2024-11-19
The outcry from vintage clothing professionals continues as they criticize US celebrity Kim Kardashian for wearing a Marilyn Monroe dress. Monroe wore it when she sang "Happy Birthday" to President John F. Kennedy in 1962.
The tight-fitting dress was designed by the young designer Bob Mackie, the work was finished by the experienced designer Jean Louis. He decided to embellish the dress with more than 6,000 crystals. Most likely, Monroe did not wear anything underneath during her famous performance, which was intended to create the "scandal" she knew would arise around her and her performance. Rumour has it that the actress had to be sewn into her clothes.
Kim Kardashian wore the vintage dress for just a few minutes while walking the red carpet at the Met Gala. According to the celebrity's account, the dress was sent by jet for the fitting, the influencer also had to wear gloves during it. "I am full of respect for this dress and its importance to American history. I would never want to sit in it, eat in it or risk damaging it, nor will I be wearing the kind of makeup I usually wear," - Kardashian explained and: "Everything had to be carefully timed, and I had to practice walking up the stairs."
The dress itself was purchased at auction in 2016 by museum chain , "Ripley's Believe It or Not!" for a record-breaking sum of over $5 million. The institution described it as "the most expensive dress in the world".
Both the ICOM (International Council of Museums) specialist from costume committee and the former head of conservation at the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute, Sarah Scaturro have expressed their opposition to Kardashian wearing Monroe's dress. Experts are true to the principle that prevention is better than cure. Improper use can expose an object to permanent and irreversible damage.