The skinny on how Kim Kardashian ended up wearing Marilyn’s iconic dress from Florida
She’d been dropping hints about her fabulous 2022 Met Gala outfit.
But when the actual night arrived, Va-Va-Voom.
Kim Kardashian showed up in the same dress that Hollywood icon Marilyn Monroe wore to sing “Happy Birthday” to President John F. Kennedy at a party on May 19, 1962, during her last public performance. Monroe died three weeks later.
Though the ensemble was meant to be a surprise, Kardashian hinted during an “Access Hollywood interview at Hulu’s “The Kardashians” premiere last month that she could not alter or tailor what she was wearing in any way.
“It really depends if I fit into my dress, so I hope I’m going,” said Kardashian of the annual fundraising fete at the NYC museum, held May 2. At the time, she still had to lose more weight to fit into the thing.
Then, a little over a week later, on April 23, the 41-yearold and boyfriend Pete Davidson, 28, were spotted in Orlando, visiting Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, where Monroe’s iconic dress is on display.
The SKIMS founder’s team reportedly reached out to the museum known known primarily for its oddities and relics, and thought the sparkler would be perfect for the gala, whose theme this year was glamour.
At that particular fitting (her second, her first was in March), Kardashian learned she had to shed even more weight to shimmy into the gorgeous ensemble by Oscar-winning costume designer Jean Louis.
Success.
At the gala Monday night Kardashian told co-host LaLa Anthony she ate basically only tomatoes and wore a sauna suit to exercise to shed a total of 16 pounds in roughly three weeks.
According to Ripley’s, which purchased the dress from Julien’s Auction back in 2016 for $4.81 million, Monroe struggled with the frock as well. The “Some Like it Hot” star, 36, had to be sewn into it before her performance, three weeks before her death.
So where is the gown now? Ripley’s said it arrived from NYC at 9 a.m. Wednesday.
“The dress has been returned to the Ripley’s Vault, a dark, temperature (68 degrees) and humidity (40 to 50 percent) controlled room, where it remains in its case, mounted on a form covered in acid-free cotton muslin,” says a release. “The form helps prevent folds and stress on the dress, while the muslin protects it from light, humidity and environmental contaminants.”
John Corcoran, Ripley’s director of exhibits and archives, said it was a tough decision to let the vintage treasure out for a big night out, but that Kardashian was the perfect person for the job.
She “continued to show the utmost respect for this opportunity and historic garment,” he said. “She has become a steward, and added to its history.”
In a video posted to Ripley’s Instagram, Corcoran is seen presenting the TV star with a few locks of Monroe’s famous platinum hair as a souvenir.
“This is so cool; this is sleeping with me every night,” Kardashian cooed, then turning to Davidson, “Sorry, babe.”
Planning on taking a trip to Central Florida to see the crystal-studded beauty? Wait a few weeks. The dress is temporarily moving west, heading to the Ripley’s in Hollywood, California, on Memorial Day weekend for a few weeks, then will head back to the vault.
In the meantime, you can peruse various memorabilia in the Sunshine State, including many of Monroe’s keepsakes, portraits and clothing.