Love her or hate her, you've got to admit that Kim Kardashian's red carpet looks for the annual Met Gala never fail to catch your attention year after year. For starters, there's the "dripping wet" latex dress by Mugler in 2019 and the equally controversial all-black with no face Balenciaga look in 2021. Pulling off another headline-worthy 'fit for this year's "Gilded Glamor" theme, the business mogul and reality TV star showed up on the steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art clad in Marilyn Monroe's iconic “Happy Birthday, Mr. President” dress. Talk about a big fashion statement!
"I am so honored to be wearing the iconic dress that Marilyn Monroe wore in 1962 to sing 'Happy Birthday' to President John F. Kennedy. It is a stunning skintight gown adorned with more than 6,000 hand-sewn crystals by costumier Jean Louis," Kim wrote in her Instagram caption. Debuting her freshly bleached platinum blonde 'do while holding hands with her new boyfriend Pete Davidson, she teamed the sparkly beaded gown with a sleek bun, a set of diamond chandelier earrings, and a white fur coat worn off the shoulders.
Kim looked stunning, obviously. But did you know that her pièce de résistance also happens to be the most expensive gown in the world? Originally designed by French designer Jean Louis, the iconic dress was sold to Ripley’s Believe It or Not in 2016 for nearly $5 million. It's now housed at the Ripley’s museum in Orlando and was only lent to The Kardashians star for the occasion.
Kim even took to social media to thank the museum for "the opportunity to debut this evocative piece of fashion history for the first time since the late Marilyn Monroe wore it, adding that she will be "forever grateful for this moment."
In an interview with Access Hollywood, Kim also reportedly said that she wasn't allowed to alter the dress in any way. So instead of having the dress fit her, she had to fit the dress.
Ripley's Believe It or Not! confirmed this on their Instagram account, sharing a video featuring Kim trying on the iconic dress. "Great care was taken to preserve this piece of pop culture history. With input from garment conservationists, appraisers, and archivists, the garment’s condition was top priority," it said. "Believe It or Not! no alterations were to be made to the dress and Kim even changed into a replica after the red carpet!â "
ICYDK, Marilyn Monroe was originally sewn into the dress when she wore it in 1962, according to People.
What an incredible fashion moment. You looked gorgeous, Kim!
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