References are available below the cut for this video, if you're curious! To forestall comments about Ripley’s being a private owner of Marilyn’s dress: Yes, they are. But maybe they shouldn’t be. As I tried to explain in the video, we as a society have a moral responsibility to preserve objects of historic value. Marilyn’s dress is that: a completely unique garment designed by an important designer, worn by a celebrity extremely important to American culture, and imbued with (often negative) messages about American society both then and now. If it wasn’t so important and special, Kim wearing it wouldn’t have been a problem. Yes, Ripley’s owns this and can do what they want with it. But this is the kind of garment that usually would be in the Smithsonian - or FIDM or LACMA or the Met or even a local historical society: i.e. an accredited institution with the ability to preserve it for future audiences, including the public, scholars, and designers who could learn from it.
For those who say "I'm sure Marilyn wouldn't mind her wearing this dress," Marilyn herself said that she wants it to be a "one of a kind dress that only Marilyn Monroe could wear." Ironically, Ripley's are the ones who published that quote 🤦♀️ Just so wrong on so many levels.
I don’t see you guys crying when white people are literally culture vultures and appropriating the life out of every race and you’re mad over a dress? 🙄 trollin people like you is not fun
I agree. Marilyn keeps getting disrespected, first Hugh Hefner being laid to rest next to her and now this. I think people forget that she was a human being. She was objectified when she was alive and that definitely hasn't changed.
It all comes down to “can” vs “should”. Can Kim wear the dress because she can afford to? Sure… SHOULD she wear a piece of clothing that was literally sewn onto Marilyn Monroe so that it would only ever fit her? Absolutely not. And the fact that the dress was desecrated for the purpose of being worn fit only minutes, only to have Kim change again? So unnecessary.
What p.sses me off, if that KK has worn clothes (correction, ALMOST WORN), clothes, to gain attention for as long as I can remember. Every day normal women, do not have hourglass figures, but we wear what suits our body, and do it with clothing that does not say "Look at me. See how awesome I look." Well, if looking like a n idiot is in vogue, thank you K, but I'll wear clothes that don't make people think of K West, (when together), 'wtf man, grow a set, and tell her to keep it for you, not every other man). No, to those who know of Marilyn's tortured existence, suffering through mental illness, and eventual murder, this is the ultimate disrespect, by a woman who does it solely for attention. I find that despicable. K, you have sank to a new low in my eyes.
Kim Kardashian missed an opportunity to directly benefit the Costume Institute. She spent the evening in a copy of the dress. She could have worn the copy on the red carpet and explained to the mass of reporters that wearing the original would have been wrong. She missed the opportunity to use her celebrity status to inform others of the importance of conservation and institutions such as the Costume Institute. True, she does not have the background, but others working with her did not consider this. I am stunned that the Costume Institute and the Met allowed her to do this.
A replica could have looked so cool! Imagine a dress that was sewn to fit her curves and match her skin color. The whole effect of the original was lost because it was made for Marilyn and not Kim. I think a taylored replica could have been a great homage (eventhough it would still have been off theme)
I thought one interesting point someone brought up was the original dress was meant to match Marilyn's skin tone and create the sort of illusion of her being "naked", so it actually would have made more sense to have a replica made in Kim's skin tone as well as her own size so she didn't need to loose weight for the sole purpose of fitting into a dress not made for her body. It's even more insensitive when you consider handing out pills like candy to actresses in order to stay thin, stay awake and or be able to sleep was common practice in Hollywood at the time and was at least in part responsible for Marilyn's drug addiction which in one way or another led to her early death.
Exactly! I wouldn't have known it was THE Marilyn dress just by looking at the photos, because it didn't have that "naked" effect on a different skin tone. (Not to mention its iconic silhouette was lost on a body it wasn't custom-tailored for.) Meaning the only impact KK wearing the dress had was pure shock value- "OMG, she's wearing WHAT dress?!" There are lots of ways to make an impact at the Met Gala if you're that rich and famous without simultaneously damaging priceless art and encouraging dangerous weight loss practices.
It would have been amazing to see Kim in a replica made specifically for her. It still would have highlighted the original dress without damaging it and she could have pulled off the same naked illusion that the original dress was intended to have. Instead of trying to replicate the same iconic moments of the original dress lots of people failed this dress and she didn’t pull off anything other than making herself look entitled.
I think her wearing a properly made and fitted replica the whole time would've been more beautiful and such a lovely homage to Merilyn's dress. Seeing the hip seam strain makes me shudder. I hope the Met will release a statement and ban any future costumes of historical significance from being worn at their events.
A replica have been a beautiful homage if it was remotely connected to the Gilded Age theme. It’s embarrassing that so few attendees and their teams knew or cared about the theme, which if followed could have resulted in a stunning night of exquisite outfits for female, male and non binary attendees as the fashion of that age was so interesting.
Ya the fact that she could have just worn a replica that was actually her skin tone or just inspired by the dress and yet she still chose to wear the original is just sad
Before, it was “worn only by Marilyn Monroe” now it’s “worn only by Marilyn Monroe & Kim kardashian” it’s absolutely disrespectful of Kim to ruin an iconic moment in Marilyn’s life. I’m surprised they managed to contain Kim’s massive ego in the dress without busting the seams 😒
Oh but she done a great job of busting the seams & ruined the dress for ever. And the award for the worst self entitled brat goes to, funny how we have had famous movie stars and models and not one of them have ever wanted or come up with such a crazy idea as the Bratina Kimmy she must be so hated after this foolish self centered stunt. What a crazy 🤡
For this she’ll be remembered as an impostor, a “fake” celebrity that need to dig a pinch of fame over the stardom legitime and talented death person. Sad, sickening and at least reveiling of the real lack of class of these fame pretender family.
That statement from Ripley's about Kim adding to the historical importance of the dress is so upsetting. Kim is alive and she will have many iconic dresses and iconic moments, Marilyn isn't with us anymore. There's so little of this woman left. I'm no expert on historical garments, but on that human level you spoke of, it made me so emotional.
Even then Kim will never be as iconic as Marilyn was. MM is the biggest movie star of all time who just so happened to wish a happy birthday on stage to one of the most recognized U.S. presidents of all time. That’s history right there.
What irks me the most is that Marilyn wanted to be the only one to ever wear it, and she said so. Wearing it (even the destruction aside) is SO disrespectful.
I do blame Kim. She doesn't have to be an expert or a rocket scientist to realize that it's tacky, disrespectful, entitled, and just, oh my God, the audacity. It's just gross.
I was appalled that a garment of such historical importance was handled so much, let alone WORN. THERE WAS A REPLICA!! There was absolutely no need to wear the original. It didn't fit her because it wasn't made for her.
@@missjanelove so it sold for 5 million dollars, being the most expensive dress of all time bc it’s not historically significant?? ok. sure. maybe watch the video where a literal dress historian explains the importance. it’s literally one of a kind & one of the most instantly recognizable dresses of all time. but sure, not historically significant…that’s why kim wanted to wear it for no reason whatsoever.
I thought the dress was unrecognizable as "the Marilyn Monroe dress" on Kim Kardashian. It didn't fit her like it did Marilyn Monroe. The bust line didn't have the same tailored fit on Kim Kardashian. I think the only way it was distinguishable as once having been worn by Marilyn Monroe was because we were told it was! 🙄
You're absolutely right. I totally didn't recognize it when I kept seeing it in article thumbnails for the Met Gala. It wasn't until I took the time to watch this video that I knew. My only thought prior was that she wore a super ill fitting dress to the Gala. I'm HORRIFIED to realize what dress it really was.
Exactly. Apart from all the historic importance of that dress, it looked *BAD* on Kim. It did not look good, it didn’t look chic or interesting or like it was an extension of her personality. It looked like a bad outfit.
The main problem is the precedent it sets for other celebrities wearing historical garments. If kim can wear the dress, why can't x or y celebrity. We also need to view this dress as an artifact, its non-fungible and should be treat as such. All this has done is emphasise how Ripley's brand centers around spectacle not education.
Unfortunately that's what's normal in the world, it the most effective form of advertisment. The museum very much is at fault, but so is Kim for accepting. She didn't need more money. Now people will look at this dress and remember Kim, not Maryln (at least for newer upcoming generations who donn't know Marilyn. Also, my opinion, it looked awful on Kim. Overall should not have happened, period. Doesn't matter who's fault, because it's everyones fault.
This whole situation reeks of entitlement. Just because Kim can afford to do things like this dosent mean she should. The fact she wore two of Marilyn’s dresses, posed with her golden globe award and was gifted a lock of her hair.. beyond disturbing. Marilyn is being exploited by the industry even in death. If Kim truly loved Marilyn and had respect for her, she wouldn’t have done ANY of this. Shame on everyone involved in this horror show, sigh.
@@mmunive21 first of all, the morality of the alleged affair has nothing do with the preservation of a historical artifact. Second, Jackie wasn't even present when Marilyn sang Happy Birthday. She didn't attend the Birthday celebration at all, so your point about Marilyn seducing Jackie's husband in front of her (which I assume you are saying in reference to the night Marilyn wore this dress), is not only moot but factually incorrect.
@@mmunive21 Reportedly JFK was involved with many women he was not married to, Marilyn was just the most famous one he reportedly bedded. (If he even did and it wasn't just a tabloid thing)
@@mmunive21 Huh? how is that even relevant to this particular situation? lol there is no actual proof of an affair either, it's all hearsay and rumours.
The dress was made specifically to create a nude illusion on Marilyn Monroe. The fit and color were specific to Monroe, and do not create the same illusion on Kim Kardashian. The impact is therefore completely lost. It just looked like some random off-the-rack dress. When taken out of the context of Marilyn Monroe wearing it, the dress doesn't really offer much in the way of design. She should have just worn the replica, and they should have focused on making the replica create the same nude illusion. That would have been more impactful than wearing the actual dress. That said, it also has nothing to do with this year's Met Gala Theme, either.
Yeah it’s weird that it was super off theme. I think they assumed the theme would be the same as last year’s theme?? Because the dress fits WAY better for the theme from last year, which was like America or American history or something
@@jfduug4994 I think a lot of people heard ‘Gilded Age’ and though ‘Golden Age of Hollywood’ which really shows the amount of research a lot of these people put in.
@@keenoled I'm hoping the replica fit better. But like they said, if they had a replica made, why wear the actual historical dress, especially because it didn't fit her and so it doesn't look as good. I'm not trying to body shame anyone, but in my experience, you look best in clothes that fit and you're comfortable in. When you feel comfortable and beautiful in your clothing, that shows. The fact that Kim couldn't even walk up the stairs in the historical dress tells me she couldn't be comfortable in it. I once heard someone say that the ultimate luxury in clothing is having it tailored to fit you. Without knowing the dress was Marilyn Monroe's dress and the historical value to it, just looking at it, it just looks like a beaded dress, and one that doesn't fit well.
I'm so sick of Marilyn Monroe being as exploited in death as she was in life. Hugh Hefner, Pres.Kennedy, and now Ripley's and Kim Kardashian. I was horrified when I saw her in that dress. I was holding my breath waiting for it to shred off her body.😧
Ugh the Hugh Hefner thing was so disgusting. Honestly I didn’t realise until I saw this video that it was the real dress, the possibility that something like this could happen to it didn’t even cross my mind! I’m so heartbroken about the way she doesn’t even get any respect in death
Agree, the dress is done. Kim still couldn't fit in it, she stretched it out, and even couldn't walk up stairs in it, wasn't that a sign. I'm just mad at the disrespect and no fucks given to a deceased woman who has no say in the matter. Couldn't even honor her request.
That dress will be so out of shape now. Sad how it was probably ruined just for 6mins of fame. How is it right for a dress not to be worn for 50 years but now it's okay? Marilyn's dress did not deserve to be worn like that , the only person who should wore that was Marilyn herself.
I am a Textile and Clothing Conservator and was beyond appalled when learning of Kim C wearing this dress. I actually audibly gasped when I saw the dress being pulled up in your video. That was an incredible amount of stress being put on the dress and there was no way of knowing whether the dressing process alone was going to cause damage. In fact, given that the dress is made of an inherently fragile silk fabric; it is a small miracle the dress was not irreparably damaged during dressing or wearing. Your comments were all spot on. It is true Kim was not responsible for this, but whatever possessed her to think that she should be so entitled?
There is a whole video showing them TRYING to get that dress up. It never did close. They covered up the HUGE GAP with her behind hanging out by having her stole hanging low to cover it up.
The fact she didn’t wear just one of Marilyn’s dresses is what gets me… she also wore Marilyn’s green dress when she won her golden globe (she even tracked down and was carrying Marilyn’s golden globe!) I’m blaming Kim as much as everyone else. Clearly she also pushed to wear the dresses rather than get replicas of them. Complete and total disrespect
She actually thought she was “worthy” to wear and even touch such iconic dresses is beyond me. This woman will never EVER be half the person Marilyn Monroe was. And to think she actually THOUGH she was equal or even better than Marilyn is SO disrespectful and entitled. Kim K 👎
@@Starfire861 No one should be able to wear any dress from the MM collection. Kim K a spoiled woman and thinks her body is God's ceation with her super un-natural hips. Kim believes she is a goodness but she's not, she nor anyone should ever wear this iconic dress. Now MM's beautiful dress is runed from the struggle in attempting to fit her unnatural body into a dress designed for specific body type. Please preserve this one of a kind MM dress in the Smithsonian museum for future generations to view.
Can we talk about how Marilyn Monroe is so often touted as the “plus size” icon because she was a 14 and yet Kim who is not considered fat had to lose 16 lbs to fit the dress and she was still too big for it? I think a replica made in Kim’s skin tone and with her hair down instead of slicked back would have been a better look.
Yea that impression of her is so inaccurate. At her biggest I think she was a 12, which would be more like a 6/8 today, and it was only because she had gained weight because she had been pregnant. IDK how anyone with eyes can look at pictures/films of her and think she was anywhere near plus sized.
I feel like if Kim Kardashian was as iconic as Marilyn Monroe, she wouldn’t need to wear Marilyn’s dress. She could just wear a dress that would have its own place in history as “Kim Kardashian’s dress.” But if she was set on the tribute, I agree she could have worn the replica the whole time.
In a strange way, I think it’s super abstract fame appropriation. I completely agree - if she was as iconic as Marilyn, she would have made whichever original dress she chose to wear worthy of a museum.
lol the reason she’s not as iconic as marilyn is because kim has no talent (except for pictures and acting? idk what she does) marilyn deserves better than to have herself compared to someone like kim
Imagine being the person that reduced the value of Marilyn Monroe's dress in an effort to flaunt wealth. Kim's wealth reducing value of clothing is almost poetry
I’m a museum curator, and although I don’t work specifically with textiles, it absolutely violates the first rule of museums: don’t touch it. If you don’t have to, don’t. I have a hard enough time getting adults to respect the ‘red hand’ signs around the museum, but this reinforces the idea that if you think you’re important enough, you get to do whatever you want because once you’re done with it, it no longer matters to you, so why care? Ripley’s is an irresponsible owner of this piece, and it’s endlessly frustrating to see a piece of cultural heritage, any cultural heritage, being treated in a way that it shouldn’t be.
I agree...Kim is a spoiled child...loves the publicity...you can bet she loves the fact she wore the dress of such a high value >both< in $ amount but also historically ...like this really makes her a valued somebody...
I worked in a museum too as a student parttimer on the weekends/holidays. I never had to tell a child to not touch the renainsance era tapestries. I sure had to tell adults. They are not behind glass so you can goddamn see them.
Kim Molenda Agreed🙌 she has totally devalued the dress like what is she famous for ?what talent does she have ?? no one deserves to wear it !! Especially her she wasn’t even allowed to come to the Met Gala ,she was banned to even come as a plus one until Kayne threw out all her cheap and tacky trashy wardrobe and when he was performing at the met and they were married she got to go but didn’t get a personal invite she was allowed to go as his plus one I’m Australian not really part of our country’s history and I was so mad that she was allowed to wear it you could see how hard it was for her getting out of the car I hate to think how much damage she caused to it SO SELFISH !! The fabric was made to match Marilyns skin tone not hers what gave her the right to wear it ?who does she think she is ? That she can even ask to wear it she’s famous for a sex tape 😡😡😡
This is a problem with rich people. They feel entitled to do anything they want and the worst thing is that the world confirms that by letting them to do that. One of the saddest thing about how the society works - if you have enough money nobody can stop you. It doesn't matter how much money she has. The dress was exposed to harmful conditions. Full stop.
Being a Fine Art curator, everything you said about the irreversibles damages done to the dress is exact and it's been driving me crazy for a week. Ripley shouldn't own that dress holy shit
@@esobelisk3110 it's not the same thing lol. A dress is supposed to be worn , Marilyn did what she had to do with it, it's going to desintegrate one day. It's foolishness to hold It that high
honestly, the whole situation was wrong on so many levels. marilyn’s dress had been disrespected for AGES. “ripley’s believe it or not” isn’t a prestigious museum, you can literally see the world’s smallest car there. the dress should not be held in a place where you can buy corn dogs. the dress should have been placed in a museum where it could be appreciated properly. that being said, marilyn’s dress was made for her and her ONLY. she had the dress sewn onto her body so that it would only fit her. marilyn’s wishes should have been taken seriously! the dress should not have been worn by kim kardashian, or anyone other then marilyn for that matter. i would be equally upset if any other celebrity wore it, whether it be taylor swift or joe exotic. it’s a historical piece and should not have been touched for ANY REASON. plus, we all know kim didn’t do it to “honor marilyn”, she did it for clout. she wears a stupid dress to the met gala EVERY. SINGLE. YEAR. it gets people talking every time without fail and that’s exactly what she wants.
