Marilyn Monroe How to Marry a Millionaire - Your Guide to 1950s Glam
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Marilyn Monroe How to Marry a Millionaire 1953 is a stylish romantic comedy with beautiful women and sensational 1950s fashion.
The sexy Marilyn Monroe and her two friends (played by Lauren Bacall and Betty Grable), are all fashion models, who set up in a fancy New York flat with the goal of landing rich husbands.
Marilyn Monroe is superb in her hilarious role as the ditzy blonde, with totally unexpected one-liners that will make you laugh out loud!
Marilyn Monroe’s 1950s fashion is absolutely dazzling, and it’s just the Old Hollywood Glamor style inspiration you need to glam up your wardrobe.
This post is all about the Marilyn Monroe How to Marry a Millionaire Dress Outfits and her Glamorous 1950s Fashion
What did Marilyn Monroe wear in How to Marry a Millionaire?
In How to Marry a Millionaire, Marilyn Monroe’s 1950’s outfits range from pajamas, to tailored dresses, retro swimsuits, exotic vacation outfits, to glitzy evening gowns for her expensive dates.
For shoes, Marilyn Monroe wears a variety of 1950’s pumps and high heels.
You never see her wear flats!
Her pumps include classic low-heeled chunky black ones, and a variety of round-toed pumps in colors that coordinate with her dresses.
She also has a few favorite strappy heels that she pairs with her evening gowns and swimsuit outfit, which are, of course glam.
Marilyn Monroe’s fashion accessories include long statement diamond earrings, glittering bracelets, and even a diamond armlet.
Another favorite accessory is gloves, which she wears in a variety of colors, to match her dress outfits.
Oh, and she loves adding fur to elevate her look, and her favorite fur pieces include muffs and stoles!
Marilyn Monroe’s makeup her signature look—dramatic lined eyes and eyelashes, lightly drawn eyebrows, and bright red lips.
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Sizzling 1950s Marilyn Monroe Outfits in Don’t Bother to Knock
Who designed the clothes for How to Marry a Millionaire?
The talented costume designer William Travilla designed the outfits and costumes for How to Marry a Millionaire. He was also nominated for an Academy Award for his costume designs for this movie!
He also created a number of Marilyn Monroe’s famous costumes and outfits in her classic movies, Don't Bother to Knock and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.
He also designed her iconic white dress that she wears in the The Seven Year Itch, when she’s standing on a New York City Subway ventilation grate.
How to Marry a Millionaire 1953 Summary
Marilyn Monroe arrives in New York and steps into the fancy penthouse, determined to follow-through on the mission with her two girlfriends.
They plan land themselves millionaire for husbands.
She and her girlfriends realize along the way that most of the wealthy guys are creeps, so they give up chasing money, and instead marry their true loves.
We love how the three girlfriends personalities play off each other, with the serious team leader played by Lauren Bacall, and the ditzy Marilyn Monroe and Betty Grable along for the ride.
There’s also a lot of good laughs as they interview their various dates, until they each find their dream man.
Marilyn Monroe How to Marry a Millionaire Dress Outfits - Her Glam 1950s Fashion: Tan Tailored Dress & Fur Stole
Schatze (played by Lauren Bacall) is the brains behind the operation to snag rich husbands in New York.
She rents a fancy penthouse, so that they appear to have a classy background and can rub shoulders with wealthy men.
Their gameplan? Share rent and expenses, and snag an eligible millionaire as soon as possible!
Marilyn Monroe’s character Pola arrives at the New York apartment complex, steps off the elevator, and promptly walks into the fire escape.
Her friend opens the door, telling her there no men inside, so she can put her glasses back on!
Marilyn Monroe’s 1950s outfit is a stunning tailored brown dress with a fur color. She pairs this with a fur stole, pillbox hat, and white gloves.
Her shoes are black retro pumps, and her jewelry includes gold earrings.
We love this example of a Marilyn Monroe style dress, that is shaped to fit her figure closely and is typical of 1950s fashion, with a belt accentuating her waist.
