Fashion

Macy’s Announces a Marilyn Monroe collection

By Mary Hall | March 4, 2013

Marilyn Monroe collection from Macy’s.

The legend and style of screen star Marilyn Monroe continues to fascinate us. That’s why Macy’s is launching a new fashion collection based on styles Marilyn wore in her films. Macy’s is banking on the public’s fascination with Marilyn translating into sales. This month, Macy’s Marilyn Monroe fashions will launch exclusively in the Mstylelab department at 150 Macy’s stores and online at Macys.com. The advertising campaign will feature images of Marilyn alongside the new collection. That’s because Marilyn sells. Over 5o years after her death, Marilyn is working hard for the money.

So what’s all this about? Marilyn was a very stylish woman off screen. She wore luxury brands Ceil Chapman, Irene Lentz, Jax, William Travilla and Pucci to name just a few of her designer favorites. She was even buried in her favorite Pucci dress. From the pictures that I’ve seen of the Macy’s fashions, you won’t see Marilyn’s personal style represented in this collection. What you can expect to see are reproductions of costumes she wore in her films. There is a tie shirt looking like the one she wore in The Misfits and of course a halter dress like the famous one she wore in The Seven Year Itch.

A Macy’s Marilyn Monroe dress priced at $59.50

The Macy’s Marilyn Monroe line includes halter dresses that cinch at the waist, gingham tie-front, button-down tops and pink polka dot denim. The collection will retail from $29 to $89, offering affordable fashions targeted at juniors. I’m sure this will sell, but it’s not the Marilyn Monroe fashion collection I would like to see for sale.

Marilyn Monroe’s Ceil Chapman dress at the Hollywood Museum (photo M. Hall)

I’d give anything to buy a reproduction of one of her Ceil Chapman “Wiggle dresses” or one of her simple, colorful Pucci dresses. Marilyn really had great taste and she dressed with simplicity and style, not always like the sex symbol image that was portrayed in her films. To learn more about Marilyn’s style, check out the wonderful book, “Dressing Marilyn” by Andrew Hansford with Karen Homer.