Why would something some s*** war to show off to the husband of another woman she was sleeping with be treated with respect? She didn't treat herself with respect, she didn't treat Jackie Kennedy with respect, she didn't treat John Kennedy with respect, she didn't treat their children with respect. The entire scenario under which she wore the dress in the first place was disrespectful. It was intentionally being a s*** publicly to show off the fact that she was having sex with a man who was married to another woman and who had children. A man who was supposed to be setting an example for the country because he was a representative of our country. The whole thing is disgusting and the dress should be cut up and burned
Here with you on everything except what disqualifies a "prestigious museum". Why exactly shouldn't Marilyn's dress be in the same museum as the world's smallest car or corn dogs?? What is wrong with either of those things? The world's smallest car is an impressive feat of human creation, and corn dogs are delicious, and should absolutely be in the running to be sold at "prestigious museums" if they're going to have any restaurants or food stands, which they probably should so people can spend more time exploring history! What makes Ripley's "not a prestigious museum" isn't their other exhibits, or that they sell fast food... it's that they let pieces be defiled like this, and that they're private. History should either be held by the people who made it or by the public so everyone can see it and learn from it, and it certainly shouldn't be destroyed for attention. No place that does that has any right to call itself a museum.
Kim wearing the dress cheapened the dress and will be forever tagged “the Marilyn dress Kim wore”. Kim wanted the “Oh my” or “WOW” factor, I personally found it sickening. What has Kim ever done worth noting other than being in reality show?
There's no way anyone can justify Kim wearing MM's ironic dress. Marilyn was loved for her true personality and one of a kind.. Kim the Divas body shape can't be compared Marylin. Kim's body type is through extensive surgical procedures, that aren't natural unless through birth. Truly, there's no way Kim can equal to that of M.Monroe because these are two women with different personality and body types. Hope none one will be permitted to wear M Ms dress.
The sad thing is, I wouldn’t have recognized the dress as Marilyn’s without being told because of how it didn’t fit Kim the same. And then to see how they put it on her….my heart. Marilyn was trampled over in her life, and the world has continued to trample her after she left us. As sad as I am that this happened to her dress? I’m not at all surprised. The world seems to feel very entitled to every little part of her.
Yes, I learned about this dress in the same news report of some geneticist taking a lock of Marilyn’s hair (taken from her autopsy by the way, which…weird asf on it’s own) to track down her father….how is that not seen as unethical or inappropriate? Marilyn always assumed he was her father, but never got the satisfaction of knowing for sure, and now some random scientist announced it to the world?! I just…why can’t we let this woman REST?!
@ashley duckworth - Marylyn didn’t wear any undergarments with it, and the dress was made specifically for her body to be sewn into…. That’s right, sewn, zippers don’t get that tight and fabric didn’t stretch then. Kim wore several layers of “skims” a second skin spanx if you will - just much more appropriate for revealing gowns - to compress herself into that dress (allbeit with her ass hanging out, hence the fur) So there were no historical underwear, it’s Marylyn’s shape to Kim’s shape.
Does Kim wearing that dress depreciate the value of the dress? The fact that it was one of a kind, only worn by Marilyn Monroe, the occasion it was worn for is what makes the dress valuable. I feel like the dress has lost its value because it lost its sentimental, historical values. The dress is now tainted by the Kardashians’ longing quest to seek the “wow factor”… so sad.
Did anyone else mention that she had to try it on more than once to establish that it didn’t fit? The dress was undoubtedly put at risk several times. Shameful.
The industry created, exploited (and possibly killed) MM so of course they wouldn't stop at her clothes after she died. They'd sell pieces of her dead body if they could. Maybe they actually did.
The thing I can't fathom about this whole situation is that Ripley's were conscious enough to know the garment needed to be handled with gloves and care but were happy to force it onto a body that didn't fit but also a body that is 1000% covered in beauty products as well as natural oils... then the whole stole/off the shoulder jacket thing rubbing all over it. It's all too much. I hope we hear more about who cleared this as an approved idea and why they thought they'd had a stroke of genius
Because we're talking about it/them now, and that is all that matters to them, period. Damn the irreplaceable, damn dignity, damn all, so long as they are being looked at and talked about. Truly the sickest representation of the the last 20 years.
They are hoping that this will increase the relevance of the garment and the valueand therefore, visitors who come to see it. I'd argue that someone who wanted that garment as a collector's piece will want it less now and it's worth less than the benchmark set by the 5 million price tag. They'll know when they try to renew the insurance.
Marilyn had to be literally sewn into this dress. Kim could have gone with a replica for the entire evening (She wore one for part of the night) and made whatever point she was trying to make without damaging this original icon. No cultural significance was added in this action. The only thing I got out of it was the display of their complete lack of judgement.
> could have worn the replica and made whatever point she was trying to make I think the point in question is the following: I look like her. I can fit into her dress. My measurements are her measurements. I AM Marilyn Monroe. A replica just wouldn't have cut it for this alleged effect. Which in the end did not deliver at all. Kim didn't look stunnig. She looked uncomfortable. Even the dress was lackluster on her, mostly because it wasn't tailored to her, neither in fit nor in colour.
@@bajonista Yes. It just didn't deliver. At all. Also, her hair. Maybe I am the one not up-to-date on fashion but to me that super tight bun looked like an afterthought. The kind of thing she threw her own hair into while she was getting ready then ran out of time and said sod it, it will do.
@@bajonista I think that an impeccably executed nude illusion dress could still work well, but as I said it must be impeccably executed. That dress was made for another woman and it showed.
Kim Kardashian is at fault for this, because she feels entitled to wear this artifact. She “doesn’t know,” but certainly has the means and ability to find out. She chose not to, and has put a piece of history at risk to satiate her unbridled ego.
I mean I find it weird people say ‘she didn’t know’ when she handles fashion design and wears important archival pieces by designers all the time so she knows a LOT about not damaging clothing and the fragility of textiles? Like she knew what she was doing
I mean she has a fashion line. Sure, it's possible others do the work for her, but she clearly has an interest in fashion in a professional setting. If she didn't know herself she'd have someone around her who did.
I’m a museum collections manager and pretty much everyone I know was livid because, as you said, this is an explicit violation of museum ethics, and it was done in such a high-profile way that we’re going to have to fight back about it pretty much forever. Museums already have enough trouble with wealthy people, including people who should be invested in the wellbeing of collections like donors and trustees, thinking of them as a big toy box instead. Letting this happen has created a great script for unscrupulous leadership or pushy (potential?) donors to use to undermine staff’s already too limited ability to say no. I’m honestly more mad about that damage to ethical integrity than I am about the damage to the dress. My only solace on that front is that the lending institution was Ripleys and not anything approaching a reputable institution.
“I’m extremely respectful to the dress and what it means to American history,” she told Vogue in the lead-up to the gala. “I would never want to sit in it or eat in it or have any risk of any damage to it and I won’t be wearing the kind of body makeup I usually do.” Imagine getting so close and still missing.
It's so funny to me that she acts like she's showing so much respect to the dress by not wearing body makeup, like sis, do you want an applause? Ya shouldn't be wearing it in the first place.
Did you notice how the messaging went from "she won't be wearing ANY body makeup" (Ripleys) to "I'm not wearing the KIND of body makeup I usually do" (KK)? Meanwhile, we can all see the very obvious use of bronzer, body oils and highlighter on every inch of this woman's skin. Add to that fake tan, sweat, oil secretions from her hands (which were constantly touching the dress) and how the dressers tried to strain and squeeze the fabric over KK's backside... I can only imagine how much damage was done to it.
I’ve found this to be very accurate of her in just about everything she does. The irony of her wearing this dress too, but not understanding it, is what gets me.
I didn’t know how damaging this is to the actual dress. Thank you for explaining. Not aware of anything about the damage situation did not stop me from having a bad taste in my mouth that she wore such an iconic dress which had Only been worn by Marilyn. It reeks of the pretentious thought of how people flaunt their wealth in all the wrong places.
I saw the notification for this video but couldn't bare to watch it till now. As a major history buff, as a woman who also appreciates fashion, and understands the historical significance of the dress this broke my heart. I first thought she just wore a replica and thought that was neat but when I heard she wore the actual dress I literally cried. Abby, I agree with you about the gloves. The white cotton might work well with other historical artifacts but wouldn't recommend it for clothing.
When I first saw that kim was wearing this dress, I was more mad about learning that it's being held by a for-profit private collection than I was about her wearing it. She (as far as I'm aware) doesn't have any training on historical garments, so I'm not surprised that she believed ripley's when they told her there was a way for her to wear the dress safely. She never should have been in a position to wear it, because a dress this important should never had been in a private collection, it belongs in a proper museum that actually cares about preservation. Additionally, Marilyn was pretty clear that she wanted her stuff to go to close friends because she was tired of people profiting off of her while also denigrating everything she did. Ripley's not only paying for the dress, but having it up as a permanent exhibit is in direct conflict with her express wishes. The woman wasn't even allowed a proper burial, the least people could do is respect the things she left behind.
I'm glad you mention Marilyn's desires for the things she left. of course that's complicated by how we want to treat historic items. if it had remained in a friend's private collection there would be less of a leg to stand on to critique wearing the dress
I just want to clarify some things, we may feel passionately about something but reinventing facts is not what historians do. Her estate went to Lee Strasberg, her mentor and best friend at her request in her will. The collection was in storage for nearly 40 years after his death and endured a few attempts at theft, before being sold at multiple auctions, the Christie’s 2001 auction benefited her orphanage. The estate of Strasberg sold the items. There was nothing illegal or immoral about the sale. Most of Marilyn’s other friends were deceased when her items were sold. The cost of maintaining huge collections is a huge burden and expense. If you’ve never had the opportunity of dealing with one privately without unlimited resources and funds, it’s a massive weight around one’s ankle. And she did have a proper “burial” Joe DiMaggio and her sister saw to it along with flowers delivered to her 3 times weekly 20 years after her death. You’re being disrespectful about your view of a “proper” burial.
@@WinePunk you're absolutely correct about everything except her burial. She was Jewish and she's buried in a catholic cemetery. I don't think that is proper at all.
@@HeadFullaStuffin I remember having read that Hugh Hefner was buried next to her, because he wanted to be close to her eternally. Why can't people be respectful? Really
Yes, the Met was complacent because Ana Wintour signs off on everyone's outfits before they walk the red carpet. The money Kim potentially paid to wear this dress, she could have donated it to the Met. THAT would be a viral moment and much for significant in America history, than her starving herself to barely fit the dress and look boring doing so. Kim has a very unique figure and she has some amazing couture dresses made for her, idk why she couldn't have a custom peice made.
@@TheLily97232 She even approved the looks that didn't fit the theme of the Party😅😂😂😂... It's like Anna Wintour is tired to even think about it... She pays to have a theme and gets on with it... Like the theme is for the sake of it😂😂😂
I know she signs off on the guestlist but I didn't think she got to see the outfits beforehand, Ive tried looking into this but if you've got a source please share! 🙌
The Kardashians are not known to be generous or give donations. Lmao even though they should and could with all their money and 2 billionaires in the family
“Bad publicly is good publicly” and KK got famous from bad publicity. It’s the only way she knows how to make headlines, by doing something so outlandish and offensive. She will continue to do things like this because it’s the only way she knows. I feel sorry for her. Other celebrities must think she is a joke.
As a museum actually bound to conservation's ethics, I hope the Met bans wearing antiques on their runway-I don't know how much oversight they have on celebrities' dress, but considering the whole separate changing area Kim had set up, they had to know this was coming. It's really messed up that a museum's antique costume collection was funded by the active destruction of antique costume.
I don't know anything about the inner workings of museums, but when it comes to the Met Gala itself, doesn't Anna Wintour have god-like authority? My understanding is that her word is law. She could probably set a ban in place, but she would need to decide that it's worth losing the kind of buzz the dress made. Kim Kardashian closed out the red carpet. That had to be a coordinated effort with the gala's organizers.
Wonder how many of their exhibits have been loaned and worn by others, if they are OK with one museum doing it then they are probably OK with doing it themselves.
@@musicandbooklover-p2o I assume zero of their pieces have been worn since becoming part of the collections. It would speak very negatively of The Met's conservation efforts to have any history like that. As Abby touched on in the video, it's considered unethical to treat historical and antique garments of significance that way.
The Kardashians built their career on drama and controversy so this is 100% on brand. I feel like you underestimate her ability to know how unethical it was.
right, here we are, right now, talking about her and thinking about her. Goal accomplished. "Any press is good press." She knew it would piss people off. She literally has nothing to offer but drama and controversy and if we all stopped caring, she'd fade away into irrelevance
I am actively disgusted. When I saw the dress and then realized it was ACTUALLY THE DRESS... I was appalled. This should have never, ever happened. I don't care if it was Kim or Whoever, this should have NEVER happened. My mouth dropped when I saw them dressing her in it....
My initial reaction was that this is such a 'first world problem', and this from someone that wanted to be a Wardrobe Mistress when she left school! The moment you mentioned Marilyn's DNA being on the dress, that triggered something else for me and I started to 'get it' - it's like, no one else could wear or should wear Princess Diana's wedding dress!^^ There's something wrong when the extremely wealthy and privileged can sort of bypass important codes of ethics - seeing the manhandling of the dress also (as Marilyn was poorly handled in her life), just to fit a shape it was not made for on a person it was not made for was somewhat upsetting - in shoving Kim into that dress, Marilyn was lost and that is a tragedy. Your explanation toward the end also was very important to hear, to understand dress/costume in context of the wider social issues of the time. Dress is a form of diary and documentation. Thank you for helping me understand that better xx
My goodness I felt queasy seeing how they got her into that dress. Then the walk up the stairs 😳. It’s horrific. Kim lack of awareness is part of the problem, couple that with the greed of Ripley’s sets a dangerous president for future items of historical significance.
Kim is just ignorant and we all know it. I blame Ripley’s, who should know better. They keep it properly stored in a dark, climate controlled room at all times. They know how garment preservation works and the importance of it (especially with a piece of such historical significance) and they let someone borrow it in this fashion. Like wtaf.
I find extremely problematic that Anna Wintour herself never told Kim “hmmmm I don’t think that’s a good idea, bestie”. Of course she knew it would happen from the get go. She knew it would be the talk of the week and it would bring attention to the Met Gala.
I just feel sorry that Marilyn is being used as a prop again and again. It makes me uneasy that Ripley's apparently also sold Kim a lock her hair as a novelty item. She gets no peace in death even after complaining openly about how she was treated in life. Like I don't think she should be remembered as a glamorous sex symbol, I think we should remember her because she didn't deserve all the pain she went through and we should be more mindful of not abusing people for entertainment and profit. And the dress is being damaged for... Entertainment and profit? Sigh. And I promise this isn't "I hate Kim K" bias. If Blake Lively had turned up in this I'd be disappointed with her too. I can't stop thinking about that wet look Mugler corset Kim wore a couple years or so ago, like that was basically the modern version of Marilyn's birthday dress (the same effect anyway) and I thought it was amazing and very Kim! She could have done something so much cooler. There doesn't seem to be a reason beyond the sheer flex of being able to afford it and getting us all to complain about it.
I read another comment elsewhere that pointed out that Marilyn converted to Judaism before her death. This means that taking hair from her body, and selling or giving it to a celebrity, is really questionable and borders on vile. In her lifetime, Marilyn even stated that she felt everyone was always "tugging" at her, wanting a piece of her, and that she wanted to be left alone. It disturbs me that she is so commodified, even now. The misogynistic undertones to the commodification bother me even more.
Thank you for this! The moment I heard she wore the dress, I immediately though of how the dress just lost its value. This would be like someone trying to wear Princess Diana's wedding dress.
Oh, I’m sure that’s next on her Greatest Hits list. She’ll wear it to her next wedding, while a musician plays “Here Comes The Bride” on the recovered violin from the Titanic. 🙄🤮
The moment they let another wear that dress (no matter who) my heart absolutely sank. When I saw that dress I used think "the last person to wear that was Marilyn. WOW" - That is over.! Marilyn and the dress were iconic and beautiful. It was also of historical significance. I feel now it has lost that little something..
@loveutill theendoftimes AMEN to that. These people are nuts. How about worrying about destroying the NATURAL world instead of so much useless crap mankind has made, like dresses?
The images of them getting the dress onto Kim were definitely difficult to handle. It did Not look like they were handling it in a way that would help to preserve the gown in any way. It was so grating to see
I hadn’t seen the clip of her getting into it, omg that was painful to see. That dress was so mistreated! And 100% agree that Marilyn’s dress belongs in the Smithsonian. Would be nice if Kim bought it from them, donated it, and the copy.
I hadn't seen that one either, it's shocking! I read, how she would not fit into it at the first fitting, so she lost the weight, but this video was from the moment, she wore it and they had to handle it that way. I fear, how they handled it the first time
@@librasgirl08 I’m a big fan of Marilyn, and the idea anyone would get to wear one of her dresses, let alone one as iconic as this, well… the more I learn about this, the more angry I’ve gotten.
