Details: Marilyn Monroe’s “Happy Birthday Mr. President” dress is one of the most iconic pieces of fashion history. Monroe wore the dress on May 19, 1962, at a fundraiser for President John F. Kennedy and the Democratic National Committee, held at Madison Square Garden. The event took place ten days before Kennedy’s actual 45th birthday.
The dress was made of a sheer and flesh-colored marquisette fabric, with 2,500 shimmering rhinestones sewn into it. The dress was so tight-fitting that Monroe had to be sewn into it. When she took the stage and removed her white fur coat to reveal the breathtaking dress, she delivered a seductive rendition of “Happy Birthday” that remains one of the most famous performances of the song.
The dress was designed to give the illusion that Monroe was wearing nothing but sparkling diamonds. This design choice, combined with Monroe’s sultry performance, made the dress a historical fashion piece that has sold for millions.
In 2016, the dress was sold at Julien’s Auctions in Los Angeles, California, for $4.8 million to Ripley’s Believe It or Not, which is owned by Canadian billionaire Jim Pattison. This sale made it the most expensive dress ever sold at an auction, according to Guinness World Records.