The layering of multiple feminine accessories (long white gloves, fur color, and a fur stole, just to name a few!) takes her outfit from ordinary chic to Old Hollywood Glamor!
Marilyn Monroe How to Marry a Millionaire Dress Style - Her Glam 1950s Fashion: Sultry Terrycloth Robe & Turban Style Headwrap
While getting ready for bed, Marilyn Monroe’s character Pola walks into the living room.
Her girlfriend is bemoaning the fact that it’s already been three months… and none of them are engaged yet!
She says that something had better happen soon, or they’ll have nothing to sit on, as they are selling off the furniture piece by piece to survive.
That evening, their luck changes, and they get invited to a fancy party.
Marilyn Monroe’s 1950s outfit is a floor length white terrycloth robe, cinched in at the waist, and paired with a matching turban style headwrap.
Her only accessories include her classic horn rimmed glasses.
We love how sexy Marilyn Monroe’s pajama outfit is. And, it looks comfy too!
The secret to Marilyn’s look? Simple lines, a tailored fit, and a defined waist that shows off her feminine figure.
Marilyn Monroe How to Marry a Millionaire Dress Outfits - Her Stunning 1950s Fashion: Jeweled Strapless Evening Gown
At the party, Marilyn Monroe’s character gets seated next to a gentlemen, and she launches into a hilarious conversation, trying to understand if he’s single and rich.
She sneaks off to the powder room to compare notes with her two friends on their dates.
Marilyn Monroe’s character asks what her date looks like, since she won’t put on her glasses.
Her girlfriend reply that he’s alright, given he only has one eye and wears an eye patch.
Marilyn Monroe’s 1950s outfit is a stunning purple evening gown, with a fitted strapless bodice with a sparkling cross-cross strap, which wraps around her small waist as well.
Her dress also has a mini train that billows as she walks. She carries a matching shimmering wrap, bag, and strappy high heels.
This glamorous formal outfit is a perfect example of Old Hollywood Glamour.
Marilyn Monroe How to Marry a Millionaire Dress Style - Her Stunning 1950s Fashion: Negligee
That evening Marilyn Monroe’s character Pola dreams she married the wealthy one-eyed man.
Marilyn Monroe’s pajama outfit is a sexy black lace negligee with spaghetti straps.
Notice how her lipstick is muted to a neutral shade vs her usual bright colors, and how her make-up and hair are perfect!
Marilyn Monroe How to Marry a Millionaire Dress Outfits - Her Stunning 1950s Fashion: Exotic Traveling Outfit
In her dream, Marilyn Monroe and her millionaire are traveling to an exotic location in a chartered jet, drinking champagne.
Marilyn Monroe’s outfit is a fitted brown dress, with an asymmetrical tan sleeve that flows into a flowing scarf wrap.
The overskirt and her dress are cinched in at the waist with a sparkling brown belt.
Her dress colors are echoed in her turban hat.
She is also wearing simple nude pumps and long white gloves. Her jewelry is gold statement earrings and a bracelet.
We love this glam 1950s style travel outfit with the elegant detailing and pairing various shades of brown and neutrals.
Marilyn Monroe How to Marry a Millionaire Dress Style - Her Glam 1950s Fashion: Jeweled Retro Swimsuit
The next morning the three roommates model clothes for a wealthy client.
This 1950s fashion show highlights a stunning collection of gorgeous retro outfits.
Marilyn Monroe’s outfit is a glamorous one-piece retro swimsuit with jeweled accents on the skirt and at the plunge v-neck. This is paired with a matching jeweled swimsuit cover-up. Her jewelry is a glittering diamond armlet, and matching earrings. She pairs this outfit with sky-high strappy heels in a matching color.
Of course Marilyn Monroe won’t wear her horn-rimmed glasses, as she believes they make her look plain, so her grand entrance is hilariously cut short with her tripping on stage.
Marilyn Monroe How to Marry a Millionaire Dress Outfits - Her Glam 1950s Fashion: White Evening Gown and Fur Stole
Marilyn Monroe’s character Pola arrives home, excited to announce that she’s engaged to the one-eyed man!