@@sarahbeth124 I read, she has access to two more of Marilyn's dresses. And said something like: I'll wear one just for eating breakfast at home... That's disrespect. Yeah, she is not a dress historian. But even a normal person should be aware, that those dresses have history and should not be worn!
I can't imagine that is the real dress. It must be the copy. Because it is said that she didn't fit into the real dress and had to leave it open in the back, reason why she had to wear the white fur to cover her behind.
You took the words out of my mouth--THIS dress shouldn't be at Ripley's; it should be in the Smithsonian!! The fragile nature of this dress was SO WRONG on Kim K (or anyone else for that matter). The weavers, the people who hand-sewed on each and every one of the crystals is getting to be a lost are lost art. The stretching and pulling of the dress over her Skims was horrific! Stitching her into the dress and covering the gap with a white stole didn't hide the wrinkling at the waist and puckered over one of her breasts really didn't do justice to this beautiful gown, because not being able to zip it up completely does NOT do justice to the fitting of any outfit. Marilyn wore absolutely NOTHING underneath and it hugged every line of her body. Does PRIVILEGE entitle you to get ANYTHING you want?? The kick in the pants was when Momma Chris wore a Jackie dress (don't know if it was vintage and belonging to Jackie), yet it was in extremely poor taste!!
@@nightwishisthegreatestband6355 maybe that’d be for the best. As Abby said, exhibition of the garment is inherently harmful. There’s something to be said about saving historically significant garments to the best of our ability, even if that means the general public doesn’t get to see it whenever they want. If in order to maintain it, we can only display it for short periods every few years, perhaps that’s for the best if it means we can save it for future generations.
What strikes me as most problematic about this, apart from the whole weight loss thing, is that it is a display of what wealth can get you and how arrogantly the rich use their money and influence. Kim could basically have got the most fantastic custom made dress for the met, she has the funds to get a dress that would become "her" dress for coming generations. Instead the Marilyn dress got put at risk of damage, it caused Kim to literally alter her body to fit into it, and in my opinion the dress lost some of its value, not because Kim wore it, but because an additional layer of history was added to it that takes away focus from its origin. The dress will never again be "just" the dress Marilyn wore when singing Happy Birthday to JFK, a culturally significant moment of history, but it is now both that dress and the dress at the centre of a cultural debate that it really shouldn't have anything to do with and shouldn't have to be part of as a historical garment. By wearing that dress, and allowing her to, Kim and the owners had the audacity to alter the history of the dress and made it something it wasn't supposed to be. The wealthy gave themselves permission to change something that should be considered a part of the shared cultural heritage from the 20th century, particularly for Americans but also world wide. They basically toyed around with something that culturally belongs to all of us.
I saw this dress at an exhibit at the Met over 40 years ago. It was in a special temperature/humidity/ UV protected case. To see it used on a body with makeup on it, sweating and exposed to flash photography was emotionally traumatic to me. Other dresses from the same exhibit are now at the Museum of the Moving Image in NY exposed to the environment. It is criminal.
Honestly this whole situation just breaks my heart...as it does for many of us. We need to preserve pieces like this as gifts for future generations. Especially of women and especially of a woman like Marilyn.
Anna Wintor has final say on every outfit worn at the Met so I am 100% blaming her. She could have nipped this in the bud and she didn't. Vogue must be really desperate for press
@@kenziej4301 Totally agree. At this point I'll start ignoring these institutions a lot more because of how cheap their stunts for relevancy are, nah you ain't having my dime anymore.
I wasnt aware that all the clothes had to be okayed by her first. She absolutely should have said no. On like, half the outfits this year but especially on the Marilyn dress!
I was listening as I was handling food prep. My 9 year old overheard as he was passing through and you got him hooked. He told his brothers he couldn't play Nerf anymore "because I gotta hear more about this dress!" He has been researching garments as part of a bigger assignment about culture in social studies and this video turned out to be educational for both of us. ❤️
Lol. Right! A child's intelligence. A dress, a piece of cloth. Your son has an intelligence beyond this channel. Wah wah, don't you wish you had a dress that would live forever??!! Lol.
Hope this poor gal d on the have a heart attack over a dress. Really. Haha. How do you know you are not wearing someone of significance's clothing when you wear old clothing? Oh, you choose who is significant in this world. We are created equsl, God loves Kim and Marilyn and you and I, all the same. It will all rust, be consumed by moths.
Send your lovely son on the trail of the peacock dress , Cathy Hey has done multiple videos about it, it’s construction, replication, and ethics before ultimately deciding it represents so much bad history it ought to be left aside. Fascinating and in study of the power of clothing to open up long overdue dialogues as well as recognition of the skill of some of the original contributors.
I worked for Ripley's 8 years ago at their corporate offices in Orlando. Their "warehouse" is just that--a warehouse that's at the back of an unassuming office block. It's not climate-controlled. Items are stacked in boxes and crates on steel shelving all the way up to the rafters. While I have no idea whether the Marilyn dress was ever stored in the warehouse, I can tell you with certainty that everything in Ripley's collection is sent there when acquired for cataloging and insurance appraisal purposes, so it was there for anywhere from an hour to a month, depending. And I can tell you with certainty that other historic clothing is stored there as part of Ripley's collection until it is rotated among its "Odditoriums" for display.
Here because of Emily D Baker. HOLY cow... I knew this was a bad choice as soon as I saw it on the carpet. Now seeing the damage come to light it's pretty devastating, and agreed it should be in Smithsonian. Hearing you talk about Marilyn's essence being on the dress is absolutely breathtaking. This was a very unfortunate choice by everyone all around. I saw someone post on Twitter that this was Marilyn's, the significance of her wearing something that was made specifically for her, was a very big deal at that time. She came from nothing and this was hers.
I was appalled when it was said this is THE Marilyn Monroe’s birthday dress. So , now, anyone that wants to wear Jackie Kennedy’s pink wool suit it’s ok. No not at all. This is a dress of such historical significance it should never have been worn by anyone. How was this allowed by the Met.?
@@missbeaussie do you even know who they were? I think if you knew that and what happened with both Kennedy and Marilyn you would understand. Unless you're only here to spread hate and condescending comments, in which case you should just leave lol
@@missbeaussie Kennedy was a President of the US and Marylin is an iconic Hollywood star that laid the blueprint of the acting industry. That why it’s so historical.
What I REALLY find funny about all of this is how when they were trying to fit the dress on Kim K, they were still wearing gloves. Like, those gloves are basically useless if you’re literally yanking the whole dress to fit it onto another person. Like yes, wearing gloves causes less damage, but honey, the damage has already been done the moment it left the display 😭
I was genuinely astounded that this dress could even be worn by a person. Such a piece of history😱. And textiles are so fragile. It's beyond me. Astonishment from the Netherlands.
Never buy anything with Marylin's essence or image on it - she dies in NY, meaning her assets and likeness was not legally protected. Merch and using her imagery is defiling her and treating her memory as an object even more. No one in her life or who cared about her gets a dollar from those sales, she's basically treated commercially like trash. Everyone should have stopped for moment and not go ahead - watch Ripley sell the dress in the next few years, they knew they could make money. Kim actively defiled Marylin's memory, and as a celebrity, she should have known better. It is 10000% Ripley's fault, 1000% her stylists fault who should know about fashion and history and style. And it also Kim's fault 100% for not thinking twice about the fact that the reason she has fame is because Marylin Monroe ran so she could.
Can we talk about how Marilyn had to be sewed into the dress backstage? It literally cannot be worn properly by anyone ever without destroying it. A replica that had to be sewn onto her in the same way and fit her natural body I think would have made more impact culturally. The full Marilyn experience, if you will.
When I found out Marilyn Monroe had that dress sown in before her performance truly changed my opinion about Kim wearing the dress. That’s when you know a dress is that person’s dress and no one else’s. Kim could’ve replicated that sort of fit if she had her replica dress sown in as well.
Right! If she had had a replica made *in her actual skin tone* that looked better on her and fit her tight like the original idea proposed, I would've even appreciated it as a nice homage to Marilyn, despite it not fitting this years theme. They threw that all away by even touching the original dress and bringing it out in the first place, and gifting Kim a lock of Marilyn's hair. Who do they think they are??
@@rosecoloredbby WHAT? A lock of her hair?? The fuckity fuck. That is so... that makes me so uncomfortable. What a strange thing to have on display. But then again, it is Ripley's. What's next? Toe nail clippings? Just.. super uncomfy.
Shameful trying to get that dress over that woman's ass. Marilyn had to be sewn into that dress. That dress has not lycra or spandex. How did they get that ass into that artefact?
@@rosecoloredbby Wow, of course!! The _dress colour!_ Thank you for sharing that, I knew nothing about Marilyn Monroe's dress, so I dunno all the reasons it was significant and became part of pop culture history. If she was literally sewn into it backstage _and it was her skin tone_ -- of course that would just blow people away!! Goddamn! 🤯🤩 And you are totally right! When I saw Kim Kardashian wearing it, before knowing anything about the dress, it just looked like... A fashion disaster, tbh. It's her, why is she wearing a weirdly drab-on-her beige dress with sparkly bits that wasn't laminated to her body, let alone even fit right?? Shouldn't she be wearing something that makes her look practically naked and rich? (Not being negative, that's part of her brand that she's built an empire with, and anybody can have whatever style they want!)
I was a Fashion Designer for over thirty years. I had a visceral reaction to seeing Kim Kardashian in Marilyn Monroe's iconic dress. I felt that it insulted her memory, and that was something she endured enough of in her lifetime. That is what upset me most. It really upset me. There was no one like her. That should be Honored.
Especially someone who hasn’t contributed to the entertainment with anything of substantial substance. Marilyn’s whole life was incredibly interesting! Dark or not. She was an Icon.
Hard disagree on KK's culpability. This is a woman who archives her red carpet looks. It might not be common knowledge among most people, but it definitely is among celebrities, especially celebrities who are very into fashion. This is a woman with a climate-controlled closet full of purses that have never been used and that she would insist people wear gloves to even touch. She knows what she was doing, and she didn't give a fuck.
Totally agree. She knows and cares enough about fashion that she should have at least known enough to ask and look into it. What she did was selfish and careless. She saw what she wanted and took it for her own gain.
Absolutely agree. KK wore this dress for clicks and that's all there is to it, she got what she wanted in a way, because we're all talking about it, doesn't matter that it's not in a positive light. Publicity is publicity.
But she’s not an expert. She probably thought that Ripley’s were experts. She probably assumed they knew what they were talking about and bowed down to the people with more knowledge than her. Especially when they were telling her what she wanted to hear.
@@sallynewman7320 this is just another excuse I KNOW NOTHING at all about fashion and know your not suppose to touch history and the older they are the more fragile…. Somebody mention she have a climate controlled room for her purses and have people only pick it up with gloves … so it’s show she knows some knowledge on preservation of fashion this is a cope out to avoid further accountability ( which she never takes)
In my opinion, this choice of Kim is not only for the viral moment and it's not just ignorance. The fact that the dress is off topic and is fragile, and that she uses the original despite a replica is available, is all part of the message. I can do what I want: I have power, influence and wealth. So much that I can gain access a unique resource, I can do what I want. Even if it's highly questionable, disrespectful, and alternatives are available. I can do that because my leverage is enormous. I can force myself into history and culture. Despite being probably pretty ignorant or uncaring about historical eras and culture in general.
I will continue to place blame on Kim Kardashian. She is more intelligent than most people think. She IS knowledgeable about fashion. She is a woman who archives her own outfits and accessories in a climate controlled vault/closet. She knew exactly what was at risk when she even attempted to try it on, much less wear it. No one should be making any excuses for her and her choices.
I remember the "Happy Birthday Mr President" dress well (including my grandmothers outrage about it) couldn't agree more, and adding insult to injury, that dress looked simply HORRIBLE on her.
I don't even understand why it's a historically significant outfit. A w**** showcased the fact that she was fucking around with another man's wife in front of his wife, children, and the entire nation. Humiliating his family, hurting his wife, and this is somehow something to be archived and praised and remembered and considered to be historically significant? Seriously?
Absolutely fantastic analysis of this issue, Abby! Thank you for the work you put into this along with Kenna and Nathalie. The whole situation has really broken my heart.
As someone with indigenous heritage its pretty insulting ngl when people's response to this is "its just a dress" Thank you for the great video on the topic !
honestly, i'm almost sure people who say that have no sort of cultural clothing or even an idea that something that is "just a dress" could hold so much value, i mean they wouldn't like it if someone stole their clothes or something and said "it's just clothes"
Thank you for this! My youngest sister and I were talking about this and had some disagreements, and I basically said, “If she marries Pete Davidson in a few years, would - and should - the Smithsonian loan her Jackie Kennedy’s wedding dress (you know, *the only* wedding dress, fight me Diana fans) for the ceremony?” She was immediately horrified at the thought. This dress is on that level of historical significance. Textile conservation deserves the same funding that every other museum department has and this is shameful.
I gasped when I saw her wearing it. It made my stomach sink. How disgusting that an entitled reality star was allowed by Ripley's to wear and ruin a precious part of American history. Although Kim has a lovely figure, she was clearly stretching the dress out. She has a different body type than MM.
Thank you. This is an absolutely enlightening explaination. Nobody would let anyone walk a red carpet carrying the Mona Lisa. this is a shame, it's disrespectful to anyone trying to conserve anything in a museum. And the fact that it happened at a forking museum event is even worse !
She has no “right” to wear such an iconic piece of history. Money talks, right? Could a random fan of Marilyn Monroe been allowed to wear it? I think not. By the way, Kim looked awful. 🇬🇧
How much money of a random Marilyn fan have in their bank account compared to Kim though? And I blame Kim and the people that allowed her to wear the dress imo
Strongly disagree with Kim not being responsible. Ripley's holds more responsibility for this travesty but Kim is a grown-ass adult who is extremely entitled and does questionable things for publicity. If she was indeed ignorant of these matters (which I personally do not believe she was), she would still be culpable, because she's not a child. Ignorance is not excusal.
@@ednajones3700 yea, to wear the dress…not to upset the entire globe by not knowing what kind of fabric this was and why you shouldn’t wear disintegrating clothing
Just the fqct that she had to loose 16lbs to enter the dress , and just comparing their bodyshape, she knew full well , that dress was going to get damaged
I’ve said this before elsewhere, but Kim was having a replica made to her measurements anyways. All of this was unnecessary and avoidable. This COULD have been a beautiful tribute (if still arguably off theme, but nvm. about that) to Marilyn and the dress. While they were at it they could have matched Kims skintone to recreate the Nude illusion the dress was supposed to evoke originally too. She probably would have looked stunning and been way more comfortable that way too. Of course, it would have made smaller headlines. There wouldn‘t have been this outrage, wich is probably bringing a LOT of money to Ripley‘s now. I hope at least they‘ll exhibit the replica instead of the original, but seeing how they‘ve handled it so far, I don‘t have much faith.
I agree with her naturally beautiful brunette hair and a dress color to compliment her skin tone..even keep her bbl...celebrate HER beauty not her achievement fitting to someone else's beauty...which wasn't successful.
Yeah it honestly looks like shit on her but not because Kim is ugly, but the dress wasn't made FOR HER. Between starving herself and squeezing herself to death with Spanx 😬 it loses the natural allure of the dress! She made an expensive beautiful dress look cheap.
I agree. I also think a Marilyn tribute by Kim would be really appropriate. We can argue about differences in cultural significance, skills, the struggle vs privilege aspect, and the type of people they are. But I think that’s not worth doing and just drags everyone down. And regardless of any of that, I think the modern media treats Kim in much the same way that Marilyn was treated. As a sex symbol and nothing more. This is wrong. It was wrong when they did it to Marilyn and it’s wrong when they do it to Kim. Whatever her abilities may or may not be (I honestly don’t know, I haven’t watched or engaged in any of her content, products, whatever) and regardless of her past, Kim is a person. She should be treated as more than an object . Edit: and also sex work is work. And sex workers are also due courtesy and respect. Even if it weren’t in the past and Kim were currently releasing sex tapes or was in the sex industry in some way, that doesn’t in any way reduce the amount of courtesy or respect she’s owed as a human being.
Kims body is just as iconic as Marilyn's, having a dress that fit her like Marilyn's did would have better mirrored the effect the dress had. Looking past the damage wearing it did, wearing Marilyn's dress instead of a better fitting one that matched Kim's skintone just misses the point. It makes it obvious that it's about objectifying Marilyn instead of making a tribute to the artistry and history of the dress itself.
1. Thank you for reminding the masses what gilded actually means and the unintentional irony of theme. 2. Thank you for stating that we can see the person when we view historical garments. It reminded me of the preface to Ruth Goodman’s How to Be a Victorian where she discussed a laborer’s outer coat she had the privilege to view. She could see sweat stains, places where there was wear and the garment had been patched by probably his wife and “see” the work this man would have done while wearing the coat. Clothing history is important as it reveals the day to day lives of people and how they interact with their world.
