A lover of all things old Hollywood I ran across a quirky detail concerning Marilyn Monroe’s costume in the famous song and dance number, Diamonds Are A Girl’s Best Friend, from Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. Everyone knows the iconic pink dress she wore, but apparently that wasn’t the original concept. Instead the film’s costumer, Billy Travilla, had in mind a much skimpier number. One where Marilyn was draped in diamonds and not much else. Reportedly this version was considered too riske.’ At the time her ‘red velvet’ nude pictures that were causing a sensation, and the studio thought her reputation needed some cooling off. Another version claims it was rejected as being just too plain tacky, and this I would have to agree. Supposedly Travilla lamented it’s rejection by pointing out the glorious detail of a bejeweled horse-fly on the tail he’d pinned to MM’s derriere.
Which brings me to this:
Versace I think. Could it be their answer to the rejected original? The sleeves/gloves are the same. I think it is, and it’s definitely and improvement. But what would Mr. Travilla say? Or MM for that matter?
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