Sizzling 1950s Marilyn Monroe Outfits in Don’t Bother to Knock
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Marilyn Monroe outfits and 1950s fashion in Don’t Bother to Knock
This post is all about the 1950s Marilyn Monroe dress, fashion, and outfits in Don’t Bother to Knock.
An airline pilot, dumped by his girlfriend, pursues a baby-sitter in his hotel...and gradually realizes she's dangerous.
Marilyn Monroe Don't Bother to Knock 1952 is a mysterious film noir with fantastic vintage fashion and very unexpected ending.
Marilyn Monroe plays the beautiful tortured babysitter, Nell, who captures the attention of the tall and charismatic airline pilot in his hotel.
However, the airline pilot starts to realize that all is not right with the bombshell blonde and that she may in fact be dangerous.
You’ll love the 1950s vintage fashion outfits and costumes in the film.
Surprisingly, Marilyn Monroe casual retro style outfits are very understated, and are quite the opposite of her usual vintage glam style!
What did Marilyn Monroe wear in Don’t Bother to Knock 1952?
In Don’t Bother to Knock, Marilyn Monroe’s Old Hollywood glam wardrobe ranges from a classic retro house dress, paired with various vintage accessories for different looks, to a sexy 1950s silk negligee.
Interestingly in this film, she has two looks – one as the simple babysitter and the other as the glam seductress.
Marilyn Monroe’s fashion accessories include a simple belt and a french beret hat to pair with her 1950s house dress, and statement jewelry for her sexy negligee outfit.
Given this is one of Marilyn Monroe’s earlier films, you’ll notice Marilyn Monroe’s blonde hair is darker honey color, versus the platinum blonde that she favored later.
Also, her hair is styled in tighter curls, which was a more rare style for her than the larger waves that became her iconic look in the later 1950s and 1960s.
Marilyn Monroe’s makeup style in the film is typically light lips and subtly darkened eyelashes.
This natural 1950s make-up style is not her typical glam makeup style, but it still looks beautiful and it is perfect for portraying her childlike character in the film.
Who designed the costumes in Don't Bother to Knock?
William Travilla designed costumes for Marilyn Monroe in Don't Bother to Knock and Monkey Business, which were both filmed in 1952.
Known affectionately as “Billy”, William Travilla collaborated with Marilyn Monroe on the designs for both of these movies, before she rose to stardom the following year, 1953, in her breakout role in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, for which Billy also designed her iconic wardrobe for.
Rumor has it that Billy was in love with Marilyn Monroe.
He ended up designing her costumes and wardrobes for eight of her films, including the iconic white pleated party dress that she wears over a New York City subway ventilation grate that famously billows around her as the train passes underground.
William Travilla said of Marilyn Monroe, “She was the easiest person I ever worked with… She was so childlike she could do anything, and you could forgive as you would forgive a seven year old.
She was both a woman and a baby, and both men and women adored her.”
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1950s Marilyn Monroe Fashion in Don’t Bother to Knock - Her Vintage Style Outfit: House Dress with Cardigan Costume
Marilyn Monroe’s character arrives at a fancy hotel and timidly meets the bellhop, her cousin, who explains the luck of finding her a babysitting job.
Marilyn Monroe’s character is happy to have the much needed job, but she scared because she does not have any experience.
Marilyn Monroe is wearing a plain fit and flare dress, with a fitted bodice and gentle circle skirt, in a dark neutral color, with black buttons.
This is paired with a vintage cardigan sweater, black beret hat, and simple retro slingback pumps.
Don’t you love this rare example of Marilyn Monroe wearing the iconic 1950s housedress, that was the go-to women’s outfit for practical loungewear?
Even though this first glimpse of Marilyn Monroe’s outfit conveys a down and out girl, notice how understated and simplistically classy this vintage outfit is today.
Marilyn Monroe Dress Outfits in Don’t Bother to Knock - Her Vintage Fashion: House Dress Costume
After the parents leave for an evening out, she reads to the little girl and then puts her to bed, and then wanders into the other room.