I don't know why the algorithm showed me this video. But I just couldn't stop watching. The information is all so new to me and you are so passionate about your field of work/study... it's mind-blowing that I now consider things I never even knew existed. I have so much more respect for clothes now. Thank you! I'm writing from midwest Brazil. You opened up my eyes to so many things. THANK YOU! I'm subscribing and I can't wait to learn more from you. 👏👏👏👏👏👏
As a stage costumer for more than 35 years and having made enough wedding garments to NEVER want to make another, I am flummoxed beyond belief that the original gown was loaned out at all. As I commented below, Marilyn was sewn into the dress the night she wore it due to a mishap. How on Earth did they fasten Kim into it? Adding a new closure of some type was bound to cause stress to the garment. My all time favorite head-exploding day was when a director came up to me at a dress rehearsal and asked if the leading man's costume for the finale could have all the seams velcro-ed. He had an idea for a reveal and he wanted it for the next day. I stared at him for at least 45 seconds of absolute silence before saying, " I'm finished. I will be by a 8am for my final check. Ask wardrobe for your changes." People who don't understand clothing amaze me. They put it on and wear it all their lives, yet never give it a thought unless a button falls off or a zipper breaks or a seam rips. Leave iconic clothing alone. They had a copy. She could wear the copy. She, in my humble opinion, did not even look good in the dress. Her bra was clearly visible which ruined the effect. The whole fiasco could have been avoided by advertising that she would be wearing a true copy of the dress and that photos with her could be made for a donation to the Met. Of course, I also wondered, claws only slightly unscathed, why, after having her hair bleached to that shade, she didn't have a proper period hairdo to go with the dress. She could have afforded the best human hair wig available. Hmmm.
For the record, I don't think they *did* fasten her into it at all. I heard the reason she had that fur jacket draped around her waist was to disguise the fact it was literally open all the way down the back, because even after losing all that weight she still didn't fit in it.
@@JoneseyBanana I certainly hope that was the case, but that would add a whole new aspect of torture to the fabric of the dress because the weight of all the beading would not be properly supported. With every turn and move the dress could have simply split down the back. I wonder what the original actually looks like now. There haven't been any fanfare photos of the after-wear that I have seen. Anybody?
@@adrianburrell6217 there’s video of Kim trying it on before red carpet to make sure it will fit, after the weight loss- it’s at that point they know the back will not fit still so they decide on the fur - check TH-cam for the videos, so crazy 😣
YES!!! The hair!! Setting aside the dress issue because I don’t have anything to add to what’s already been said, why in the world would she do that to/with her hair? My head explodes thinking about it! The Kardashians wear wigs all the time; why not this time? A gorgeous, human hair wig styled in a period-appropriate style would have at least complemented the dress she desecrated! But to destroy her own hair with 14 hours of bleach, and then simply pull it into a tight, slicked-back bun? WHYYYY?!!!!
I read something from her team that said they used the fur because it wouldn’t zip properly. She should have just worn the dupe dress that she ended up wearing anyways! So ridiculous
it makes me so upset that marilyn’s consent & wishes are still being constantly ignored, dismissed & exploited to this day. she was treated so poorly in life & just as poorly in death. will norma jean never know peace? such a sad example of how society disregards bodily autonomy of women & afab people. as you pointed out abby, it’s especially upsetting to see given the backdrop of the current roe v. wade overturnment & the scary times we are headed into as far as reproductive rights. we’re definitely living in the cursed timeline. edit just to say that yhara zayd has a great video on the mistreatment of marilyn monroe in both life & death called selling marilyn if anyone is interested! it’s very informative & taught me a lot even as someone who has long been interested in marilyn’s life & legacy, so far as doing multiple research projects on her in school.
I wore my gran's evening dress from the 60s to my dance school matric send-off. Even though it isn't that old and is very well made i could tell how fragile the seams were so i can't even imagine how much damage the marilyn dress sustained
It's mind boggling to me how they remain to be so ingredibly insensitive to Marilyn after everything that we know about her as a person. They treat her like a Hollywood commodity to this day. Let her have some piece for gods sake.
I had to Google your comment because I had no idea what you meant, and OMG this is disgusting behaviour! Pieces of Marylin are being commodified by the wealthy. Thanks to the internet, we can start calling out these disrespectful people and boycotting them. I hope the culture shift is away from celebrity idolization.
The FUN thing about a TH-cam costumer Gala would be there many ERAS of clothes ! Each could also give a brief description (and a longer in depth video, naturally!) of their item. If they make it or had it made for them, etc. @TH-cam has DEEP POCKETS, AND they would benefit, so...... And, Dandy Wellington can be the musical guest. Gosh, just thinking this could be INTERNATIONAL ! Wouldn't that be cool ?! Having hosts from each country ? Or, do we just haul our UK & European hosts to USA ? (Assuming YT based here?) I think Nicole should be the Master of Ceremony (with several costumes changes!) And, Karolina doing a special "Mrs. Tanebaum" bit........
Quite serendipitously at the art museum I work at, we just did our textile rotation, but I can certainly attest to all your points. When handling historic textiles you definitely want to wear nitrile gloves and minimize pinching the fabric as much as possible because that can cause stress. I've also seen silk garments that have been in storage not exposed to anything for years emerge completely shattered, so textiles can be super fragile and hard to take care of which is why even accredited institutions sometimes deaccession their textile collections or transfer them to places like LACMA or the MET with costume institutes that can better store and care for such objects. It's so unfortunate that such an important dress ended up at Ripley's but it's so emblematic of the weird funding structure of American museums and the state of the art market. Truth be told, most of the time accredited institutions are being outbid at auctions because as non-profits we simply cannot compete. Also having to raise your own money for projects is part and parcel of doing most anything in the museum because we're not in large part government funded.
Nicole Rudolph does a deep dive into the phenomenon of "shattered silk". It's quite possible that those garments were made with adulterated silk or "weighted silk" and weren't actually produced to last that long.
I've worked with documents where it was discussed whether or not we could digitize them in-house because there was concern about the light from the scanner damaging them, so that video of the dress being forced onto KK was rough.
So very well explained! This was wrong on so many levels, and when you pointed out that Marilyn’s dress was imparted with her essence…that broke me. That in combination with Marilyn’s hair being given to Kim … it was all spectacle. You are right that the cost of damaging the dress was not outweighed by any benefit: it was all about her. “Look at me!” She could have easily worn a replica and when asked, used that moment to highlight the importance of financially supporting garment conservation. That would have been so powerful. What she did (knowingly) was heartbreaking and selfish and wrong.
That was so gross of the museum to gift Kim Marilyn’s hair. And her reaction saying she was gonna do voodoo with it was disgusting as well. Marilyn was a real person and we’re all aware of how Hollywood treated her as nothing more than a product so it’s sad to see even after she has passed she’s still being treating like industry meat.
Hell no it absolutely is her fault. Everyone else was able to tell this was bad for the dress but not Kim? She has an entire team that could have researched it if she did not have common sense. Which they probably did and knew for a fact it would damage the dress. On top of that she knew it would have not fit her. She knew she was actively damaging the dress. She said she lost weight but I really don’t see how that would have mattered. She could have lost a lot more weight and it would have never fit her because she literally had a bbl? how is losing weight going to undo your bbl? I’m sorry but I don’t buy that this isn’t her fault she knew what she was doing Not to mention Kim’s version of marketing is creating outrage by doing something problematic. This is extremely on brand for her
Yes your point exactly when it comes to her weight loss, that dress NEVER would’ve fit because of Kim’s surgeries, she has a bigger chest, waist and hip size so all of her proportions are just wrong and that’s why the dress looked horrible on her but on MM, it’s an absolute masterpiece and she looks stunning
@@edithserafina1002 Exactly. She knew it wasn’t going to fit from the start there is no way she thought it would. Her losing weight is only more proof she knew it would damage the dress as well.
@Olivia Bailey (student) lmao as I said she knew what she was doing. Her losing weight to fit in the dress is proof she was aware. What I expect is people to not make excuses for them and act like the Kardashians are too stupid to know when this is very clearly intentional advertising for the exhibit. I don’t expecting anything of these entitled celebrities. My comment isn’t about that it’s about stating that she didn’t know and it wasn’t her fault when it clearly is also on her.
I’ve never been interested in jumping on the bandwagon of calling a Kardashian vain… I just don’t care… but choosing to wear that dress is indeed vain. Especially after your explanation of how it’s impossible not to damage it in various way… Very self serving.
It honestly gives the same energy as celebrities unethically purchasing historical artifacts. Legitamate museums would never allow such a thing, so anytime it comes to light that a celeb has somehow obtained an artifact, the means done so are usually very illegal. Celebrities can enjoy art and museums but it's downright wrong to amass artifacts. The objects need to be handled in a specific manner to conserve it. Why isn't it enough for celebs to visit museums or take trips to historical sites?
Hell, if they want antiques, there's plenty of really old stuff for sale that isn't considered historically significant enough to be in a museum, but they don't want regular antiques, they're so high on themselves they feel entitled to own important pieces of history.
Um, how exactly do you think museums have so many historical artifacts? They are by no means the paragons of ethical conservatorship; I don't agree with what Kardashian did, but at least she paid for wearing the dress. It's really naive to believe that museums have come by their artifacts in any ethical way.
Legitimate museums have been stealing precious historical artifacts from other nations for centuries. And refusing to give them back; especially when it comes to the ancient African artifacts. Yet, when people complain about it, their told to shut up and get over it. You must be living under a very large rock to be this naive about history.
I don't agree that Kim Kardashian is entirely faultless here. True, Ripley's should've never let this happen in the first place, but if she cared about fashion and/or history she wouldn't have worn the original knowing that more or less she will damage it, even if she's not a professional she knows that much. She could've worn a replica that fits her body and skin tone - the inspiration behind it would be obvious and it would've been more ethical and look better(which is what she ultimately cares about the most). I think this was a desperate attention and cash grab on her part, because in the last few years she's becoming less and less culturally significant, she knows her peak has passed and she's aging out of the incredibly ageist business she created, and no amount of money, plastic surgery and instagram filters can change that. Young people don't relate to her anymore. She wanted to go viral again, and she did, but it's bandaid and won't keep her trending for long, so she'll have to think of the next outrageous thing to do. I don't think it's so much about the money even, it's more about the attention, after all she's built a business and tied her selfworth entirely to her looks and when that fades she'll miss the attention and relevance more than anything.
When having an audience determined your wealth and image for a long time much like a influencer than I can see why she still wants the attention. I’m an influencer and it takes a lot of attention seeking to gain a following and genuinely gain money from my following. So I totally get where she is coming from even when given the billionaire status.
She already did an updated naked sparkling dress a few years ago. This was to feed her ego. She just wanted to wear the dress. She knew what she was doing
@@summerloveleigh it’s the met gala, everyone is supposed to try and catch your attention knowing any publicity is good publicity… so I’m pretty sure everyone there is there with an ego.
References are available below the cut for this video, if you're curious!
To forestall comments about Ripley’s being a private owner of Marilyn’s dress: Yes, they are. But maybe they shouldn’t be. As I tried to explain in the video, we as a society have a moral responsibility to preserve objects of historic value. Marilyn’s dress is that: a completely unique garment designed by an important designer, worn by a celebrity extremely important to American culture, and imbued with (often negative) messages about American society both then and now. If it wasn’t so important and special, Kim wearing it wouldn’t have been a problem.
Yes, Ripley’s owns this and can do what they want with it. But this is the kind of garment that usually would be in the Smithsonian - or FIDM or LACMA or the Met or even a local historical society: i.e. an accredited institution with the ability to preserve it for future audiences, including the public, scholars, and designers who could learn from it.
Yes to all of this!
Hear here, 💯!!
Amen!!
As a HoH person, thank you for taking the time for captions in all your vids!
What I thought was worse, Kim said she had to starve her self to get into dress... what size to MM wear!
For those who say "I'm sure Marilyn wouldn't mind her wearing this dress," Marilyn herself said that she wants it to be a "one of a kind dress that only Marilyn Monroe could wear." Ironically, Ripley's are the ones who published that quote 🤦♀️
Just so wrong on so many levels.
Thank you for pointing this out!!
I don’t see you guys crying when white people are literally culture vultures and appropriating the life out of every race and you’re mad over a dress? 🙄 trollin people like you is not fun
I agree. Marilyn keeps getting disrespected, first Hugh Hefner being laid to rest next to her and now this. I think people forget that she was a human being. She was objectified when she was alive and that definitely hasn't changed.
I don’t see why we should respect marilyn monroe though, like what did she do to deserve being honored?
@B Sch Wtf?!
It all comes down to “can” vs “should”. Can Kim wear the dress because she can afford to? Sure… SHOULD she wear a piece of clothing that was literally sewn onto Marilyn Monroe so that it would only ever fit her? Absolutely not.
And the fact that the dress was desecrated for the purpose of being worn fit only minutes, only to have Kim change again? So unnecessary.
I agree COMPLETELY ❤❤❤❤
1,000,000% agree
Ridiculous the Kardashian!!1
What p.sses me off, if that KK has worn clothes (correction, ALMOST WORN), clothes, to gain attention for as long as I can remember. Every day normal women, do not have hourglass figures, but we wear what suits our body, and do it with clothing that does not say "Look at me. See how awesome I look." Well, if looking like a n idiot is in vogue, thank you K, but I'll wear clothes that don't make people think of K West, (when together), 'wtf man, grow a set, and tell her to keep it for you, not every other man). No, to those who know of Marilyn's tortured existence, suffering through mental illness, and eventual murder, this is the ultimate disrespect, by a woman who does it solely for attention. I find that despicable. K, you have sank to a new low in my eyes.
Didn’t it make you cringe when they man handled the dress??? 😖
Kim Kardashian missed an opportunity to directly benefit the Costume Institute. She spent the evening in a copy of the dress. She could have worn the copy on the red carpet and explained to the mass of reporters that wearing the original would have been wrong. She missed the opportunity to use her celebrity status to inform others of the importance of conservation and institutions such as the Costume Institute. True, she does not have the background, but others working with her did not consider this. I am stunned that the Costume Institute and the Met allowed her to do this.
Completely agree!
I agree. She should have worn the copy throughout.
Good point
Eloquence
Also, completely agree
Yes yes yes yes yes yes yes
A replica could have looked so cool! Imagine a dress that was sewn to fit her curves and match her skin color. The whole effect of the original was lost because it was made for Marilyn and not Kim. I think a taylored replica could have been a great homage (eventhough it would still have been off theme)
Kim isn’t even Kim’s color.
She did have a replica made...she change into it after she walked the red carpet. and she looked much better in that than in Marilyn's gown.
I thought one interesting point someone brought up was the original dress was meant to match Marilyn's skin tone and create the sort of illusion of her being "naked", so it actually would have made more sense to have a replica made in Kim's skin tone as well as her own size so she didn't need to loose weight for the sole purpose of fitting into a dress not made for her body. It's even more insensitive when you consider handing out pills like candy to actresses in order to stay thin, stay awake and or be able to sleep was common practice in Hollywood at the time and was at least in part responsible for Marilyn's drug addiction which in one way or another led to her early death.
I would have been excited to see that dress too (i.e. one that was custom made) since it would have looked far better on her.
Exactly! I wouldn't have known it was THE Marilyn dress just by looking at the photos, because it didn't have that "naked" effect on a different skin tone. (Not to mention its iconic silhouette was lost on a body it wasn't custom-tailored for.) Meaning the only impact KK wearing the dress had was pure shock value- "OMG, she's wearing WHAT dress?!" There are lots of ways to make an impact at the Met Gala if you're that rich and famous without simultaneously damaging priceless art and encouraging dangerous weight loss practices.
It would have been amazing to see Kim in a replica made specifically for her. It still would have highlighted the original dress without damaging it and she could have pulled off the same naked illusion that the original dress was intended to have. Instead of trying to replicate the same iconic moments of the original dress lots of people failed this dress and she didn’t pull off anything other than making herself look entitled.
Kim’s “wet look” was probably the perfect homage.
I didn’t even think about that, I think that would have been amazing to make Kim her own one of a kind version just for her.
I think her wearing a properly made and fitted replica the whole time would've been more beautiful and such a lovely homage to Merilyn's dress. Seeing the hip seam strain makes me shudder. I hope the Met will release a statement and ban any future costumes of historical significance from being worn at their events.
A replica have been a beautiful homage if it was remotely connected to the Gilded Age theme. It’s embarrassing that so few attendees and their teams knew or cared about the theme, which if followed could have resulted in a stunning night of exquisite outfits for female, male and non binary attendees as the fashion of that age was so interesting.
Another point is that the dress on Marilyn had a naked illusion because it was matched to her skin tone.
@@kayelle8005 and it looked way more classy. kim just looks like a girl trying on her moms clothes
WELL SAID! Couldn’t agree more!
Lauren the won’t and we both know why
I think what’s so upsetting to me is that KK had a replica and still chose to risk even more damage for a photo op.
It's just plain ridiculous.
Ya the fact that she could have just worn a replica that was actually her skin tone or just inspired by the dress and yet she still chose to wear the original is just sad
I can’t stand Kim
Of course! But otherwise what would have been the point?
NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS.
