The Eternal Glamour of Marilyn Monroe: A Life in Film, Fashion and Photography
This August will mark sixty years since Marilyn Monroe’s naked body was found on the silk sheets of her bed. The circumstances of her death remain an enigma, as does much of her life, which was full of unknowns, contradictions and contrivances.
As a number of new films and books come onto the market to further explore their paradoxical subject, including Netflix’s The Mystery of Marilyn Monroe: The Unheard Tapes, we celebrate the eternal glamour of Marilyn’s Hollywood style through film, fashion and photographic memorabilia.
Curiously Collectable Rare Vintage Ephemera
From original 1950s ephemera to later tributes to Monroe, we have compiled an eclectic selection of gifts and curiosities suitable for fans of vintage cinema and movie star style. These include an original 1957 copy of Films and Filming magazine featuring Marilyn with Laurence Olivier in The Prince and the Showgirl. There are also a number of postcards, including many produced by London based Santoro in the 1980s, as well as a rare 1950s vinyl recording of the film icon in its original cover, plus official calendars from the 1990s.
Curiously Kitsch Fashion and Design
Collectors and aficionados of retro fashion and film may prefer more quirky collectables, like a vintage Corgi 1955 Ford Thunderbird car model, complete with Marilyn Monroe figurine, or a limited edition Barbie doll featuring the star in The Seven Year itch. If you like to display your affection for your favourite screen icon on your person, why not invest in a Marilyn themed pair of preloved shorts, or jeans? Or how about a lamp with lampshade featuring découpaged images of Marilyn, up-cycled from materials sustainably sourced at charity shops?
Curiously Cool Photograph Filled Books
Finally, we’ve a wide selection of photograph filled books, spanning a range of decades. From Norma Jeane Mortensen to goddess of the silver screen, you will find everything you need to know (well almost) about the Hollywood legend by referring to these publications. Our favourite example, Marilyn Monroe unCovers was produced as part of a small print run and includes cover images from magazines and film posters, many taken prior to the height of her fame. Other image filled volumes include Marilyn: A Hollywood Life, the Marilyn 35th Anniversary Edition and Marilyn in Art. All would make perfect gifts for film and fashion students, collectors of retro movie memorabilia, or followers of vintage celebrity style.
For more Marilyn Memorabilia, see the full collection here.