The Most Expensive Dress a Marilyn Monroe Original

April 5, 2006 | Posted by Allison as The Most Expensive at 1:01 pm |

Marilyn Monroe Dress JFK Most Expensive.jpgThis morning I became fascinated by the idea of finding out the most expensive dress ever.  I’m not sure what prompted this question in my brain, yet there it was nonetheless begging an answer.  And by Jove, I think we’ve got it!

In a unique TV event, Christie’s did a live broadcast of the fifty-five lots from The Personal Property of Marilyn Monroe auction on October 27, 1999.  Up for auction was the Eternity Band given to Monroe by her third husband Joe DiMaggio which went for $700,000; her Happy Birthday Mr. President Invitation which ended up going for $115,000 and the most exciting auction of the evening was Marilyn’s Happy Birthday Mr. President dress which she wore at the infamous birthday tribute to President John F. Kennedy at the Madison Square Gardens on May 19th, 1962.

The dress Marilyn Monroe donned that birthday evening was a full length evening sheath dress of flesh colored gauze encrusted with rhinestones embroidered in a rosette motif.  The dress that Monroe sang the sweet “Happy Birthday Mr. President” song which now lives in infamy, was sold at Christie’s that October evening for $1,150,000.  The dress was originally made for Monroe for approximately $2,500.  Now, I call that a good investment. 

 

 

27 Comments »

  1. tracee Said,

    January 18, 2007 @ 5:48 pm

    this is ugly ….kind of country-ish

  2. kRYSTAL Said,

    April 11, 2007 @ 6:11 pm

    This is a beautiful, legendary piece that will be remembered for decades. It deserves the respect she held.

  3. michguy Said,

    July 20, 2007 @ 11:27 pm

    This is perhaps the most beautiful dress I’ve ever seen. It’s a rare thing for a dress to not only be created for, but be so entirely made perfectly for a woman. This dress was made to be worn by Marilyn, and only Marilyn.

  4. ashley Said,

    August 28, 2007 @ 3:30 pm

    i lovve thhis dress is beautiful

  5. pete Said,

    September 15, 2007 @ 8:35 pm

    this is a beautiful dress :)
    tracee you have no idea and no class … your ugly !

  6. Liza Said,

    October 3, 2007 @ 5:14 am

    Hi
    I want to purchase this clothes

  7. angy Said,

    October 27, 2007 @ 7:40 pm

    thats like beutifull! i want that dress id were it on my weddin … its beutifull yet very very expensive

  8. Iva Said,

    January 7, 2008 @ 5:43 pm

    This is the most glamorously sophisticated dress of its time and was worn by a very beautiful, intellegent, talented and misunderstood woman. Anyone who thinks this dress has anything to do with country attire — has to be very fashion challenged and probably only wears blue jeans.

  9. Jake Said,

    January 7, 2008 @ 7:59 pm

    First, that dress cost $12,000. Even in That time and secondly, Joe DiMaggio was NOT her third husband. Arthur Miller was :)

  10. laarni t.javier Said,

    January 8, 2008 @ 12:39 pm

    wow…. its so expensive!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i think i wasnt born that time yet..but i can truly say how glamorous that gown is……… simply amazing

  11. anniey Said,

    January 22, 2008 @ 9:14 pm

    i love diz dress..
    hope i’d have one…

  12. sandra mendoza Said,

    January 30, 2008 @ 6:12 pm

    someday i will buy this dress and add it to all my marilyn collectibles!

  13. Carlie Said,

    February 19, 2008 @ 4:28 pm

    This dress is so gorgeous I want a replica made for the dress I change into from my wedding dress.

  14. porsha Said,

    February 25, 2008 @ 5:22 pm

    THIS DRESS IS SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO B-E-A-U-TIFUL! I ONLY WISH I HAD THE MONEY CUZ MAN I WOULD WERE IT TO MY PROM! LOL! BUT YEA ITS A VERY AMAZZZZZZING DRESS! SHE DEFFINATLY HAD A CLASSY STYLE!

  15. aileen (philippines) Said,

    March 11, 2008 @ 10:37 pm

    WOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!! SO AMAZING, BEAUTIFUL AND REALLY FANTASTIC….I LOVE IT!!!BUT ITS SO VERY EXPENSIVE…HEHEHEHEH….

  16. ale Said,

    March 17, 2008 @ 12:35 pm

    OMG!
    this is a hot dress i would pay millions to wear such a legendary dress
    wich belong to my idol!
    sorry tracee but you have no sence of style!=(

  17. Rachel Said,

    April 6, 2008 @ 11:57 pm

    Thanks Pete. I said the same thing. Anyone who cant appreciate this classic peice of nostalgia has no idea what class is. I watched this dress go at auction and cried when the final bid was given. Its sad that Marilyn wasnt treated as priceless in life as we treat her now.

  18. Lacey Said,

    April 16, 2008 @ 2:28 pm

    This is the most beautiful dress i have ever seen, i just wish i was alive then to see marilyn wear it and sing to jfk in it. she was such a pretty girl, and i wish i could have seen her in person.

  19. MADALYN VIDAL Said,

    April 23, 2008 @ 2:25 pm

    MARILYN MONROE IS AND ALWAYS BE THE MOST BEAUTIFUL, SEXIEST, MOST WATCH WOMAN IN THE UNIVERSE. MADONNA, DOES NOT COMPARE !!

  20. Monroe Said,

    April 26, 2008 @ 8:06 am

    I love that dress ! Marilyn Monroe is my biggest IDOL <3

  21. Whitney Said,

    May 6, 2008 @ 9:57 am

    she was soooo pretty. not only pretty but elagent and classy….. no one else can conpare

    Whitney

  22. prabhakar Said,

    May 17, 2008 @ 6:45 am

    woooow . this is the most glamorous dress worn by the most glamorous woman of the universe ,captured the hearts of men till now u are my idol and forever be marilyn though u are not there but I am your greatest fan and I luv u

  23. Jenny Said,

    July 18, 2008 @ 5:11 pm

    Ok, somone is retarded if they think this dress is ugly, you need ot be slapped. Ans someone is retarded if they think they can buy this as a prom dress…Obviously you are never going to get a chance to purchase this dress, and no offense, Im glad for that because this is something you cant replace. This is the only dress like this in the world, ever.
    What are the chances that someone is the same exact size and shape as her to fit in this dress anyway, it was made for her body alone…seriously.

  24. Charlene Said,

    August 5, 2008 @ 7:16 pm

    OMG! I love this dress. It has inspired my wedding dress. I though of wearing a dress closer to the “7 Year Itch”.(Me and My Fiance were going to do Old Hollywood Glamour as our theme for our wedding) But this one is SO much more..elegant. I have fell in love!

  25. paige Said,

    September 8, 2008 @ 5:04 pm

    htis is the most beautiful dress that i have ever seen! its gorgeous! i love marilyn monroe! she is my idol. and she deserves all the respect you have. she went through some really tough times. and i appreciate her for that. and she is beautiful! so that dress fits her well and suits her. she wore that for JFK! and he was my fav. presadent and she was my fav….. person! :)(:

  26. 101 Said,

    September 8, 2008 @ 7:16 pm

    WHO made thiis dress?

  27. Lyssa Said,

    September 17, 2008 @ 11:30 am

    OMG this dress is to pretty! i’m a huge fan of hers and this dress is not country-ish. For that time period it and still is stunning! I wish i could have that haha

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