Somewhat bored, she opens the chocolate box for a sweet treat.
In this scene, Marilyn Monroe slips off her cardigan sweater and vintage beret hat, and now is simply wearing the classic retro house dress.
The belt emphasizes Marilyn Monroe’s feminine figure and the black statement buttons are the only simple adornment on this very practical dress.
This casual 1950s Marilyn Monroe style is so different from her usual glitzy fashion, but that is about to change!
1950s Marilyn Monroe Fashion in Don’t Bother to Knock - Her Vintage Style Outfit: House Dress with Jewelry Costume
After munching on the chocolate, Marilyn Monroe’s character then pops open the jewelry box on the table, and looks longingly at it.
She then slowly starts to pull it on, piece by piece.
First are the shimmering diamond earrings and next is a gold watch.
Notice how the statement vintage jewelry instantly elevates her 1950 style, from a casual house dress look to retro date night outfit.
Marilyn Monroe Dress Outfits in Don’t Bother to Knock - Her Vintage Fashion: Retro Negligee Costume
Marilyn Monroe starts looking through the closet and then pulls out the woman’s negligee.
The next thing you know she is dressed head to toe in a glam retro pajama outfit.
Marilyn Monroe is wearing a white silk negligee and embroidered silk robe with cutouts showing off her slip negligee beneath.
This is paired with glam fluffy vintage bedroom slippers, and glitzy diamond jewelry.
You just can’t truly have a 1950s film noir without the femme fatale in a gorgeous vintage negligee… right?
We love how utterly sexy and classy Marilyn Monroe looks in this evening lounging outfit!
As Marilyn Monroe’s character sashays back and forth in front of the mirror, a young man, in the hotel room across the yard, spots her, and they make eye contact.
He calls her on the phone and asks if she’d like a drink.
Before he arrives, she quickly adds more lipstick, a dab of perfume and adjusts her garters.
Look at those to die for retro bedroom slip on pumps – so glam and sexy! Can you also imagine wearing fishnet hoes underneath your nightie? (That sounds more uncomfortable than the kitten pumps!)
When the pilot arrives, Marilyn Monroe pretends to be a wealthy woman on holiday.
Marliyn Monroe dishes out some classic one-liners,“You came over to flirt, didn’t you? Well, I don’t mind, as long as you’re not grouchy about it.”
As the evening progresses, she starts imagining that the airline pilot she just met is actually her fiancee, who was also a bomber pilot, who got lost at sea a few years earlier.
The little girl that Marilyn Monroe is babysitting bursts into the room.
Marilyn Monroe’s character is forced to confess that she’s only the poor babysitter.
Her uncle, the bellhop, busts into the room, and tells her to change back into her own clothes.
Marilyn Monroe Dress Outfits in Don’t Bother to Knock - Her Vintage Fashion: House Dress Costume
After Marilyn Monroe changes back into her plain vintage house dress, everything slowly escalates as the pilot realizes that she’s crazy.
One thing leads to another and when the hotel security shows up, trying to figure out what’s going on.
You get a good glimpse of Marilyn Monroe’s vintage shoes as she is crawling out of the room trying to escape. She is wearing casual low heeled wedges, which look both cute and comfy.
The little girl is discovered tied and gagged in the other room.
As the hotel security searches for Marilyn Monroe, it is revealed that she was in an institution for three years, as she had a breakdown following the death of her love in the war.
Not only was this not your typical Marilyn Monroe vintage fashion style, but this was also not your typical Marilyn Monroe role.
We love how it showcased her acting talents in a serious role, and, of course, as always, we love her 1950s fashion which always leaves us inspired.
This post was all about the 1950s Marilyn Monroe dress, fashion, and outfits in Don’t Bother to Knock.
What are your thoughts on the Marilyn Monroe dress, fashion, and costumes in the Don’t Bother to Knock 1952?
Given her 1950s vintage style outfits in the film, which looks are your favorite?
Do you prefer her glam retro negligee style or her casual house dress outfit?
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