Before, it was “worn only by Marilyn Monroe” now it’s “worn only by Marilyn Monroe & Kim kardashian” it’s absolutely disrespectful of Kim to ruin an iconic moment in Marilyn’s life. I’m surprised they managed to contain Kim’s massive ego in the dress without busting the seams 😒
Exactly she ruined the dress forever.. it's so gross she is even being associated in anyway with Marilyn
and the thing is the dress was made with the intention of no one except marilyn ever wearing it :/
Funny thing is she did all that just for it to not even fully zip up in the back. Her ego was hidden behind that fur coat 🙃
Oh but she done a great job of busting the seams & ruined the dress for ever. And the award for the worst self entitled brat goes to, funny how we have had famous movie stars and models and not one of them have ever wanted or come up with such a crazy idea as the Bratina Kimmy she must be so hated after this foolish self centered stunt. What a crazy 🤡
For this she’ll be remembered as an impostor, a “fake” celebrity that need to dig a pinch of fame over the stardom legitime and talented death person.
Sad, sickening and at least reveiling of the real lack of class of these fame pretender family.
That statement from Ripley's about Kim adding to the historical importance of the dress is so upsetting. Kim is alive and she will have many iconic dresses and iconic moments, Marilyn isn't with us anymore. There's so little of this woman left. I'm no expert on historical garments, but on that human level you spoke of, it made me so emotional.
Madeline,what a beautiful comment, I agree,it was emotional,for many reasons!
💯
Sameeee
Exactly! When she said Maryilyn was the only one to ever wear the dress until now, that broke my heart. Kim can get her own!
Even then Kim will never be as iconic as Marilyn was. MM is the biggest movie star of all time who just so happened to wish a happy birthday on stage to one of the most recognized U.S. presidents of all time. That’s history right there.
In my opinion, she didn't wear a antique, she wore an artifact, and that's a HUGE difference.
+++
YES!!!! Well said!!!! 👍👏
Yaaaaas!
Omg yes, never thought about it that way, but yeah, totally, mind blowing realisation. This changes everything
Truth
What irks me the most is that Marilyn wanted to be the only one to ever wear it, and she said so. Wearing it (even the destruction aside) is SO disrespectful.
I didn't know that. Wow! Now that makes it worse that she wore it.
Ghosts don't have wishes. Ghosts don't care about material things. Clothes are meant to be worn.
@@GirlDo3
Antique dresses are extremely fragile. Even if Kim only wore it for a little while, she without a DOUBT damaged the dress.
@@GirlDo3 not exactly. It was worn, by Marilyn. It’s not a shirt from Walmart. The dress wasn’t meant to be worn again.
Yes. That's really the main thing. She knew what she was doing and didn't care. And this will pass within a week
I do blame Kim. She doesn't have to be an expert or a rocket scientist to realize that it's tacky, disrespectful, entitled, and just, oh my God, the audacity. It's just gross.
Ye. 💯. I'm nobody and no near to nothing about history, but even I dropped my jaw when I heard that the real one was worn.
I agree. Idiots abound.
So true; just prove of the entitlement this woman has
100% agreed. It's disgusting.
potato pirate - agreed! To ruin a historical garment just to look TERRIBLE in it 🙄 her entire ARSE is out, it clearly doesn’t fit. The NERVE
I was appalled that a garment of such historical importance was handled so much, let alone WORN. THERE WAS A REPLICA!! There was absolutely no need to wear the original. It didn't fit her because it wasn't made for her.
Well the dress lost the value now
@@andrasta8417 I fully agree. Now it's slathered with KK's DNA
@@idzit yay thats cool
Historical importance? Long stretch.
@@missjanelove so it sold for 5 million dollars, being the most expensive dress of all time bc it’s not historically significant?? ok. sure. maybe watch the video where a literal dress historian explains the importance. it’s literally one of a kind & one of the most instantly recognizable dresses of all time. but sure, not historically significant…that’s why kim wanted to wear it for no reason whatsoever.
I thought the dress was unrecognizable as "the Marilyn Monroe dress" on Kim Kardashian. It didn't fit her like it did Marilyn Monroe. The bust line didn't have the same tailored fit on Kim Kardashian. I think the only way it was distinguishable as once having been worn by Marilyn Monroe was because we were told it was! 🙄
You're absolutely right. I totally didn't recognize it when I kept seeing it in article thumbnails for the Met Gala. It wasn't until I took the time to watch this video that I knew. My only thought prior was that she wore a super ill fitting dress to the Gala. I'm HORRIFIED to realize what dress it really was.
The colour of the dress was matched to Monroe's skin and looks superfluous on that Kardashian witch.
Couldn’t agree more. It looked nothing like it did on Marilyn. I would not have thought it the same dress unless told.
Exactly. Apart from all the historic importance of that dress, it looked *BAD* on Kim. It did not look good, it didn’t look chic or interesting or like it was an extension of her personality. It looked like a bad outfit.
Well put, absolutely right , another negative precedent has been set .....
The main problem is the precedent it sets for other celebrities wearing historical garments. If kim can wear the dress, why can't x or y celebrity. We also need to view this dress as an artifact, its non-fungible and should be treat as such. All this has done is emphasise how Ripley's brand centers around spectacle not education.
That bothers me as well. There must be a few oligarchs making a shopping list even now.
Unfortunately that's what's normal in the world, it the most effective form of advertisment. The museum very much is at fault, but so is Kim for accepting. She didn't need more money. Now people will look at this dress and remember Kim, not Maryln (at least for newer upcoming generations who donn't know Marilyn. Also, my opinion, it looked awful on Kim. Overall should not have happened, period. Doesn't matter who's fault, because it's everyones fault.
This, 1000% this. What next, the Ruby Slippers taken from the Smithsonian, so she can take a picture of herself hiking in them? FFS.
I honestly felt like she shouldn't of wore it
well emma chamberlain was wearing the patiala choker that was stolen from india
No, blame her. It's about time we held the entire Kardashian family accountable for their evil actions
Exactly like I'm so sick and tired of people thinking that there such good people when there not.
This whole situation reeks of entitlement. Just because Kim can afford to do things like this dosent mean she should. The fact she wore two of Marilyn’s dresses, posed with her golden globe award and was gifted a lock of her hair.. beyond disturbing. Marilyn is being exploited by the industry even in death. If Kim truly loved Marilyn and had respect for her, she wouldn’t have done ANY of this. Shame on everyone involved in this horror show, sigh.
As opposed to Marilyn being so respectful to Jackie by seducing her husband in front of her lol.
@@mmunive21 first of all, the morality of the alleged affair has nothing do with the preservation of a historical artifact. Second, Jackie wasn't even present when Marilyn sang Happy Birthday. She didn't attend the Birthday celebration at all, so your point about Marilyn seducing Jackie's husband in front of her (which I assume you are saying in reference to the night Marilyn wore this dress), is not only moot but factually incorrect.
Omg I only knew of just the 1 thing she worse of hers.. that’s just strange honestly. The ego of the woman is just beyond
@@mmunive21 Reportedly JFK was involved with many women he was not married to, Marilyn was just the most famous one he reportedly bedded. (If he even did and it wasn't just a tabloid thing)
@@mmunive21 Huh? how is that even relevant to this particular situation? lol there is no actual proof of an affair either, it's all hearsay and rumours.
The dress was made specifically to create a nude illusion on Marilyn Monroe. The fit and color were specific to Monroe, and do not create the same illusion on Kim Kardashian. The impact is therefore completely lost. It just looked like some random off-the-rack dress.
When taken out of the context of Marilyn Monroe wearing it, the dress doesn't really offer much in the way of design.
She should have just worn the replica, and they should have focused on making the replica create the same nude illusion. That would have been more impactful than wearing the actual dress.
That said, it also has nothing to do with this year's Met Gala Theme, either.
Yeah it’s weird that it was super off theme. I think they assumed the theme would be the same as last year’s theme?? Because the dress fits WAY better for the theme from last year, which was like America or American history or something
@@jfduug4994 I think a lot of people heard ‘Gilded Age’ and though ‘Golden Age of Hollywood’ which really shows the amount of research a lot of these people put in.
This. Apart from everything ethical etc, it didn't suit her. It wasn't her skin tone, it literally didn't fit.
The person who kept it should be fired, they could've easily told Kim to fuck off and just given her the replica instead
@@keenoled I'm hoping the replica fit better. But like they said, if they had a replica made, why wear the actual historical dress, especially because it didn't fit her and so it doesn't look as good. I'm not trying to body shame anyone, but in my experience, you look best in clothes that fit and you're comfortable in. When you feel comfortable and beautiful in your clothing, that shows. The fact that Kim couldn't even walk up the stairs in the historical dress tells me she couldn't be comfortable in it. I once heard someone say that the ultimate luxury in clothing is having it tailored to fit you.
Without knowing the dress was Marilyn Monroe's dress and the historical value to it, just looking at it, it just looks like a beaded dress, and one that doesn't fit well.
I'm so sick of Marilyn Monroe being as exploited in death as she was in life. Hugh Hefner, Pres.Kennedy, and now Ripley's and Kim Kardashian. I was horrified when I saw her in that dress. I was holding my breath waiting for it to shred off her body.😧
Me too. It made me tense just to see her in it.
Ugh the Hugh Hefner thing was so disgusting. Honestly I didn’t realise until I saw this video that it was the real dress, the possibility that something like this could happen to it didn’t even cross my mind! I’m so heartbroken about the way she doesn’t even get any respect in death
Agree, the dress is done. Kim still couldn't fit in it, she stretched it out, and even couldn't walk up stairs in it, wasn't that a sign. I'm just mad at the disrespect and no fucks given to a deceased woman who has no say in the matter. Couldn't even honor her request.
That dress will be so out of shape now. Sad how it was probably ruined just for 6mins of fame. How is it right for a dress not to be worn for 50 years but now it's okay? Marilyn's dress did not deserve to be worn like that , the only person who should wore that was Marilyn herself.
This comment hit my heart in the gut.
I am a Textile and Clothing Conservator and was beyond appalled when learning of Kim C wearing this dress. I actually audibly gasped when I saw the dress being pulled up in your video. That was an incredible amount of stress being put on the dress and there was no way of knowing whether the dressing process alone was going to cause damage. In fact, given that the dress is made of an inherently fragile silk fabric; it is a small miracle the dress was not irreparably damaged during dressing or wearing. Your comments were all spot on. It is true Kim was not responsible for this, but whatever possessed her to think that she should be so entitled?
My face when they wrangled the dress over her callypigean hips: 😬
Did you see the recent pictures of it? It was irreparably damaged. And for what? For a socialite to feed off of shock factor?
There is a whole video showing them TRYING to get that dress up. It never did close. They covered up the HUGE GAP with her behind hanging out by having her stole hanging low to cover it up.
Unfortinately small miracle didn't happen, gown was damaged
It was a sacrilege
The fact she didn’t wear just one of Marilyn’s dresses is what gets me… she also wore Marilyn’s green dress when she won her golden globe (she even tracked down and was carrying Marilyn’s golden globe!) I’m blaming Kim as much as everyone else. Clearly she also pushed to wear the dresses rather than get replicas of them. Complete and total disrespect
She actually thought she was “worthy” to wear and even touch such iconic dresses is beyond me. This woman will never EVER be half the person Marilyn Monroe was. And to think she actually THOUGH she was equal or even better than Marilyn is SO disrespectful and entitled. Kim K 👎
She wore the green dress, and took the golden globe as a fucking accessory ???
She’s obsessed with being the Marilyn Monroe of the 21st century, but hasn’t done anything to earn those accolades.
@@blooddragon805 she also got a chunk of marilyns HAIR as a gift!!
@@Starfire861 No one should be able to wear any dress from the MM collection. Kim K a spoiled woman and thinks her body is God's ceation with her super un-natural hips. Kim believes she is a goodness but she's not, she nor anyone should ever wear this iconic dress. Now MM's beautiful dress is runed from the struggle in attempting to fit her unnatural body into a dress designed for specific body type. Please preserve this one of a kind MM dress in the Smithsonian museum for future generations to view.
Can we talk about how Marilyn Monroe is so often touted as the “plus size” icon because she was a 14 and yet Kim who is not considered fat had to lose 16 lbs to fit the dress and she was still too big for it? I think a replica made in Kim’s skin tone and with her hair down instead of slicked back would have been a better look.
When I saw the dress in person I thought it was small.
Yea that impression of her is so inaccurate. At her biggest I think she was a 12, which would be more like a 6/8 today, and it was only because she had gained weight because she had been pregnant. IDK how anyone with eyes can look at pictures/films of her and think she was anywhere near plus sized.
Size 14 in the 60's is not the same size as today.
Yassss!! However to point out Kim probably would be a lot smaller if her @ss….. wasn’t make three times bigger or more than the rest of her body!
she wasn't a 14, she was a modern uk size 8/10 in her heyday. If you ever see her clothes in person, they're tiny.
I feel like if Kim Kardashian was as iconic as Marilyn Monroe, she wouldn’t need to wear Marilyn’s dress. She could just wear a dress that would have its own place in history as “Kim Kardashian’s dress.”
But if she was set on the tribute, I agree she could have worn the replica the whole time.
Precisely!
In a strange way, I think it’s super abstract fame appropriation. I completely agree - if she was as iconic as Marilyn, she would have made whichever original dress she chose to wear worthy of a museum.
lol the reason she’s not as iconic as marilyn is because kim has no talent (except for pictures and acting? idk what she does) marilyn deserves better than to have herself compared to someone like kim
Yes!!!
YES
Imagine being the person that reduced the value of Marilyn Monroe's dress in an effort to flaunt wealth. Kim's wealth reducing value of clothing is almost poetry
💯
More like people that reduce Marilyn's "accomplishments" down to a freakin' dress, but yeah she was such a great 'actress.'
@@radicalreactions1633 Putting Marylins “accomplishments “ in quotes is just rude. You obviously barely know anything about her besides her name
That's all that happened
Actually the price went up. It's now valued at 10 million...
I’m a museum curator, and although I don’t work specifically with textiles, it absolutely violates the first rule of museums: don’t touch it. If you don’t have to, don’t. I have a hard enough time getting adults to respect the ‘red hand’ signs around the museum, but this reinforces the idea that if you think you’re important enough, you get to do whatever you want because once you’re done with it, it no longer matters to you, so why care? Ripley’s is an irresponsible owner of this piece, and it’s endlessly frustrating to see a piece of cultural heritage, any cultural heritage, being treated in a way that it shouldn’t be.
I agree...Kim is a spoiled child...loves the publicity...you can bet she loves the fact she wore the dress of such a high value >both< in $ amount but also historically ...like this really makes her a valued somebody...
I worked in a museum too as a student parttimer on the weekends/holidays. I never had to tell a child to not touch the renainsance era tapestries. I sure had to tell adults. They are not behind glass so you can goddamn see them.
Kim Molenda Agreed🙌 she has totally devalued the dress like what is she famous for ?what talent does she have ?? no one deserves to wear it !! Especially her she wasn’t even allowed to come to the Met Gala ,she was banned to even come as a plus one until
Kayne threw out all her cheap and tacky trashy wardrobe and when he was performing at the met and they were married she got to go but didn’t get a personal invite she was allowed to go as his plus one I’m Australian not really part of our country’s history and I was so mad that she was allowed to wear it you could see how hard it was for her getting out of the car I hate to think how much damage she caused to it SO SELFISH !! The fabric was made to match Marilyns skin tone not hers what gave her the right to wear it ?who does she think she is ? That she can even ask to wear it she’s famous for a sex tape 😡😡😡
This is a problem with rich people. They feel entitled to do anything they want and the worst thing is that the world confirms that by letting them to do that. One of the saddest thing about how the society works - if you have enough money nobody can stop you.
It doesn't matter how much money she has. The dress was exposed to harmful conditions. Full stop.
Too accurate of a statement. It's disheartening.
Exactly, the entitlement they have is disgusting
Being a Fine Art curator, everything you said about the irreversibles damages done to the dress is exact and it's been driving me crazy for a week. Ripley shouldn't own that dress holy shit
It's Just a dress
@@kitanaedenian2575 Someone didn't watch the video.
@@kitanaedenian2575 the mona lisa’s just a painting
@@esobelisk3110 it's not the same thing lol.
A dress is supposed to be worn , Marilyn did what she had to do with it, it's going to desintegrate one day.
It's foolishness to hold It that high
@@kitanaedenian2575 it’s not just a dress. It’s the only dress. It’s a historical artifact that will never be another one.
honestly, the whole situation was wrong on so many levels. marilyn’s dress had been disrespected for AGES. “ripley’s believe it or not” isn’t a prestigious museum, you can literally see the world’s smallest car there. the dress should not be held in a place where you can buy corn dogs. the dress should have been placed in a museum where it could be appreciated properly.
that being said, marilyn’s dress was made for her and her ONLY. she had the dress sewn onto her body so that it would only fit her. marilyn’s wishes should have been taken seriously!
the dress should not have been worn by kim kardashian, or anyone other then marilyn for that matter. i would be equally upset if any other celebrity wore it, whether it be taylor swift or joe exotic. it’s a historical piece and should not have been touched for ANY REASON.
plus, we all know kim didn’t do it to “honor marilyn”, she did it for clout. she wears a stupid dress to the met gala EVERY. SINGLE. YEAR. it gets people talking every time without fail and that’s exactly what she wants.
Kim think she is some kind of god.
