Marilyn 's 7 Year Itch subway scene dress sells for millions

Lily

B.R
Staff member


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.
 
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