Kardashian / Jenner Update: Kim Kardashian mirror Marilyn Monroe at The Met

by Chioma Nnadi

No one loves a Met Gala red carpet surprise more than Kim Kardashian—so it’s no wonder rumors of her dramatic transformation into Marilyn Monroe were swirling 48 hours before the ball. Naturally, the big reveal tonight was nothing short of jaw-dropping. “The idea really came to me after the gala in September last year. I thought to myself, what would I have done for the American theme if it had not been the Balenciaga look? What’s the most American thing you can think of? And that’s Marilyn Monroe,” says Kardashian. The instant she stepped foot on the red carpet wearing the infamous glittering dress, her hair platinum blonde and perfectly coiffed, the reference was unmistakable. “For me the most Marilyn Monroe moment is when she sang “Happy Birthday,” to JFK, it was that look.”

Based on a sketch by Bob Mackie for the French-born Hollywood costume designer Jean-Louis, the dress caused a stir when the actress wore it to serenade President John F. Kennedy on his 45th birthday in 1962. In the brief film footage of her performance, you can hear the audience gasp as she peels off her white fur coat to reveal the sparkling translucent look embellished with over six thousand crystals. “Nowadays everyone wears sheer dresses, but back then that was not the case,” says Kardashian. “In a sense, it’s the original naked dress. That’s why it was so shocking.”

As it turns out, the “Happy Birthday, Mr. President” dress isn’t the only Monroe replica Kardashian has available for the evening. It’s one of three. Though it’s unclear which, if any, of the other two will be seen by the world at large. “I have a replica of the dress she wore to the Oscars in 1962,” says Kardashian proudly of Monroe’s stunning green sequin number by Norman Norell. “I think I might just wear that one to eat pizza in my hotel room.”

Via: Vogue