Details
THERE'S NO BUSINESS LIKE SHOW BUSINESS, 1954
An elaborate stage costume worn by Marilyn Monroe as hat-check girl and sultry singer "Vicky Hoffman". Co-starring Ethel Merman, Donald O'Connor and Dan Dailey, the film tells the story of a vaudeville song and dance family. This was Ms. Monroe's twenty-second film, the year after she appeared in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (in which she sang onscreen for the first time) and How To Marry A Millionaire. In the film she describes herself as a "singer between engagements - six months between."
The costume is constructed of a fleshtone full length gown with an attached matching net overlay; heavily embellished with a flower and leaf pattern of sequins with silver and white bugle beads. At the top of the waist-high left leg slit, a cluster of monofilament fiber with silver and glitter flowers. When the actress was required to cover her bare leg in stills and alternate filming for release in countries that forbade such "nudity", a separate pleated insert was basted in. The tag sewn in the zipper seam 1-25-1-4692 M.Monroe A-729-28, and the tag 20th Century Fox. Together with a headpiece of silver and glitter flowers, accented with a spray of monofilament fibers; the tag 1-25-4-4692 M. Monroe A-729-29; and costume footwear, a pair of size 6 1/2A silver satin "Pacelle" of Saks Fifth Avenue shoes; the production and scene number handwritten inside the heel straps. Accompanied by a black and white photograph of Ms. Monroe wearing the costume.
An elaborate stage costume worn by Marilyn Monroe as hat-check girl and sultry singer "Vicky Hoffman". Co-starring Ethel Merman, Donald O'Connor and Dan Dailey, the film tells the story of a vaudeville song and dance family. This was Ms. Monroe's twenty-second film, the year after she appeared in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (in which she sang onscreen for the first time) and How To Marry A Millionaire. In the film she describes herself as a "singer between engagements - six months between."
The costume is constructed of a fleshtone full length gown with an attached matching net overlay; heavily embellished with a flower and leaf pattern of sequins with silver and white bugle beads. At the top of the waist-high left leg slit, a cluster of monofilament fiber with silver and glitter flowers. When the actress was required to cover her bare leg in stills and alternate filming for release in countries that forbade such "nudity", a separate pleated insert was basted in. The tag sewn in the zipper seam 1-25-1-4692 M.Monroe A-729-28, and the tag 20th Century Fox. Together with a headpiece of silver and glitter flowers, accented with a spray of monofilament fibers; the tag 1-25-4-4692 M. Monroe A-729-29; and costume footwear, a pair of size 6 1/2A silver satin "Pacelle" of Saks Fifth Avenue shoes; the production and scene number handwritten inside the heel straps. Accompanied by a black and white photograph of Ms. Monroe wearing the costume.
Literature
"Marilyn - Her Life & Times", pp.144 -145, Publications International Ltd.
"The Fox Girls", p. 638, James Robert Parrish, Arlington House Publisher
"The Fox Girls", p. 638, James Robert Parrish, Arlington House Publisher
Exhibited
Los Angeles County Museum, Los Angeles, California
Fashion in Motion Pictures Exhibit, circa late 1970s
Fashion in Motion Pictures Exhibit, circa late 1970s