It recently been reported that reality star Kim Kardashian has apparently permanently damaged Marilyn Monroe’s historic and famous dress, after wearing it to the Met Gala earlier this year.
Expert Chad Michael Morrisette, a visual artist who curates museums and costume exhibits speak on how he observed the irreparable damage when he saw it on display at the Ripley’s Believe It or Not! On Hollywood Boulevard, LA.
Morrissette handled the dress back in 2016 when he displayed it for Julien’s Auctions, here is where Ripley’s purchased it for $4.8 million.
Morrisette has also spoke in detail with regards to the damage of the dress; there is damage to the zip, there is shredded fabric where the hooks of the dress are, stress on the shoulder dress and is also missing beads and sequins.
Pictures were then taken of the now damaged dress, which were then shared with Monroe memorabilia collector Scott Fortner, who then reposted them on Instagram with the comparison of the dress before Kim Kardashian had worn it herself.
The dress first became famous back in 1962 when Marilyn Monroe wore it whilst singing Happy Birthday to President John F. Kennedy.
The dress in question was made to fit her body specifically, and she only wore it for that one night, making the skin tight, sparkly dress, that even more special.
According to Vogue, Kardashian only wore the dress for a few moments before getting changed into a replica for the rest of the evening so as not to damage the original.
Kardashian spoke to Vogue:
“I’m extremely respectful to the dress and what it means to American history. I would never want to sit in it or eat in it or have any risk of any damage to it, and I won’t be wearing the kind of body makeup I usually do,”
After the Met Gala, Ripley’s did share a post on Instagram explaining that ‘’great care was taken’’ in order to preserve the historic dress. However, the likes of Morrisette and other professionals have said that any expert would know, that the dress shouldn’t have been worn at all.
