Marilyn in Stockings & Suspenders
November 14, 2008 –
Well, I am off to London on tour next Thursday. Oh I am looking forward to it! Lots and lots to do while I am there and I am going to be such a busy little bee that I have had to cancel lunch with the ‘ladies’. Now, I find out about this exhibition that will only be on for a short while and I really want to see it!
It’s of the Travilla collection – William Travilla – who preferred to be called simply Travilla – became famous for his outfits that helped Monroe achieve global stardom and it includes this photograph which has never been seen before. Marilyn in stockings and suspenders.
The costumes he designed for Marilyn included the white dress worn by the world’s best known blonde in The Seven Year Itch and the pink satin dress she wore in Diamonds Are A Girl’s Best Friend.
Now Travilla’s collection is being shown on board the HMS President 1918, a floating conference and exhibition centre on the Victoria Embankment, before it is returned to America.
As I mentioned It includes the photograph of the designer dressing Monroe, which she signed: “Hey Billy, Thank you for all the many wonderful things you made me. Love, Marilyn X X.”
Travilla dressed Monroe in eight of her films. He helped dress some 270 actors and actresses in total, including Paul Newman, Errol Flynn, Joan Crawford, Lauren Bacall, Sidney Poitier and Judy Garland.
He was also a key hand in setting the sartorial tone of the series, Dallas. He died in 1990, aged 70, after a career spanning half a century.
Hmm, perhaps I can get a later train home?…