Why would something some s*** war to show off to the husband of another woman she was sleeping with be treated with respect? She didn't treat herself with respect, she didn't treat Jackie Kennedy with respect, she didn't treat John Kennedy with respect, she didn't treat their children with respect. The entire scenario under which she wore the dress in the first place was disrespectful. It was intentionally being a s*** publicly to show off the fact that she was having sex with a man who was married to another woman and who had children. A man who was supposed to be setting an example for the country because he was a representative of our country. The whole thing is disgusting and the dress should be cut up and burned
Here with you on everything except what disqualifies a "prestigious museum". Why exactly shouldn't Marilyn's dress be in the same museum as the world's smallest car or corn dogs?? What is wrong with either of those things? The world's smallest car is an impressive feat of human creation, and corn dogs are delicious, and should absolutely be in the running to be sold at "prestigious museums" if they're going to have any restaurants or food stands, which they probably should so people can spend more time exploring history!
What makes Ripley's "not a prestigious museum" isn't their other exhibits, or that they sell fast food... it's that they let pieces be defiled like this, and that they're private. History should either be held by the people who made it or by the public so everyone can see it and learn from it, and it certainly shouldn't be destroyed for attention. No place that does that has any right to call itself a museum.
I am not a Fashion Historian, but I was appalled at Miss Monroe's dress being worn by ANYONE. Thank you so much for your knowledge and information
….by ANYONE ! YES!!!! thank you
Kim wearing the dress cheapened the dress and will be forever tagged “the Marilyn dress Kim wore”. Kim wanted the “Oh my” or “WOW” factor, I personally found it sickening. What has Kim ever done worth noting other than being in reality show?
An adult film with Ray Jay.. 😆
There's no way anyone can justify Kim wearing MM's ironic dress. Marilyn was loved for her true personality and one of a kind.. Kim the Divas body shape can't be compared Marylin. Kim's body type is through extensive surgical procedures, that aren't natural unless through birth. Truly, there's no way Kim can equal to that of M.Monroe because these are two women with different personality and body types. Hope none one will be permitted to wear M Ms dress.
Steal from black women?
A sex tape. This woman is so fucking horrible
Oh yes that initial video of hers
The sad thing is, I wouldn’t have recognized the dress as Marilyn’s without being told because of how it didn’t fit Kim the same. And then to see how they put it on her….my heart. Marilyn was trampled over in her life, and the world has continued to trample her after she left us. As sad as I am that this happened to her dress? I’m not at all surprised. The world seems to feel very entitled to every little part of her.
Yes, I learned about this dress in the same news report of some geneticist taking a lock of Marilyn’s hair (taken from her autopsy by the way, which…weird asf on it’s own) to track down her father….how is that not seen as unethical or inappropriate? Marilyn always assumed he was her father, but never got the satisfaction of knowing for sure, and now some random scientist announced it to the world?! I just…why can’t we let this woman REST?!
@@xoyouaremysunshinexo IKR!!! This world is really just shy of a full-blow circus. SMH. Hunger games maybe coming sooner then we can imagine 😞
@ashley duckworth - Marylyn didn’t wear any undergarments with it, and the dress was made specifically for her body to be sewn into…. That’s right, sewn, zippers don’t get that tight and fabric didn’t stretch then. Kim wore several layers of “skims” a second skin spanx if you will - just much more appropriate for revealing gowns - to compress herself into that dress (allbeit with her ass hanging out, hence the fur)
So there were no historical underwear, it’s Marylyn’s shape to Kim’s shape.
@@xoyouaremysunshinexo who was her father ?
The world of media and "social " media just thinks its entitled to every little thing ...period
Does Kim wearing that dress depreciate the value of the dress? The fact that it was one of a kind, only worn by Marilyn Monroe, the occasion it was worn for is what makes the dress valuable. I feel like the dress has lost its value because it lost its sentimental, historical values. The dress is now tainted by the Kardashians’ longing quest to seek the “wow factor”… so sad.
Absolutely!. It went from an iconic dress, to a celebrity dress.
Did anyone else mention that she had to try it on more than once to establish that it didn’t fit? The dress was undoubtedly put at risk several times. Shameful.
yes but then why would they sell it to her??
@@navyah8885 They didn't sell it to her.
@@navyah8885 they might've charged 5-10 millions for renting it to her
The industry created, exploited (and possibly killed) MM so of course they wouldn't stop at her clothes after she died. They'd sell pieces of her dead body if they could. Maybe they actually did.
Meanwhile child slaves make the majority of the world's clothes and almost no one cares.
The thing I can't fathom about this whole situation is that Ripley's were conscious enough to know the garment needed to be handled with gloves and care but were happy to force it onto a body that didn't fit but also a body that is 1000% covered in beauty products as well as natural oils... then the whole stole/off the shoulder jacket thing rubbing all over it. It's all too much. I hope we hear more about who cleared this as an approved idea and why they thought they'd had a stroke of genius
Because we're talking about it/them now, and that is all that matters to them, period. Damn the irreplaceable, damn dignity, damn all, so long as they are being looked at and talked about. Truly the sickest representation of the the last 20 years.
I’m totally mad about the whole thing, but she did say that she didn’t wear any body make-up like she usually would.
She wore the fur stole to cover up the fact that the dress was tied with string because they could not zip it over her behind
They are hoping that this will increase the relevance of the garment and the valueand therefore, visitors who come to see it. I'd argue that someone who wanted that garment as a collector's piece will want it less now and it's worth less than the benchmark set by the 5 million price tag. They'll know when they try to renew the insurance.
Not to mention raking a SILK dress over SPANX. It was designed to glide over flesh.
That's like using carnival claw machine to move a Faberge egg.
Marilyn had to be literally sewn into this dress. Kim could have gone with a replica for the entire evening (She wore one for part of the night) and made whatever point she was trying to make without damaging this original icon. No cultural significance was added in this action. The only thing I got out of it was the display of their complete lack of judgement.
The cultural significance of this will be to show exactly how selfish and shallow the cult of celebrity is in 2022
She could have had one made to match her skin tone (like Marilyn did) so they got the same illusion that it was her skin shimmering.
> could have worn the replica and made whatever point she was trying to make
I think the point in question is the following: I look like her. I can fit into her dress. My measurements are her measurements. I AM Marilyn Monroe.
A replica just wouldn't have cut it for this alleged effect.
Which in the end did not deliver at all. Kim didn't look stunnig. She looked uncomfortable. Even the dress was lackluster on her, mostly because it wasn't tailored to her, neither in fit nor in colour.
@@bajonista Yes. It just didn't deliver. At all. Also, her hair. Maybe I am the one not up-to-date on fashion but to me that super tight bun looked like an afterthought. The kind of thing she threw her own hair into while she was getting ready then ran out of time and said sod it, it will do.
@@bajonista I think that an impeccably executed nude illusion dress could still work well, but as I said it must be impeccably executed. That dress was made for another woman and it showed.
Kim Kardashian is at fault for this, because she feels entitled to wear this artifact. She “doesn’t know,” but certainly has the means and ability to find out. She chose not to, and has put a piece of history at risk to satiate her unbridled ego.
I mean I find it weird people say ‘she didn’t know’ when she handles fashion design and wears important archival pieces by designers all the time so she knows a LOT about not damaging clothing and the fragility of textiles? Like she knew what she was doing
Also she was old enough to have common sense and grow up and realise what she was doing was not okay.
I mean she has a fashion line. Sure, it's possible others do the work for her, but she clearly has an interest in fashion in a professional setting. If she didn't know herself she'd have someone around her who did.
I’m a museum collections manager and pretty much everyone I know was livid because, as you said, this is an explicit violation of museum ethics, and it was done in such a high-profile way that we’re going to have to fight back about it pretty much forever. Museums already have enough trouble with wealthy people, including people who should be invested in the wellbeing of collections like donors and trustees, thinking of them as a big toy box instead. Letting this happen has created a great script for unscrupulous leadership or pushy (potential?) donors to use to undermine staff’s already too limited ability to say no. I’m honestly more mad about that damage to ethical integrity than I am about the damage to the dress. My only solace on that front is that the lending institution was Ripleys and not anything approaching a reputable institution.
“I’m extremely respectful to the dress and what it means to American history,” she told Vogue in the lead-up to the gala. “I would never want to sit in it or eat in it or have any risk of any damage to it and I won’t be wearing the kind of body makeup I usually do.”
Imagine getting so close and still missing.
It's so funny to me that she acts like she's showing so much respect to the dress by not wearing body makeup, like sis, do you want an applause? Ya shouldn't be wearing it in the first place.
Did you notice how the messaging went from "she won't be wearing ANY body makeup" (Ripleys) to "I'm not wearing the KIND of body makeup I usually do" (KK)? Meanwhile, we can all see the very obvious use of bronzer, body oils and highlighter on every inch of this woman's skin. Add to that fake tan, sweat, oil secretions from her hands (which were constantly touching the dress) and how the dressers tried to strain and squeeze the fabric over KK's backside... I can only imagine how much damage was done to it.
I’ve found this to be very accurate of her in just about everything she does.
The irony of her wearing this dress too, but not understanding it, is what gets me.
WOW.
Her ego stopped her from going all the way. She is a narcissist
I didn’t know how damaging this is to the actual dress. Thank you for explaining. Not aware of anything about the damage situation did not stop me from having a bad taste in my mouth that she wore such an iconic dress which had Only been worn by Marilyn. It reeks of the pretentious thought of how people flaunt their wealth in all the wrong places.
I saw the notification for this video but couldn't bare to watch it till now. As a major history buff, as a woman who also appreciates fashion, and understands the historical significance of the dress this broke my heart. I first thought she just wore a replica and thought that was neat but when I heard she wore the actual dress I literally cried.
Abby, I agree with you about the gloves. The white cotton might work well with other historical artifacts but wouldn't recommend it for clothing.
It's an atrocity they let anyone wear that dress. It doesn't matter who wore it.
Yes! 💯
So wrong that she wore that dress.
When I first saw that kim was wearing this dress, I was more mad about learning that it's being held by a for-profit private collection than I was about her wearing it. She (as far as I'm aware) doesn't have any training on historical garments, so I'm not surprised that she believed ripley's when they told her there was a way for her to wear the dress safely. She never should have been in a position to wear it, because a dress this important should never had been in a private collection, it belongs in a proper museum that actually cares about preservation. Additionally, Marilyn was pretty clear that she wanted her stuff to go to close friends because she was tired of people profiting off of her while also denigrating everything she did. Ripley's not only paying for the dress, but having it up as a permanent exhibit is in direct conflict with her express wishes. The woman wasn't even allowed a proper burial, the least people could do is respect the things she left behind.
I'm glad you mention Marilyn's desires for the things she left. of course that's complicated by how we want to treat historic items. if it had remained in a friend's private collection there would be less of a leg to stand on to critique wearing the dress
I just want to clarify some things, we may feel passionately about something but reinventing facts is not what historians do. Her estate went to Lee Strasberg, her mentor and best friend at her request in her will. The collection was in storage for nearly 40 years after his death and endured a few attempts at theft, before being sold at multiple auctions, the Christie’s 2001 auction benefited her orphanage. The estate of Strasberg sold the items. There was nothing illegal or immoral about the sale. Most of Marilyn’s other friends were deceased when her items were sold.
The cost of maintaining huge collections is a huge burden and expense. If you’ve never had the opportunity of dealing with one privately without unlimited resources and funds, it’s a massive weight around one’s ankle.
And she did have a proper “burial” Joe DiMaggio and her sister saw to it along with flowers delivered to her 3 times weekly 20 years after her death. You’re being disrespectful about your view of a “proper” burial.
@@WinePunk you're absolutely correct about everything except her burial. She was Jewish and she's buried in a catholic cemetery. I don't think that is proper at all.
@@HeadFullaStuffin I remember having read that Hugh Hefner was buried next to her, because he wanted to be close to her eternally.
Why can't people be respectful? Really
@@HeadFullaStuffin She called herself a Jewish Atheist. Westwood is non denominational.
Yes, the Met was complacent because Ana Wintour signs off on everyone's outfits before they walk the red carpet. The money Kim potentially paid to wear this dress, she could have donated it to the Met. THAT would be a viral moment and much for significant in America history, than her starving herself to barely fit the dress and look boring doing so. Kim has a very unique figure and she has some amazing couture dresses made for her, idk why she couldn't have a custom peice made.
Yes 🙌
.... she approved the many shitty looks we saw ? Interesting
@@TheLily97232 She even approved the looks that didn't fit the theme of the Party😅😂😂😂... It's like Anna Wintour is tired to even think about it... She pays to have a theme and gets on with it... Like the theme is for the sake of it😂😂😂
I know she signs off on the guestlist but I didn't think she got to see the outfits beforehand, Ive tried looking into this but if you've got a source please share! 🙌
The Kardashians are not known to be generous or give donations. Lmao even though they should and could with all their money and 2 billionaires in the family
“Bad publicly is good publicly” and KK got famous from bad publicity. It’s the only way she knows how to make headlines, by doing something so outlandish and offensive. She will continue to do things like this because it’s the only way she knows. I feel sorry for her. Other celebrities must think she is a joke.
She's not doing anything to prove them wrong.
As a museum actually bound to conservation's ethics, I hope the Met bans wearing antiques on their runway-I don't know how much oversight they have on celebrities' dress, but considering the whole separate changing area Kim had set up, they had to know this was coming. It's really messed up that a museum's antique costume collection was funded by the active destruction of antique costume.
Great argument.
I don't know anything about the inner workings of museums, but when it comes to the Met Gala itself, doesn't Anna Wintour have god-like authority? My understanding is that her word is law. She could probably set a ban in place, but she would need to decide that it's worth losing the kind of buzz the dress made. Kim Kardashian closed out the red carpet. That had to be a coordinated effort with the gala's organizers.
Wonder how many of their exhibits have been loaned and worn by others, if they are OK with one museum doing it then they are probably OK with doing it themselves.
!!!!
@@musicandbooklover-p2o I assume zero of their pieces have been worn since becoming part of the collections. It would speak very negatively of The Met's conservation efforts to have any history like that. As Abby touched on in the video, it's considered unethical to treat historical and antique garments of significance that way.
The Kardashians built their career on drama and controversy so this is 100% on brand. I feel like you underestimate her ability to know how unethical it was.
right, here we are, right now, talking about her and thinking about her. Goal accomplished. "Any press is good press." She knew it would piss people off. She literally has nothing to offer but drama and controversy and if we all stopped caring, she'd fade away into irrelevance
I am actively disgusted. When I saw the dress and then realized it was ACTUALLY THE DRESS... I was appalled. This should have never, ever happened. I don't care if it was Kim or Whoever, this should have NEVER happened. My mouth dropped when I saw them dressing her in it....
same same same
Last dress she wore before she passed away, this is bad Karma
So maddening! Of all clothing she would choose something of value and meaning for her own selfish purpose. Shameful!!! Devalued significantly.
Stop idolizing people who bleed and shit just like you and me. It's a dress..
It's crazy
My initial reaction was that this is such a 'first world problem', and this from someone that wanted to be a Wardrobe Mistress when she left school! The moment you mentioned Marilyn's DNA being on the dress, that triggered something else for me and I started to 'get it' - it's like, no one else could wear or should wear Princess Diana's wedding dress!^^ There's something wrong when the extremely wealthy and privileged can sort of bypass important codes of ethics - seeing the manhandling of the dress also (as Marilyn was poorly handled in her life), just to fit a shape it was not made for on a person it was not made for was somewhat upsetting - in shoving Kim into that dress, Marilyn was lost and that is a tragedy. Your explanation toward the end also was very important to hear, to understand dress/costume in context of the wider social issues of the time. Dress is a form of diary and documentation. Thank you for helping me understand that better xx
My goodness I felt queasy seeing how they got her into that dress. Then the walk up the stairs 😳. It’s horrific. Kim lack of awareness is part of the problem, couple that with the greed of Ripley’s sets a dangerous president for future items of historical significance.
Kim is rich, entitled, selfish and destructive in more ways than one.
They way that guy was just just sliding his hands up the dress🤢
Kim is just ignorant and we all know it. I blame Ripley’s, who should know better. They keep it properly stored in a dark, climate controlled room at all times. They know how garment preservation works and the importance of it (especially with a piece of such historical significance) and they let someone borrow it in this fashion. Like wtaf.
It reminded me of putting on a condom. Sorry, I saw it and I had to say it. I'm not a big Kardashian fan.
Me too! The Kardashians are the worst thing to happen to society
I find extremely problematic that Anna Wintour herself never told Kim “hmmmm I don’t think that’s a good idea, bestie”.
Of course she knew it would happen from the get go. She knew it would be the talk of the week and it would bring attention to the Met Gala.
YESSSSS why is no one pointing that out🤯🤯🤯
omg you are so right!!!
I just feel sorry that Marilyn is being used as a prop again and again. It makes me uneasy that Ripley's apparently also sold Kim a lock her hair as a novelty item. She gets no peace in death even after complaining openly about how she was treated in life. Like I don't think she should be remembered as a glamorous sex symbol, I think we should remember her because she didn't deserve all the pain she went through and we should be more mindful of not abusing people for entertainment and profit. And the dress is being damaged for... Entertainment and profit? Sigh.
And I promise this isn't "I hate Kim K" bias. If Blake Lively had turned up in this I'd be disappointed with her too. I can't stop thinking about that wet look Mugler corset Kim wore a couple years or so ago, like that was basically the modern version of Marilyn's birthday dress (the same effect anyway) and I thought it was amazing and very Kim! She could have done something so much cooler.
