Fashion in Film: The Seven Year Itch

In Billy Wilder’s unforgettable sex comedy, a New Yorker is left to his own devices when his family leaves the city to escape the sweltering summer heat. He spends his time fantasizing about his new neighbor, an alluring model played by Marilyn Monroe. Monroe’s charming performance and the glamorous costume design elevates this flippant comedy into one of the most memorable films in Hollywood history.

About the Fashion: Synonymous with Hollywood glamor, when most people hear the name Marilyn Monroe, the first thing they think of is the ivory colored Halter Dress with a plunging neckline and billowy pleated skirt floating above a subway grate immortalized in this film. The dress was designed by William Travilla, who had styled Monroe for six previous films, including Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. The relationship between designer and actress carried beyond the screen; a close personal friend and rumored lover, Travilla designed for many of Monroe’s public appearances and is primarily responsible for the seductive image we associate with the legend today. Synonymous with Hollywood glamor, the “Subway Dress” sold at auction in 2011 for over $4.6 million.

Costume Designers: William Travilla