Marilyn Monroe’s Pink Dress: The History and Controversy

In 1953, a blonde bombshell draped in pink satin and dripping with diamonds became one of cinema’s most enduring images of glamour. Seven decades later, the look Marilyn Monroe wore in “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” is still alive in pop culture’s zeitgeist through constant references and celebrity reinterpretations. The pink dress, however, would have never existed if it hadn’t been for a controversial moment in Monroe’s career.

Monroe was quickly rising in Hollywood when she got cast to replace Betty Grable as Lorelei Lee in “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.” She was paired with costume designer William Travilla, with whom she had previously worked on “Monkey Business” (1952) and collaborated with six more times in her career.

Before the pink dress, Travilla had created a different costume for Monroe to wear in the movie until 20th Century Fox’s studio head Darryl F. Zanuck forced him to change his plans.

While they were filming “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes,” a journalist named Aline Mosby uncovered news that Monroe had posed nude for photographer Tom Kelley in 1949. By 1952, one of the photos had been printed in a calendar. Concerned about how the information would affect the film at the box office, Zanuck reportedly told Monroe to deny the authenticity of the photos. She didn’t.

“Why deny it? You can get one at any place,” Monroe told Mosby for United Press. “Besides, I’m not ashamed of it. I’ve done nothing wrong. I was a week behind my rent. I had to have the money,” she said.

The actress explained that Kelley had asked her to pose for him many times but finally decided to do it out of financial necessity. “Tom didn’t think anyone would recognize me. My hair was long then. But when the picture came out, everybody knew me,” she said. “I’d never have done it if I’d known things would happen in Hollywood so fast for me. I was told I should deny I’d posed.…But I’d rather be honest about it.”

Following the controversy, Zanuck reportedly called Travilla and told him to create a different costume for Monroe to wear during the “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend” number, covering up her body. The original costume planned for that scene was made of nude fabric and a fishnet body stocking with rhinestone embellishments. Monroe had already done wardrobe tests wearing the look.

Travilla then created the infamous pink silk dress. The strapless gown featured black satin lining, an oversize bow attached at the back and an integral brassier with rear zipper closure. Monroe was styled in the ensemble with opera-length gloves and a pink taffeta belt.

What happened to Marilyn Monroe’s pink dress?

The location of the pink dress remained unknown until 2010, when Profiles in History announced its Hollywood Auction 40, featuring Travilla’s creation as its main star.

“The gown exhibits slight toning in areas, common in silk garments from this era; otherwise in fine condition. The leather backing on the belt is cracked and missing in areas and silk exhibits fraying on edges,” said the description.

An anonymous buyer acquired the piece for $310,000, exceeding the auction house’s expectations by 55 percent. The dress hasn’t been shown to the public since.

Madonna’s ‘Material Girl’ dress and more reinterpretations

In 1985, Madonna recreated Monroe’s “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend” scene for the musical video of “Material Girl.” The singer’s pink dress was designed by Marlene Stewart, who was Madonna’s costume designer at the time.

Other celebrities have nodded to Monroe’s pink dress over the years.

In 2004, Anna Nicole Smith starred in a “Gentlemen Prefer Fur-Free Blondes” ad for Peta, wearing a version of the pink dress. At the 2024 Oscars, Ryan Gosling channeled his inner Monroe in a stud-embellished pink suit for his “I’m Just Ken” performance.

Camila Cabello, Blake Lively, Kylie Minogue, Katie Couric and Kylie Jenner have also worn costumes inspired by Monroe’s “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend” dress.