2. Monroe
Marilyn Monroe’s iconic ivory cocktail dress for the
1955 Hollywood movie ‘The Seven Year Itch’.
The dress style was in Vogue between the 1950s and
1960s. It was designed by William Travilla, and
made with a super-lightweight rayon-acetate fabric,
which allowed it to flow nicely in the gusts from the
subway air-conditioning.
Description of the dress: ‘The halter-like bodice has a
plunging neckline and is made of two pieces of softly
pleated fabric that come together behind the neck, leaving
the wearer's arms, shoulders and back bare. The halter is
attached to a band situated immediately under the breasts.
The dress fits closely from there to the natural waistline. A
soft and narrow self belt was wrapped around the torso,
criss-crossing in front and then tied into a small neat bow at
the waist, at the front on the left side. Below the waistband
is a softly pleated skirt which reaches to mid-calf or below
the calf length.’
4. Monroe
In the film, the white dress appears in the sequence in which Marilyn Monroe
and co-star Tom Ewell leaves the Trans-Lux 52nd Street Theatre, then located at
586 Lexington Avenue in Manhattan, having just watched the 1954 horror film.
When a subway train passes below the grate in the sidewalk, Monroe's
character steps onto the grate saying "Ooo, do you feel the breeze from the
subway?", as the wind blows the dress up exposing her legs.
5. monroe
They were originally due to film the scene at 1:00am on the actual street, but people
found out and flocked the area to see Marilyn Monroe. Because of this the director was
forced to create a set.
Even though Marilyn Monroe was very admired, in the
film she was known as ‘The Girl’ instead of having a
name.
6. Monroe
The official 1955 movie poster for ‘The Seven
Year Itch’ includes the iconic seen of the dress
being blown up.
It is thought of that the scene was influenced by the
1901 short film ‘What Happened on Twenty third
Street, New York City’.
7. Monroe
This images of Monroe in the dress is different to the
screen shots of the movie as there are people behind
her.
These are definitely a planned photograph as she is
looking directly at the camera posing. They could
have been used to help draw out the movie poster.
