While Billie Eilish’s Met Gala look invited comparisons to Marilyn (see here), other stars also sported Monroe-style glamour last night. Over at Marilyn Remembered‘s Facebook group today, Australian fan Marisa noted that rapper Megan Thee Stallion’s gown reminded her of Marilyn’s Travilla dress in the closing number from There’s No Business Like Show Business (1954.)
Here’s more about Megan’s look over at Bustle…
“‘Megan attended the gala in a structured asymmetrical tulle gown, paired with simple heels and makeup. In an interview with Vogue on the steps of the Met before entering the building, Megan explained that her inspiration was classic, old-school glamour. ‘Megan Monroe!’ she labeled herself — and, TBH, we’re living for that comparison.
Megan dressed in custom Coach. A press release for the ensemble described it as a ‘silk georgette evening dress with all-over crystal embroidery embellished by hand at the Coach atelier in New York City. Drawing inspiration from vintage 1940s slip dresses, the dress was an example of a classic American silhouette reimagined for a new generation.'”
It’s not the first time Megan’s red carpet style has been compared to Marilyn’s, either – at the Grammys back in March, she wore a Dolce & Gabbana gown which reminded some pundits of Marilyn’s costumes in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (see here.)
Marilyn’s pink Travilla gown from the ‘Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend’ number is another popular reference for designers, and last month, Elle noted a resemblance in Anya Taylor-Joy’s Dior dress with matching shoes and beret, worn at the Venice Film Festival.
Meanwhile, Selena Gomez recently went blonde, in a cover story for Elle – leading to inevitable Monroe comparisons (see here), although really it’s more of a general homage to 1940s glamour and the ’50s bombshells than Marilyn in particular.
The above photo of Selena wearing a choker reminded me slightly of Richard C. Miller’s rather sweet portrait of a young Norma Jeane. However, in this image below, Selena looks more like Judy Garland or Lana Turner in their mid-MGM days.
And finally, returning to Billie Eilish, the cover shoot for her sophomore album, Happier Than Ever, recalls Marilyn’s 1962 pose for George Barris – but Billie’s long, fringed hair is closer to early Sixties starlets like Sue Lyon and Tuesday Weld.
As with Monroe-inspired fashion, these photo shoots borrow elements from Marilyn and blend them with other influences, both classic and modern, rather than slavishly copying her look.
The Marilyn Report 