Tania M Collins
Fashion Writer
Marilyn Monroe was an enigma which the world was and is fascinated by. She was the sex-symbol with the innocence of a child, who died too young in strange circumstances. The world turned her into a legend and worshipped her.
Ms. Monroe was a strange combination of contradictions: innocent, sexy, mischievous, intelligent, blonde, vulnerable and strong. She was the bombshell of her time with curves in all the right places – yet ironically in today’s fashion world she would probably be classed as ‘plus-size’.
She has been immortalised in many ways over the years through art, books, movies and celebrities such as Madonna drawing on her for inspiration. My Week with Marilyn, newly out in cinemas takes its turn to do Marilyn Monroe’s memory justice.
Michelle Williams is beautiful as the tortured Marilyn but the real star of the show is the fashion which is based on Marilyn’s actual off-screen outfits: roll-neck jumpers, pencil skirts, mac coats and of course heels. The looks are about simple clothing, neutral colours, clean lines, elegant and flirty. The looks are classic and can be easily translated today, without the designer price tag.
To get a Marilyn inspired look try pairing a black polo neck jumper such as Warehouse basic polo neck, from houseoffraser.co.uk for £20 with a tailored pair of tweed trousers – Monsoon does a great pair: Helga Herringbone tweed trousers for £65.
Another classic look from the film is in the scene when she flirtatiously asks if she should be Marilyn and poses suggestively against a brick wall for the watching Paparazzi. In this scene Marilyn is dressed in a pencil skirt and cream button down blouse. To achieve this look pair a pencil skirt such as the Oasis brushed twill pencil skirt, £15 from houseoffraser.co.uk with a blouse like the Stone quilted shoulder blouse for £18 from Dorothy Perkins, tucking the blouse in, folding the sleeves up to the elbows and keeping the top few buttons undone. A pair of nude heels complete the look.
To really channel Marilyn add lashings of mascara, Great Lash by Maybelline is great; red lipstick and of course Chanel No5.
