It’s the question many are asking. How could Kim wear Marilyn’s dress to The Met Gala? We were wondering too. Now we know and so will you. Read on for the details.
How Could Kim Wear Marilyn’s Dress to the Met Gala?
Understandably, fashion curators and historical conservators and were baffled, distressed and shocked at how Kim could wear Marilyn’s dress to the 2022 Met Gala. The gown has never been worn by a human since Marilyn and has been stored in a dark, humidity-controlled environment for safekeeping.
The hand-beaded champagne dress was first seen by the public when Marilyn Monroe sang “Happy Birthday” to President John F. Kennedy at Madison Square Garden, May 20, 1962. At the time, she had to be sewn into the dress.
The dress was lent to Kim Kardashian by Ripley’s Believe it or Not in Orlando, who acquired the dress for $5 million in 2016. Ripley’s keeps it in a dark, humidity controlled room. Because they are not a museum but a privately owned, for profit company, they could do what they wished with the gown.
The dress was made of a delicate fabric called souffle. It was stretchy and resilient when new, but has become weaker and more brittle with age. What’s more, it’s embroidered with thousands of hand-sewn beads.
Kim didn’t have to pay a fee to borrow the dress but she did generously donate to Ripley’s.
The conditions under which she was allowed to wear the dress were: no body makeup, no alterations and it could only be worn on the Red carpet for photos – after which Kim changed into a replica dress for the rest of the evening.
Kim didn’t quite fit into the original souffle gown, she had to lose 16 pounds. She used the white stole she carried to cover a portion of the zipper that wouldn’t close.
No matter how careful she was, conservators say simple exposure to the elements – sunlight, humidity and perspiration – will damage the gown.
The dress was returned to Ripley’s in Orlando yesterday via Kim’s private jet.
images courtesy of Bettman / Getty