There doesn't seem to be a reason beyond the sheer flex of being able to afford it and getting us all to complain about it.
I read another comment elsewhere that pointed out that Marilyn converted to Judaism before her death. This means that taking hair from her body, and selling or giving it to a celebrity, is really questionable and borders on vile. In her lifetime, Marilyn even stated that she felt everyone was always "tugging" at her, wanting a piece of her, and that she wanted to be left alone. It disturbs me that she is so commodified, even now. The misogynistic undertones to the commodification bother me even more.
@@victoriadiesattheend.8478 why does everything get blamed on men and how is this misogynistic? It was literally Kim who wore the dress.
Thank you for this! The moment I heard she wore the dress, I immediately though of how the dress just lost its value. This would be like someone trying to wear Princess Diana's wedding dress.
Oh, I’m sure that’s next on her Greatest Hits list. She’ll wear it to her next wedding, while a musician plays “Here Comes The Bride” on the recovered violin from the Titanic. 🙄🤮
The moment they let another wear that dress (no matter who) my heart absolutely sank. When I saw that dress I used think "the last person to wear that was Marilyn. WOW" - That is over.! Marilyn and the dress were iconic and beautiful. It was also of historical significance. I feel now it has lost that little something..
That was it for me also. How dare she wear Marilyn's dress, it's sacrilegious and disrespectful. She might as well have wiped her bum with it
It's lost $$$$ in value too
@loveutill theendoftimes no shit, Sherlock.
Monroe is an American icon.
Did you watch the video?
Please do.
@loveutill theendoftimes imagine defending the kardashians
@loveutill theendoftimes AMEN to that. These people are nuts. How about worrying about destroying the NATURAL world instead of so much useless crap mankind has made, like dresses?
The images of them getting the dress onto Kim were definitely difficult to handle. It did Not look like they were handling it in a way that would help to preserve the gown in any way. It was so grating to see
I agree 100%
It didn't fit her at all. She's so disrespectful and gross.
I hadn’t seen the clip of her getting into it, omg that was painful to see. That dress was so mistreated!
And 100% agree that Marilyn’s dress belongs in the Smithsonian.
Would be nice if Kim bought it from them, donated it, and the copy.
I hadn't seen that one either, it's shocking! I read, how she would not fit into it at the first fitting, so she lost the weight, but this video was from the moment, she wore it and they had to handle it that way. I fear, how they handled it the first time
@@librasgirl08 I’m a big fan of Marilyn, and the idea anyone would get to wear one of her dresses, let alone one as iconic as this, well… the more I learn about this, the more angry I’ve gotten.
@@sarahbeth124 I read, she has access to two more of Marilyn's dresses. And said something like: I'll wear one just for eating breakfast at home...
That's disrespect. Yeah, she is not a dress historian. But even a normal person should be aware, that those dresses have history and should not be worn!
I can't imagine that is the real dress. It must be the copy. Because it is said that she didn't fit into the real dress and had to leave it open in the back, reason why she had to wear the white fur to cover her behind.
@@TH-pb4ux we didn't see them closing the dress
I don’t know how this got past so many people and no one stopped to think about how wrong it was on so many levels
You took the words out of my mouth--THIS dress shouldn't be at Ripley's; it should be in the Smithsonian!! The fragile nature of this dress was SO WRONG on Kim K (or anyone else for that matter). The weavers, the people who hand-sewed on each and every one of the crystals is getting to be a lost are lost art. The stretching and pulling of the dress over her Skims was horrific! Stitching her into the dress and covering the gap with a white stole didn't hide the wrinkling at the waist and puckered over one of her breasts really didn't do justice to this beautiful gown, because not being able to zip it up completely does NOT do justice to the fitting of any outfit. Marilyn wore absolutely NOTHING underneath and it hugged every line of her body. Does PRIVILEGE entitle you to get ANYTHING you want?? The kick in the pants was when Momma Chris wore a Jackie dress (don't know if it was vintage and belonging to Jackie), yet it was in extremely poor taste!!
Poor taste is the only kind they've got, oh, and no taste.
@@mariagordanier3404 LOL!! When you are right; you are right! 🤣🤣
If it went to the Smithsonian it will never be seen again
How do you know she wore nothing underneath?
@@nightwishisthegreatestband6355 maybe that’d be for the best. As Abby said, exhibition of the garment is inherently harmful. There’s something to be said about saving historically significant garments to the best of our ability, even if that means the general public doesn’t get to see it whenever they want. If in order to maintain it, we can only display it for short periods every few years, perhaps that’s for the best if it means we can save it for future generations.
What strikes me as most problematic about this, apart from the whole weight loss thing, is that it is a display of what wealth can get you and how arrogantly the rich use their money and influence. Kim could basically have got the most fantastic custom made dress for the met, she has the funds to get a dress that would become "her" dress for coming generations. Instead the Marilyn dress got put at risk of damage, it caused Kim to literally alter her body to fit into it, and in my opinion the dress lost some of its value, not because Kim wore it, but because an additional layer of history was added to it that takes away focus from its origin. The dress will never again be "just" the dress Marilyn wore when singing Happy Birthday to JFK, a culturally significant moment of history, but it is now both that dress and the dress at the centre of a cultural debate that it really shouldn't have anything to do with and shouldn't have to be part of as a historical garment. By wearing that dress, and allowing her to, Kim and the owners had the audacity to alter the history of the dress and made it something it wasn't supposed to be. The wealthy gave themselves permission to change something that should be considered a part of the shared cultural heritage from the 20th century, particularly for Americans but also world wide. They basically toyed around with something that culturally belongs to all of us.
I 100% agree with you. This is actually perfect for the Gilded Age. Ultra rich changing history.
You have very eloquently described cultural appropriation. And that’s exactly what Kim Kardashian did.
Magnificent and beautiful words
@@heatherhernandez4304 That is all she has ever done. What a gross,tacky low class family!!!!
@@heatherhernandez4304 She got stopped from doing it with kimono, but she persisted.
I saw this dress at an exhibit at the Met over 40 years ago. It was in a special temperature/humidity/ UV protected case. To see it used on a body with makeup on it, sweating and exposed to flash photography was emotionally traumatic to me. Other dresses from the same exhibit are now at the Museum of the Moving Image in NY exposed to the environment. It is criminal.
Someone wearing a dress for a half an hour was traumatic to you? You must have a really difficult life.
Honestly this whole situation just breaks my heart...as it does for many of us. We need to preserve pieces like this as gifts for future generations. Especially of women and especially of a woman like Marilyn.
Anna Wintor has final say on every outfit worn at the Met so I am 100% blaming her. She could have nipped this in the bud and she didn't. Vogue must be really desperate for press
Poor Anna, she’s probably legally blind at her old age cause the fashions weren’t fashioning ☹️
@@kenziej4301 Totally agree. At this point I'll start ignoring these institutions a lot more because of how cheap their stunts for relevancy are, nah you ain't having my dime anymore.
I absolutely agree Anna should be held 100% responsible and the copy should have been worn only
I wasnt aware that all the clothes had to be okayed by her first. She absolutely should have said no. On like, half the outfits this year but especially on the Marilyn dress!
I was listening as I was handling food prep. My 9 year old overheard as he was passing through and you got him hooked. He told his brothers he couldn't play Nerf anymore "because I gotta hear more about this dress!" He has been researching garments as part of a bigger assignment about culture in social studies and this video turned out to be educational for both of us. ❤️
Your kid is cool as hell and so are you. 🙂
Aw that’s so cute
Lol. Right! A child's intelligence. A dress, a piece of cloth. Your son has an intelligence beyond this channel. Wah wah, don't you wish you had a dress that would live forever??!! Lol.
Hope this poor gal d on the have a heart attack over a dress. Really. Haha. How do you know you are not wearing someone of significance's clothing when you wear old clothing? Oh, you choose who is significant in this world. We are created equsl, God loves Kim and Marilyn and you and I, all the same. It will all rust, be consumed by moths.
Send your lovely son on the trail of the peacock dress , Cathy Hey has done multiple videos about it, it’s construction, replication, and ethics before ultimately deciding it represents so much bad history it ought to be left aside. Fascinating and in study of the power of clothing to open up long overdue dialogues as well as recognition of the skill of some of the original contributors.
I worked for Ripley's 8 years ago at their corporate offices in Orlando. Their "warehouse" is just that--a warehouse that's at the back of an unassuming office block. It's not climate-controlled. Items are stacked in boxes and crates on steel shelving all the way up to the rafters. While I have no idea whether the Marilyn dress was ever stored in the warehouse, I can tell you with certainty that everything in Ripley's collection is sent there when acquired for cataloging and insurance appraisal purposes, so it was there for anywhere from an hour to a month, depending. And I can tell you with certainty that other historic clothing is stored there as part of Ripley's collection until it is rotated among its "Odditoriums" for display.
Oh my, that is just awfull!
It'd make you want to weep.
This is why we shouldn’t idolize clothes or any object, regardless of what it represent. Your memory is much more precious. ❤
Here because of Emily D Baker. HOLY cow... I knew this was a bad choice as soon as I saw it on the carpet. Now seeing the damage come to light it's pretty devastating, and agreed it should be in Smithsonian. Hearing you talk about Marilyn's essence being on the dress is absolutely breathtaking. This was a very unfortunate choice by everyone all around. I saw someone post on Twitter that this was Marilyn's, the significance of her wearing something that was made specifically for her, was a very big deal at that time. She came from nothing and this was hers.
I was appalled when it was said this is THE Marilyn Monroe’s birthday dress.
So , now, anyone that wants to wear Jackie Kennedy’s pink wool suit it’s ok. No not at all. This is a dress of such historical significance it should never have been worn by anyone. How was this allowed by the Met.?
I'd be curious for your elevator pitch on why Marilyn singing to Kennedy is so historical?
@@missbeaussie do you even know who they were? I think if you knew that and what happened with both Kennedy and Marilyn you would understand. Unless you're only here to spread hate and condescending comments, in which case you should just leave lol
@@missbeaussie Kennedy was a President of the US and Marylin is an iconic Hollywood star that laid the blueprint of the acting industry. That why it’s so historical.
@@christelleilmet3601 yes I know who they both are.
What I REALLY find funny about all of this is how when they were trying to fit the dress on Kim K, they were still wearing gloves. Like, those gloves are basically useless if you’re literally yanking the whole dress to fit it onto another person. Like yes, wearing gloves causes less damage, but honey, the damage has already been done the moment it left the display 😭
Wearing gloves doesn't even cause less damage, though! It's all so wrong in so many ways.
Yeah looked like they were stuffing sausage...her with the stupid look on her face🥴
Optics, that are years out of date.
About as effective as my eating oreos while watching a workout video hoping for results
I was genuinely astounded that this dress could even be worn by a person. Such a piece of history😱. And textiles are so fragile. It's beyond me. Astonishment from the Netherlands.
Never buy anything with Marylin's essence or image on it - she dies in NY, meaning her assets and likeness was not legally protected. Merch and using her imagery is defiling her and treating her memory as an object even more. No one in her life or who cared about her gets a dollar from those sales, she's basically treated commercially like trash.
Everyone should have stopped for moment and not go ahead - watch Ripley sell the dress in the next few years, they knew they could make money. Kim actively defiled Marylin's memory, and as a celebrity, she should have known better.
It is 10000% Ripley's fault, 1000% her stylists fault who should know about fashion and history and style. And it also Kim's fault 100% for not thinking twice about the fact that the reason she has fame is because Marylin Monroe ran so she could.
Marilyn didn't die in NY, she died in LA.
Can we talk about how Marilyn had to be sewed into the dress backstage? It literally cannot be worn properly by anyone ever without destroying it. A replica that had to be sewn onto her in the same way and fit her natural body I think would have made more impact culturally. The full Marilyn experience, if you will.
When I found out Marilyn Monroe had that dress sown in before her performance truly changed my opinion about Kim wearing the dress. That’s when you know a dress is that person’s dress and no one else’s. Kim could’ve replicated that sort of fit if she had her replica dress sown in as well.
Right! If she had had a replica made *in her actual skin tone* that looked better on her and fit her tight like the original idea proposed, I would've even appreciated it as a nice homage to Marilyn, despite it not fitting this years theme. They threw that all away by even touching the original dress and bringing it out in the first place, and gifting Kim a lock of Marilyn's hair. Who do they think they are??
@@rosecoloredbby WHAT? A lock of her hair?? The fuckity fuck. That is so... that makes me so uncomfortable. What a strange thing to have on display. But then again, it is Ripley's. What's next? Toe nail clippings? Just.. super uncomfy.
Shameful trying to get that dress over that woman's ass. Marilyn had to be sewn into that dress. That dress has not lycra or spandex. How did they get that ass into that artefact?
@@rosecoloredbby Wow, of course!! The _dress colour!_ Thank you for sharing that, I knew nothing about Marilyn Monroe's dress, so I dunno all the reasons it was significant and became part of pop culture history. If she was literally sewn into it backstage _and it was her skin tone_ -- of course that would just blow people away!! Goddamn! 🤯🤩
And you are totally right! When I saw Kim Kardashian wearing it, before knowing anything about the dress, it just looked like... A fashion disaster, tbh. It's her, why is she wearing a weirdly drab-on-her beige dress with sparkly bits that wasn't laminated to her body, let alone even fit right?? Shouldn't she be wearing something that makes her look practically naked and rich?
(Not being negative, that's part of her brand that she's built an empire with, and anybody can have whatever style they want!)
I was a Fashion Designer for over thirty years. I had a visceral reaction to seeing Kim Kardashian in Marilyn Monroe's iconic dress. I felt that it insulted her memory, and that was something she endured enough of in her lifetime. That is what upset me most. It really upset me.
There was no one like her. That should be Honored.
Especially someone who hasn’t contributed to the entertainment with anything of substantial substance. Marilyn’s whole life was incredibly interesting! Dark or not. She was an Icon.
Yes I absolutely agree, I had the same reaction
Hard disagree on KK's culpability. This is a woman who archives her red carpet looks. It might not be common knowledge among most people, but it definitely is among celebrities, especially celebrities who are very into fashion. This is a woman with a climate-controlled closet full of purses that have never been used and that she would insist people wear gloves to even touch. She knows what she was doing, and she didn't give a fuck.
Exactly. Anybody with a minimal selection of designer clothes would know not to take that dress out.
Totally agree. She knows and cares enough about fashion that she should have at least known enough to ask and look into it. What she did was selfish and careless. She saw what she wanted and took it for her own gain.
Absolutely agree. KK wore this dress for clicks and that's all there is to it, she got what she wanted in a way, because we're all talking about it, doesn't matter that it's not in a positive light. Publicity is publicity.
But she’s not an expert. She probably thought that Ripley’s were experts. She probably assumed they knew what they were talking about and bowed down to the people with more knowledge than her. Especially when they were telling her what she wanted to hear.
@@sallynewman7320 this is just another excuse I KNOW NOTHING at all about fashion and know your not suppose to touch history and the older they are the more fragile…. Somebody mention she have a climate controlled room for her purses and have people only pick it up with gloves … so it’s show she knows some knowledge on preservation of fashion this is a cope out to avoid further accountability ( which she never takes)
In my opinion, this choice of Kim is not only for the viral moment and it's not just ignorance. The fact that the dress is off topic and is fragile, and that she uses the original despite a replica is available, is all part of the message. I can do what I want: I have power, influence and wealth. So much that I can gain access a unique resource, I can do what I want. Even if it's highly questionable, disrespectful, and alternatives are available. I can do that because my leverage is enormous. I can force myself into history and culture. Despite being probably pretty ignorant or uncaring about historical eras and culture in general.
I will continue to place blame on Kim Kardashian. She is more intelligent than most people think. She IS knowledgeable about fashion. She is a woman who archives her own outfits and accessories in a climate controlled vault/closet. She knew exactly what was at risk when she even attempted to try it on, much less wear it. No one should be making any excuses for her and her choices.
I wish your comment could be pinned to the top of this page...You are so spot on...she is a grown woman, she knows better.
Gee I hav to say I would not b paying to wear Kim's clothes even if I had the money.
Absolutely agree! Well said
I remember the "Happy Birthday Mr President" dress well (including my grandmothers outrage about it) couldn't agree more, and adding insult to injury, that dress looked simply HORRIBLE on her.
I don't even understand why it's a historically significant outfit. A w**** showcased the fact that she was fucking around with another man's wife in front of his wife, children, and the entire nation. Humiliating his family, hurting his wife, and this is somehow something to be archived and praised and remembered and considered to be historically significant? Seriously?
Absolutely fantastic analysis of this issue, Abby! Thank you for the work you put into this along with Kenna and Nathalie. The whole situation has really broken my heart.
I watch your videos
Why? She only wore the dress for a few minutes. Removed it after reaching the venue. And wore another dress.
It broke your heart? REALLY??? Awwww.
Not on topic but I really liked your cowboy video.
