Marilyn Monroe “Happy Birthday” Dress
In May 1962, a particular performance of a well-known tune transformed a song that had been sung countless times into a historic occasion. Marilyn Monroe's breathy, sensuous rendition of "Happy Birthday" at a party for President John F. Kennedy is still the most renowned rendition of the song—and arguably the most famous rendition of any song ever!
Monroe's performance was so memorable that the jaw-dropping classic gown she wore became a historical fashion piece that has sold for millions of dollars.
According to Worn on This Day: The Clothes That Made History, the dress was sheer and form-fitting, sprinkled with brilliant beads, and had almost 2,500 rhinestones. Monroe was said to have had to be stitched into the dress due to its tightness. According to Vintage News, she also chose to wear nothing below it so that the fit would be perfect, purposefully courting the "scandalous" conversation that would inevitably surround the dress and her performance.
Another little-known fact about the "Happy Birthday" dress is that it was designed by a recent college graduate. It was a young Bob Mackie's first post-grad endeavor, and he continues to design famous pieces and earn accolades to this day.
Price: $4.8 million
