On Saturday, 19 May 1962, a major fundraiser by the Democratic Party took place in New York's Madison Square Garden, which also celebrated the approaching 45th birthday of President John F. Kennedy.
The invited celebrities included Marilyn Monroe, who was to sing at the event. She entered the stage – a little late – wrapped in a white mink coat, concealing a skin-tight dress, the colour of which exactly matched her skin tone. Studded with over 2,500 crystals, this Jean Louis designer piece (designed by Bob Mackie) is so slim-fitting that Marilyn doesn't wear anything underneath, so when the mink falls, the entire audience gasps.
See also: Marilyn Monroe and the Camera: A Love Story
The ensuing breathy birthday serenade for the President and the dress both became icons of entertainment and political history. On the one hand, because the event in Madison Square Garden was Marilyn Monroe's last public appearance before her mysterious death on the night of 5 August 1962; on the other hand, because it fuelled the rumours of a possible affair between the Hollywood star and President Kennedy. The only photo of Marilyn and Kennedy together was taken after the gala.
The importance of the dress is made clear not least by its two auctions. In 1999 it was auctioned in New York for $1.26 million. In 2016, the year Marilyn would have celebrated her 90th birthday, it came up for auction again, this time at Julien's Auctions in Los Angeles, where the US franchise Ripley's Believe It or Not! paid $4.8 million for it.
See also: Worth Millions: Behind the Appeal of Celebrity Memorabilia
"Marilyn Monroe singing 'Happy Birthday Mr. President' is surely one of the most famous impromptu performances in American history ," said Darren Julien, President & CEO of Julien's Auctions at the time. "This recording has stood for decades as one of the most notable events in her career and is certainly one of the most told stories in pop culture - a pivotal moment of the 1960s, Hollywood and Camelot."
The price achieved made Marilyn's legendary outfit the most expensive dress in auction history, surpassing another iconic piece of clothing worn by the actress (her white halter 'Subway' dress from The Seven Year Itch).
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In early May 2022, almost exactly 60 years after appearing at Madison Square Garden, Marilyn's "Happy Birthday Mr. President" dress made headlines again when Kim Kardashian walked the red carpet at the Met Gala in New York. Although she then switched to a replica after a few minutes, the performance was heavily criticised. On the one hand, because there were concerns about the preservation of the dress; on the other hand, because it was considered a desecration of an icon.