Give me a break! Maybe she should have worn Monika Lewinski Blue dress..It is disgusting that that dress is an icon since Marilyn was a whore
I'm an art historian I was mortified to see kim wearing this iconic dress. I agree with everything you say here. Good job
As someone with indigenous heritage its pretty insulting ngl when people's response to this is "its just a dress"
Thank you for the great video on the topic !
honestly, i'm almost sure people who say that have no sort of cultural clothing or even an idea that something that is "just a dress" could hold so much value, i mean they wouldn't like it if someone stole their clothes or something and said "it's just clothes"
Thank you for this! My youngest sister and I were talking about this and had some disagreements, and I basically said, “If she marries Pete Davidson in a few years, would - and should - the Smithsonian loan her Jackie Kennedy’s wedding dress (you know, *the only* wedding dress, fight me Diana fans) for the ceremony?” She was immediately horrified at the thought. This dress is on that level of historical significance. Textile conservation deserves the same funding that every other museum department has and this is shameful.
I gasped when I saw her wearing it. It made my stomach sink. How disgusting that an entitled reality star was allowed by Ripley's to wear and ruin a precious part of American history. Although Kim has a lovely figure, she was clearly stretching the dress out. She has a different body type than MM.
Thank you. This is an absolutely enlightening explaination. Nobody would let anyone walk a red carpet carrying the Mona Lisa. this is a shame, it's disrespectful to anyone trying to conserve anything in a museum. And the fact that it happened at a forking museum event is even worse !
Don't give them any ideas!
She has no “right” to wear such an iconic piece of history. Money talks, right? Could a random fan of Marilyn Monroe been allowed to wear it? I think not. By the way, Kim looked awful. 🇬🇧
Agreed
How much money of a random Marilyn fan have in their bank account compared to Kim though? And I blame Kim and the people that allowed her to wear the dress imo
Strongly disagree with Kim not being responsible. Ripley's holds more responsibility for this travesty but Kim is a grown-ass adult who is extremely entitled and does questionable things for publicity. If she was indeed ignorant of these matters (which I personally do not believe she was), she would still be culpable, because she's not a child. Ignorance is not excusal.
Yes but in court, if you accidentally shot someone vs a premeditated situation, they’ll go easier on you. If you you don’t know, you don’t know.
@@kp5496 that's not a Good example since her actions were premeditated.
@@ednajones3700 yea, to wear the dress…not to upset the entire globe by not knowing what kind of fabric this was and why you shouldn’t wear disintegrating clothing
@@kp5496 Even kids know they should not touch stuff in museums... She knew what she was doing. She just felt entitled.
Just the fqct that she had to loose 16lbs to enter the dress , and just comparing their bodyshape, she knew full well , that dress was going to get damaged
I’ve said this before elsewhere, but Kim was having a replica made to her measurements anyways. All of this was unnecessary and avoidable. This COULD have been a beautiful tribute (if still arguably off theme, but nvm. about that) to Marilyn and the dress. While they were at it they could have matched Kims skintone to recreate the Nude illusion the dress was supposed to evoke originally too. She probably would have looked stunning and been way more comfortable that way too.
Of course, it would have made smaller headlines. There wouldn‘t have been this outrage, wich is probably bringing a LOT of money to Ripley‘s now. I hope at least they‘ll exhibit the replica instead of the original, but seeing how they‘ve handled it so far, I don‘t have much faith.
I agree with her naturally beautiful brunette hair and a dress color to compliment her skin tone..even keep her bbl...celebrate HER beauty not her achievement fitting to someone else's beauty...which wasn't successful.
Yeah it honestly looks like shit on her but not because Kim is ugly, but the dress wasn't made FOR HER. Between starving herself and squeezing herself to death with Spanx 😬 it loses the natural allure of the dress! She made an expensive beautiful dress look cheap.
100% this
I agree. I also think a Marilyn tribute by Kim would be really appropriate. We can argue about differences in cultural significance, skills, the struggle vs privilege aspect, and the type of people they are. But I think that’s not worth doing and just drags everyone down.
And regardless of any of that, I think the modern media treats Kim in much the same way that Marilyn was treated. As a sex symbol and nothing more. This is wrong. It was wrong when they did it to Marilyn and it’s wrong when they do it to Kim. Whatever her abilities may or may not be (I honestly don’t know, I haven’t watched or engaged in any of her content, products, whatever) and regardless of her past, Kim is a person. She should be treated as more than an object .
Edit: and also sex work is work. And sex workers are also due courtesy and respect. Even if it weren’t in the past and Kim were currently releasing sex tapes or was in the sex industry in some way, that doesn’t in any way reduce the amount of courtesy or respect she’s owed as a human being.
Kims body is just as iconic as Marilyn's, having a dress that fit her like Marilyn's did would have better mirrored the effect the dress had. Looking past the damage wearing it did, wearing Marilyn's dress instead of a better fitting one that matched Kim's skintone just misses the point. It makes it obvious that it's about objectifying Marilyn instead of making a tribute to the artistry and history of the dress itself.
1. Thank you for reminding the masses what gilded actually means and the unintentional irony of theme.
2. Thank you for stating that we can see the person when we view historical garments. It reminded me of the preface to Ruth Goodman’s How to Be a Victorian where she discussed a laborer’s outer coat she had the privilege to view. She could see sweat stains, places where there was wear and the garment had been patched by probably his wife and “see” the work this man would have done while wearing the coat. Clothing history is important as it reveals the day to day lives of people and how they interact with their world.
I don't know why the algorithm showed me this video. But I just couldn't stop watching. The information is all so new to me and you are so passionate about your field of work/study... it's mind-blowing that I now consider things I never even knew existed. I have so much more respect for clothes now. Thank you! I'm writing from midwest Brazil. You opened up my eyes to so many things. THANK YOU! I'm subscribing and I can't wait to learn more from you. 👏👏👏👏👏👏
As a stage costumer for more than 35 years and having made enough wedding garments to NEVER want to make another, I am flummoxed beyond belief that the original gown was loaned out at all. As I commented below, Marilyn was sewn into the dress the night she wore it due to a mishap. How on Earth did they fasten Kim into it? Adding a new closure of some type was bound to cause stress to the garment.
My all time favorite head-exploding day was when a director came up to me at a dress rehearsal and asked if the leading man's costume for the finale could have all the seams velcro-ed. He had an idea for a reveal and he wanted it for the next day. I stared at him for at least 45 seconds of absolute silence before saying, " I'm finished. I will be by a 8am for my final check. Ask wardrobe for your changes."
People who don't understand clothing amaze me. They put it on and wear it all their lives, yet never give it a thought unless a button falls off or a zipper breaks or a seam rips.
Leave iconic clothing alone. They had a copy. She could wear the copy. She, in my humble opinion, did not even look good in the dress. Her bra was clearly visible which ruined the effect.
The whole fiasco could have been avoided by advertising that she would be wearing a true copy of the dress and that photos with her could be made for a donation to the Met.
Of course, I also wondered, claws only slightly unscathed, why, after having her hair bleached to that shade, she didn't have a proper period hairdo to go with the dress. She could have afforded the best human hair wig available. Hmmm.
For the record, I don't think they *did* fasten her into it at all. I heard the reason she had that fur jacket draped around her waist was to disguise the fact it was literally open all the way down the back, because even after losing all that weight she still didn't fit in it.
@@JoneseyBanana I certainly hope that was the case, but that would add a whole new aspect of torture to the fabric of the dress because the weight of all the beading would not be properly supported. With every turn and move the dress could have simply split down the back. I wonder what the original actually looks like now. There haven't been any fanfare photos of the after-wear that I have seen. Anybody?
@@adrianburrell6217 there’s video of Kim trying it on before red carpet to make sure it will fit, after the weight loss- it’s at that point they know the back will not fit still so they decide on the fur - check TH-cam for the videos, so crazy 😣
YES!!! The hair!! Setting aside the dress issue because I don’t have anything to add to what’s already been said, why in the world would she do that to/with her hair? My head explodes thinking about it! The Kardashians wear wigs all the time; why not this time? A gorgeous, human hair wig styled in a period-appropriate style would have at least complemented the dress she desecrated! But to destroy her own hair with 14 hours of bleach, and then simply pull it into a tight, slicked-back bun? WHYYYY?!!!!
I read something from her team that said they used the fur because it wouldn’t zip properly. She should have just worn the dupe dress that she ended up wearing anyways! So ridiculous
it makes me so upset that marilyn’s consent & wishes are still being constantly ignored, dismissed & exploited to this day. she was treated so poorly in life & just as poorly in death. will norma jean never know peace? such a sad example of how society disregards bodily autonomy of women & afab people. as you pointed out abby, it’s especially upsetting to see given the backdrop of the current roe v. wade overturnment & the scary times we are headed into as far as reproductive rights. we’re definitely living in the cursed timeline.
edit just to say that yhara zayd has a great video on the mistreatment of marilyn monroe in both life & death called selling marilyn if anyone is interested! it’s very informative & taught me a lot even as someone who has long been interested in marilyn’s life & legacy, so far as doing multiple research projects on her in school.
"the gilded age wasn't golden"
THAANK YOOOUUUU it was horrible for 99% of the population and I think people heard "gilded" and thought "gold"
When you said that Marilyn was the only person to ever wear that dress hit me, it made me emotional 😔
I wore my gran's evening dress from the 60s to my dance school matric send-off. Even though it isn't that old and is very well made i could tell how fragile the seams were so i can't even imagine how much damage the marilyn dress sustained
My sister-in-laws gave me their grandmother's dress with a CRINOLINE OVERLAY! The stress is so real!!
@@Sandy-gg7to oh gosh. That's another level
For me, one of the worst parts was the lock of hair. So exploitative.
Yeah that made me 🤢
It's mind boggling to me how they remain to be so ingredibly insensitive to Marilyn after everything that we know about her as a person. They treat her like a Hollywood commodity to this day. Let her have some piece for gods sake.
Lock of???
/googling/
OMFG THEY DIDN'T!
RBoN is... That's so gross of them
I had to Google your comment because I had no idea what you meant, and OMG this is disgusting behaviour! Pieces of Marylin are being commodified by the wealthy. Thanks to the internet, we can start calling out these disrespectful people and boycotting them. I hope the culture shift is away from celebrity idolization.
Omg.
The Met Gala is just getting more and more unfortunate. Fashion TH-camrs should have their own Gala that will be absolutely fabulous.
That would be so incredible, fashion TH-camrs have so much knowledge and style I would love to see the amazing things they'd step out in💜
Yes, someone please make this idea happen!
That would be the best!
@@morganamsler3174 Elon Musk might want to ... he has money.
The FUN thing about a TH-cam costumer Gala would be there many ERAS of clothes ! Each could also give a brief description (and a longer in depth video, naturally!) of their item. If they make it or had it made for them, etc.
@TH-cam has DEEP POCKETS, AND they would benefit, so......
And, Dandy Wellington can be the musical guest.
Gosh, just thinking this could be INTERNATIONAL ! Wouldn't that be cool ?! Having hosts from each country ? Or, do we just haul our UK & European hosts to USA ? (Assuming YT based here?)
I think Nicole should be the Master of Ceremony (with several costumes changes!) And, Karolina doing a special "Mrs. Tanebaum" bit........
Quite serendipitously at the art museum I work at, we just did our textile rotation, but I can certainly attest to all your points. When handling historic textiles you definitely want to wear nitrile gloves and minimize pinching the fabric as much as possible because that can cause stress. I've also seen silk garments that have been in storage not exposed to anything for years emerge completely shattered, so textiles can be super fragile and hard to take care of which is why even accredited institutions sometimes deaccession their textile collections or transfer them to places like LACMA or the MET with costume institutes that can better store and care for such objects. It's so unfortunate that such an important dress ended up at Ripley's but it's so emblematic of the weird funding structure of American museums and the state of the art market. Truth be told, most of the time accredited institutions are being outbid at auctions because as non-profits we simply cannot compete. Also having to raise your own money for projects is part and parcel of doing most anything in the museum because we're not in large part government funded.
Nicole Rudolph does a deep dive into the phenomenon of "shattered silk". It's quite possible that those garments were made with adulterated silk or "weighted silk" and weren't actually produced to last that long.
I've worked with documents where it was discussed whether or not we could digitize them in-house because there was concern about the light from the scanner damaging them, so that video of the dress being forced onto KK was rough.
So very well explained! This was wrong on so many levels, and when you pointed out that Marilyn’s dress was imparted with her essence…that broke me. That in combination with Marilyn’s hair being given to Kim … it was all spectacle. You are right that the cost of damaging the dress was not outweighed by any benefit: it was all about her. “Look at me!” She could have easily worn a replica and when asked, used that moment to highlight the importance of financially supporting garment conservation. That would have been so powerful. What she did (knowingly) was heartbreaking and selfish and wrong.
That was so gross of the museum to gift Kim Marilyn’s hair. And her reaction saying she was gonna do voodoo with it was disgusting as well. Marilyn was a real person and we’re all aware of how Hollywood treated her as nothing more than a product so it’s sad to see even after she has passed she’s still being treating like industry meat.
@@crystalclear675 I didn't know about the hair... That's really messed up... 💔😞
Hell no it absolutely is her fault. Everyone else was able to tell this was bad for the dress but not Kim? She has an entire team that could have researched it if she did not have common sense. Which they probably did and knew for a fact it would damage the dress.
On top of that she knew it would have not fit her. She knew she was actively damaging the dress. She said she lost weight but I really don’t see how that would have mattered. She could have lost a lot more weight and it would have never fit her because she literally had a bbl? how is losing weight going to undo your bbl? I’m sorry but I don’t buy that this isn’t her fault she knew what she was doing
Not to mention Kim’s version of marketing is creating outrage by doing something problematic. This is extremely on brand for her
Yes your point exactly when it comes to her weight loss, that dress NEVER would’ve fit because of Kim’s surgeries, she has a bigger chest, waist and hip size so all of her proportions are just wrong and that’s why the dress looked horrible on her but on MM, it’s an absolute masterpiece and she looks stunning
@@edithserafina1002 Exactly. She knew it wasn’t going to fit from the start there is no way she thought it would. Her losing weight is only more proof she knew it would damage the dress as well.
It wouldn't have mattered if she lost weight. Weight has nothing to do with body shape and bone structure.
@@candacerain1 yes exactly
@Olivia Bailey (student) lmao as I said she knew what she was doing. Her losing weight to fit in the dress is proof she was aware. What I expect is people to not make excuses for them and act like the Kardashians are too stupid to know when this is very clearly intentional advertising for the exhibit.
I don’t expecting anything of these entitled celebrities. My comment isn’t about that it’s about stating that she didn’t know and it wasn’t her fault when it clearly is also on her.
I’ve never been interested in jumping on the bandwagon of calling a Kardashian vain… I just don’t care… but choosing to wear that dress is indeed vain. Especially after your explanation of how it’s impossible not to damage it in various way… Very self serving.
It honestly gives the same energy as celebrities unethically purchasing historical artifacts. Legitamate museums would never allow such a thing, so anytime it comes to light that a celeb has somehow obtained an artifact, the means done so are usually very illegal. Celebrities can enjoy art and museums but it's downright wrong to amass artifacts. The objects need to be handled in a specific manner to conserve it. Why isn't it enough for celebs to visit museums or take trips to historical sites?
Couldn’t agree more, well said 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
Hell, if they want antiques, there's plenty of really old stuff for sale that isn't considered historically significant enough to be in a museum, but they don't want regular antiques, they're so high on themselves they feel entitled to own important pieces of history.
Um, how exactly do you think museums have so many historical artifacts? They are by no means the paragons of ethical conservatorship; I don't agree with what Kardashian did, but at least she paid for wearing the dress. It's really naive to believe that museums have come by their artifacts in any ethical way.
Legitimate museums have been stealing precious historical artifacts from other nations for centuries. And refusing to give them back; especially when it comes to the ancient African artifacts. Yet, when people complain about it, their told to shut up and get over it. You must be living under a very large rock to be this naive about history.
I don't agree that Kim Kardashian is entirely faultless here. True, Ripley's should've never let this happen in the first place, but if she cared about fashion and/or history she wouldn't have worn the original knowing that more or less she will damage it, even if she's not a professional she knows that much. She could've worn a replica that fits her body and skin tone - the inspiration behind it would be obvious and it would've been more ethical and look better(which is what she ultimately cares about the most). I think this was a desperate attention and cash grab on her part, because in the last few years she's becoming less and less culturally significant, she knows her peak has passed and she's aging out of the incredibly ageist business she created, and no amount of money, plastic surgery and instagram filters can change that. Young people don't relate to her anymore. She wanted to go viral again, and she did, but it's bandaid and won't keep her trending for long, so she'll have to think of the next outrageous thing to do. I don't think it's so much about the money even, it's more about the attention, after all she's built a business and tied her selfworth entirely to her looks and when that fades she'll miss the attention and relevance more than anything.
When having an audience determined your wealth and image for a long time much like a influencer than I can see why she still wants the attention. I’m an influencer and it takes a lot of attention seeking to gain a following and genuinely gain money from my following. So I totally get where she is coming from even when given the billionaire status.
She already did an updated naked sparkling dress a few years ago. This was to feed her ego. She just wanted to wear the dress. She knew what she was doing
@@summerloveleigh it’s the met gala, everyone is supposed to try and catch your attention knowing any publicity is good publicity… so I’m pretty sure everyone there is there with an ego.
@@Blachexx not as much ego as Kardashians.
All Kim ever cares about is herself.
This made me more emotional than I thought it would. Marilyn Monroe was such and amazing human being and I’m so tired of people overlooking that
❤