Kim Kardashian has, once again, ensured she is the belle of the Met Gala. The reality TV star opted to go for a vintage gown for the 2022 event, borrowing from none other than Marilyn Monroe's wardrobe.
Kardashian arrived at the event, often dubbed “fashion's biggest night out”, with boyfriend Pete Davidson, wearing a recognisable gown, the exact dress Monroe wore to sing Happy Birthday to US president John F Kennedy on his 45th birthday in 1962.
For the full Monroe-effect, Kardashian — who is known for her flowing black locks — spent 14 hours dying her hair platinum blonde. Kardashian wore her hair in a tight bun on the red carpet.
Speaking to US Vogue ahead of the event, Kardashian said: “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.
“For me the most Marilyn Monroe moment is when she sang Happy Birthday, to JFK, it was that look.”
History of Marilyn Monroe's 'Happy Birthday, Mr President' dress
The dress, which is translucent and embellished with more than 6,000 crystals, was designed by French costume designer Jean-Louis, based on a sketch by American fashion designer, Bob Mackie.
The custom piece is said to have cost Monroe $1,440. In 1999, it was sold at auction for $1.26 million, making it the most expensive dress to have ever been sold at the time. In 2016 it sold again for $4.6m when it was acquired by Ripley’s Believe It Or Not Museum.
Kardashian told Vogue the museum was protective of its piece and originally sent her a replica of the dress to try on, which fit "perfectly". She was then sent the original dress to try.
“The dress was transported by guards and I had to wear gloves to try it on,” Kardashian said. “I always thought she was extremely curvy. I imagined I might be smaller in some places where she was bigger and bigger in places where she was smaller. So when it didn’t fit me I wanted to cry because it can’t be altered at all.”
Kardashian decided to lose weight to fit into the dress, deciding it was "this [gown] or nothing".
“I would wear a sauna suit twice a day, run on the treadmill, completely cut out all sugar and all carbs, and just eat the cleanest veggies and protein,” she said. “I didn’t starve myself, but I was so strict.”
For the event, Kardashian had access to two more Monroe styles, including a replica of the gown she wore to the 1962 Oscars by Norman Norell.
See all the looks from the 2022 Met Gala:
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Event co-hosts Blake Lively, wearing Atelier Versace, and Ryan Reynolds arrive at the 2022 Met Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 2. EPA -
Kim Kardashian, in Marilyn Monroe's 'Happy Birthday, Mr President' dress, and Pete Davidson. AFP -
Kylie Jenner wears an off-white wedding dress-style gown. AFP -
Billie Eilish, wearing Gucci. Reuters -
Gigi Hadid, wearing a Versace jumpsuit and puffer. AP Photo -
Kendall Jenner, in a full black gown. AFP -
Bella Hadid, wearing a black lace design. AFP -
Daniel Roseberry and Carey Mulligan, wearing a gown with a gold bodice and train by Schiaparelli. AFP -
Megan Thee Stallion, wearing in a gold two-piece Moschino design. Reuters -
Lizzo, wearing black and gold Thom Browne. AP Photo -
Khloe Kardashian, wearing a gold column Moschino gown. AFP -
Emma Stone, wearing Louis Vuitton. EPA -
Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker, both wearing Thom Browne. Reuters -
Cynthia Erivo, wearing Louis Vuitton. EPA -
Camila Cabello, wearing all-white Prabal Gurung. Reuters -
Camila Mendes, wearing a gold Ami dress. AFP -
Shawn Mendes, wearing Tommy Hilfiger. EPA -
Dakota Johnson, wearing Gucci. AP -
Austin Butler and Priscilla Presley, wearing Prada. AP Photo -
Kate Moss, wearing a black velvet Burberry gown. AFP -
Vanessa Hudgens, wearing a sheer black gown by Moschino. EPA -
Kacey Musgraves, wearing Moschino. EPA -
YouTuber Emma Chamberlain, wearing Louis Vuitton. AFP -
Anna Wintour, wearing a multi-coloured sequin gown. EPA -
Kris Jenner, wearing a yellow kaftan-style dress. AFP -
Co-chair of the 2022 Met Gala Lin-Manuel Miranda and his wife Vanessa Nadal. AFP -
Gemma Chan, wearing Louis Vuitton. AP Photo -
Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner, wearing Louis Vuitton. AFP -
Phoebe Dynevor, wearing Louis Vuitton. AP -
Maude Apatow, wearing a sheer black Miu Miu dress. EPA -
Amber Valletta, wearing a gold gown. EPA -
Kaia Gerber, wearing shimmering Alexander McQueen. AFP -
Dove Cameron, in a sheer gown with wing detail. AFP -
Miranda Kerr, wearing white Oscar de la Renta. EPA -
Jared Leto, matching Gucci's Alessandro Michele, both wearing Gucci. AP Photo -
Addison Rae, wearing a shimmering gown. AFP -
Awkwafina, wearing a peach to red ombre gown. AP Photo -
Emily Ratajkowski, wearing vintage Versace. AFP -
Lily James, in a beaded gown. AFP -
Lily Allen, wearing a feathered Chanel gown, with husband David Harbour. AFP -
Lily Aldridge, in a crystal Khaite gown. AFP -
Simone Ashley, in a black skirt with a gold crop top by Moschino. AFP -
Chloe Bailey, in a full gold gown. AP Photo -
Naomi Campbell, in a black Burberry gown with sequinned detail. AP Photo -
Claire Danes and Hugh Dancy. AP Photo -
Cara Delevingne, wearing a red suit. AFP -
Elon Musk, wearing white tie, with his mother, Maye Musk. AFP -
Emma Corrin, wearing oversized Miu Miu. AP Photo -
Gwen Stefani, wearing neon yellow Vera Wang. EPA -
Kerry Washington, wearing black sheer Tory Burch. EPA -
Jessica Chastain, wearing oxblood sequinned Gucci. AFP -
Amy Schumer, Venus Williams, Gabriela Hearst and Xiye Bastida in head-to-toe black on the red carpet. EPA -
Tessa Thompson, wearing pink tulle Carolina Herrera. AFP -
Ariana DeBose, wearing black and gold Moschino. EPA -
Sarah Jessica Parker, wearing monochrome Christopher John Rogers. EPA -
Michaela Jae Rodriguez, wearing ombre gold and silver Moschino. AFP -
Anitta, wearing purple peplum Moschino. AP Photo -
Lila Grace Moss, wearing a nude sheer Burberry gown. AFP -
Nicki Minaj, wearing a full black Burberry gown. EPA -
Bad Bunny, wearing Burberry. AFP -
Karlie Kloss, wearing lace Givenchy. AFP -
Cardi B, in a gold gown. EPA -
Brooklyn Beckham and Nicola Peltz in a pink Givenchy dress. EPA -
Glenn Close, in a pink caped dress, and Italian designer Pier Paolo Pasolini. AFP -
Katy Perry, in a black dress with a full train. AFP -
Winnie Harlow, in a white tulle design. AFP -
Nicola Coughlan, wearing a black and pink gown. AFP
