and one of the most memorable scenes from 1950s motion pictures.
So, what’s the story behind the white dress? Why is it so famous? Who designed it and where is it today? Ahead, WWD breaks down these questions and more.
More from WWD
Why is the white Marilyn Monroe dress famous?
Monroe starred opposite noted stage actor Tom Ewell in the 1955 picture “The Seven Year Itch,” directed by Billy Wilder. The film follows Richard Sherman, played by Ewell, who — left to his own devices during the summer when his family vacations while he works in the city — finds himself infatuated with his beautiful next door neighbor, played by Monroe.
During one of the pivotal scenes in the film, Richard and The Girl walk along a city sidewalk during the sultry summer. “Do you feel the breeze from the subway? Isn’t it delicious,” The Girl says as she stands over a grate, the wind blowing her billowing skirt up — thus is the iconic scene.
Wilder invited fans and paparazzi to the set while the scene was filmed, with cameras flashing as the pleated skirt to Monroe’s iconic white dress lifted far above her knees and revealed two pairs of white underwear worn one on top of the other.
Joe DiMaggio, Monroe’s husband at the time, was also on the set and was left enraged by the scene. After returning to Los Angeles once production for the film concluded in New York City, Monroe filed for divorce from DiMaggio, citing “mental cruelty.”
Who designed the dress?
William Travilla, known mononymously as Travilla, was the costume designer on “The Seven Year Itch.” Travilla designed the iconic white halter dress with a pleated skirt Monroe wore in the film. During his career, Travilla was nominated for four Academy Awards for Best Costume Design, winning only one in 1950 for “The Adventures of Don Juan.”
Travilla collaborated with Monroe on several films, including “Gentleman Prefer Blondes,” “Monkey Business,” “How to Marry a Millionaire” and Monroe’s breakout role in “Don’t Bother to Knock.”
What happened to the dress after the film?
The white pleated dress remained with studio 20th Century Fox for several years until the now-late actress Debbie Reynolds purchased the frock in 1971 for a reported $200. Reynolds, who was a great collector of film memorabilia, reportedly wanted to open a museum featuring all the pieces in her collection. The plan, unfortunately, never panned out.
In 2011, pieces from Reynolds collection were auctioned off. The white “Seven Year Itch” dress was sold for $4.6 million, according to Reuters. Profiles in History, the house that held the auction, estimated the dress was worth roughly $1 million to $2 million.
How did the dress impact fashion and culture?
Monroe’s iconic white dress from “The Seven Year Itch” has been recreated countless times in various biopics about the late star’s life. Most recently, Ana de Armas portrayed Monroe in the 2022 film adaptation of Joyce Carol Oates’s “Blonde,” a biographical fiction interpretation on Monroe’s storied life.
The iconic dress has also been recreated as a popular Halloween costume. Monroe’s style exuded glamour, confidence and sensuality. Her sartorial likeness had a major impact on fashion and the changing trends of the ’50s.
Apart from the memorable cinematic costume, variations on Monroe’s style are recreated by brands to this day. In 2022, JCPenney Co. Inc. collaborated with Authentic Brands Group on a 12-piece capsule collection called “Marilyn Monroe by JCPenney.”
The collection highlighted Monroe’s “effortless style and fashion legacy with feminine silhouettes and polished looks and the off-screen Marilyn, the humanitarian, artist and entrepreneur,” said Val Harris, Penney’s senior vice president of product design, trend and brand management.
Monroe’s iconic white dress remains among the most famous pieces of costuming in cinematic history — worn by one of Hollywood’s enduringly dynamic stars.
Iconic Film Costumes: ‘The Wizard of Oz,’ ‘Clueless,’ ‘Barbie’ and More [PHOTOS]
Launch Gallery: Iconic Film Costumes: 'The Wizard of Oz,' 'Clueless,' 'Barbie' and More [PHOTOS]
Best of WWD
Sign up for WWD's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Solve the daily Crossword