She quickly takes her horn-rimmed glasses off, when she thinks men are at the apartment, and then when it’s just her and her roomie, she puts them back on.
We love her glasses and believe this style accessory looks stunning!
Her roommate asks for details, and is suspicious of whether this ‘eligible’ millionaire has honorable intentions.
Marilyn Monroe is wearing a white stunning mermaid style floor-length gown. Her hourglass figure is accentuated, with a white jeweled belt. A fluffy floor length white fur stole is casually draped across one shoulder, and she is wearing large statement diamond earrings.
Marilyn Monroe’s 1950s outfit is a dark emerald tailored dress, belted at the waist, with a pleated overskirt (mini train) on one side. This is paired with long white gloves, a white hat with a black feather, and a black fur muff, and black pumps.
The secret to the Glamour and pizzaz of this Marilyn Monroe look? The deep hue of the dress color, the fastidious cut, and attention to detail in the one-of-a-kind dress, as well as the long white gloves, hat and over-the-top back fur muff.
Marilyn Monroe How to Marry a Millionaire Dress Style - Her Glam 1950s Fashion: Tailored Emerald Dress & Fur Muff
Marilyn Monroe’s character Pola dashes inside to pick up the ringing phone, as a man in a trenchcoat is trying to sneak out.
Oblivious that the man is sneaking out, she asks if he’s leaving already, as she doesn’t have her glasses on.
Marilyn Monroe How to Marry a Millionaire Dress Outfits - Her Stunning 1950s Fashion: Tailored Navy Skirt Suit & Beret Cap
Marilyn Monroe’s character Pola boards a plane to meet the one-eyed man in another city, oblivious that he’s a phony.
As she starts to “read” her book upside down, she strikes up conversation with the man beside her, who explains that he used to not wear glasses either.
Marilyn Monroe’s character at first denies she needs glasses and then says that it’s different for girls, as men won’t pay attention to them if they wear glasses.
Her new friend, Freddie, insists that she put her glasses on and that they enhance her looks.
Marilyn Monroe is wearing a tailored dark navy skirt suit, silk shirt, and matching beret hat. She also has a stunning gold scarf knotted around her neck, pinned with a diamond broach. She pairs matching gold gloves with this outfit.
Marilyn Monroe is wearing a fitted ivory colored dress, with an asymmetrical overskirt of the same color, belted at the waist, and dark gray pumps. Her accessories include long gloves that match her fur scarf and fur stole. She also is wearing a pillbox hat with a veil, and flaunting her glasses proudly–now that she’s confident that she looks good wearing them!
Her outfit is various shades of ivory and gray and is another stunning example of how 1950s fashion paired monochromatic colors and varying shades of the same color for an overall classy and put together look.
Marilyn Monroe How to Marry a Millionaire Dress Style - Her Stunning 1950s Fashion: Retro Bridesmaid Dress & Fur Stole
Marilyn Monroe’s character Pola arrives back in New York, just in time to be a bridesmaid for her girlfriend’s wedding.
She excitedly announces how she married Freddie (the guy on the plane with the glasses), and she’s absolutely nuts about him!
The movie closes with all three friends (with their new husbands!) in a 1950s hamburger joint laughing gaily and joking about how little money they have.
That is… until Schtaze’s (Lauren Bacall) new husband pulls out a huge wad of cash.
Marilyn Monroe and her three girlfriends fall backwards off their stools.
Although they all married for love… somehow one of them happened to land a millionaire along the way!
This post was all about the Marilyn Monroe How to Marry a Millionaire Dress Outfits and her Stunning 1950s Fashion and costumes.
What are your thoughts on the Marilyn Monroe 1950s fashion and style in How to Marry a Millionaire?
Do you prefer her tailored dresses, retro swimsuit, or glamorous evening gowns?
What are your thoughts on Marilyn Monroe’s horn rimmed glasses? Do you think she can pull them off, or do you think she looks better without them?
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