The pleated ivory dress that blew around Marilyn Monroe in an iconic scene from The Seven Year Itch sold for $4.6 million (Dh16.89 million) at a weekend auction of Hollywood costumes — far exceeding its estimate.
The so-called "subway" dress is perhaps the most recognisable in movie history. In Billy Wilder's 1955 movie, a passing train sent a draft through a grate as Monroe giddily stood above it proclaiming, "Isn't it delicious?"
The William Travilla design was estimated to sell for between $1 million and $2 million, the crown jewel at a 12-hour auction of nearly 600 costumes and pieces of memorabilia being sold by actress Debbie Reynolds.
Monroe's red-sequined dress from Gentlemen Prefer Blondes went for $1.2 million. Its pre-sale estimate was $200,000 to $300,000. Audrey Hepburn's Ascot dress from My Fair Lady, carrying the same estimate, sold for $3.7 million.
The collection featured costumes worn by other Hollywood stars, from Grace Kelly, Natalie Wood and Elizabeth Taylor to Madonna and Mike Myers.