I get a lot of requests
and inquiries on a Marilyn Monroe costume ....
I do not make them for the
public
....especially over the internet, so I have decided to add some
information to this page. I hope it is of some help to you. See below for some information and
for the lyrics to "Diamonds Are A
Girl's Best Friend".
Several years ago, at my
dad's "Back to the 50's" party, I didn't want to wear a poodle skirt
and be like everyone else...so I decided to go as Marilyn
Monroe. I had such a good time that I perfected my act and the rest is
history. I make my costumes, of course...there's nothing to them. I also make
my dad's costumes for his Elvis impersonations. I also do other
impersonations, like Stevie
Nicks, Patsy Cline,
etc. I sing a wide variety of songs.
For as long as I can
remember, I loved to sing. I have always been a big fan of music. When I was a
young teenager my parents bought me an organ. I taught myself to play the
organ and piano, and eventually I played for four weddings and I loved it. I
wasn't nervous about it at all. I can't read a note of music...I play totally
by ear. I have been in several bands and loved singing and playing. I can also
play the harmonica, a little.
On August 31, 1997 a
couple wanted to re-new their wedding vows and have my dad dress up like Elvis
and officiate the ceremony. They wanted me to sing. I only did one Marilyn
song and then I sang other songs. The only costume I had with me at the time
was my Marilyn dress, so that's why I look out of character. And I was still
healing my broken arm, thus the black arm brace. We had a great time...the
wedding was held at my dad's house. He has a huge backyard stage and a pool.
There were candles floating in the pool and the entire theme was Hawain, with
Elvis in white, of course. There was a band there and dad had some
professional sound guys come in and run the sound for us.
In December 1997, my dad
and I were in a parade together in Perryville, Maryland. We were on his
pull-along 'trailer'....pulled by his white Cadillac and he was
throwing scarves and teddy bears out into the crowds. My job was to hand the
items to him. It was 39º out that day....I was freezing, but, I was
determined to wear that skimpy white 'Marilyn' dress and do my best.
I kept my coat on until just before the parade started....I was startled by
the coldness....but waved and blew kisses and smiled like I was in Florida. It
was so funny to hear the same two sentences through-out the
parade...."Hey, look, it's Elvis.....and Marilyn...ooooo....I bet she's
freezing!" A few days later we were surprised to receive, in the mail,
notification that we had won second place in the float contest. It was well
worth it. I was given an invitation to return the next year as Marilyn.
'Marilyn Monroe Costume
Information'
The Dress
....Although
Marilyn wore a variety of beautiful dresses, the best known dress is the
famous white dress that she wore for the movie
The Seven Year Itch. As far as
I know, the pattern is still sold by Simplicity...pattern number 8393....just
check your local fabric and pattern shops...even Wal-Mart carries it. The
white dress is included along with the famous pink dress she wore in the movie
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. White Rayon 'drapes' best when making the
white dress.
And, if you can't find the pattern, be sure to check out eBay....you
may be able to find either the pattern or the dress there.
Please don't write and
ask me to help you find a pattern. I have included all the information I know
as to how to get this pattern.
It's not that I don't
want to help anyone. It's obvious that I do enjoy helping, otherwise I
wouldn't even have some of these pages on my site. But people write and ask
questions that are already answered on this page. This is all the information
I have as to how to get a pattern. Check eBay and see if you can find one
there.
The Wig.....
It has come to my attention that the wig company I dealt
with several years ago is no longer available. So, a really nice girl wrote to
me and told me of another place that has wigs. That place turned out to
be really bad, and another nice girl informed me of it. So, I have one
suggestion that was passed along to me. I've not dealt with this place,
so I can't speak from my own experience.
It has also come to my
attention that Rita's site is under construction. I have no idea where else to
find information on Marilyn's make up. All I can tell you is to just keep
searching on the internet. I don't know Rita personally, so I have no clue
when she'll get her site back up and running. Just keep checking back on her.
Another suggestion that
has been passed along to me is for Kevin Aucoin's book "Making Faces".
I don't know, right off hand, where you can purchase this book. Just search
the internet and you should be able to find it. (thank you, Miss M)
Studying Her Moves
The best movies, I have
found, for studying Marilyn's moves and voice and make-up have been Gentlemen
Prefer Blondes, Seven Year Itch, and Bus Stop. Marilyn was brilliant in why
she did things, the way she did...she was brilliant enough to know that you
get less 'smile lines' around the mouth and crinkles around the eyes
if you smiled with your mouth open (the way she did) and if you didn't use the
eyes when smiling...like squinting ...so she softly shut them.
She also tilted her head
back slightly, when smiling, because it smoothed the neck and made it appear to
be less 'strained' looking.
Lyrics to
"Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend"
(Beginning of song)
The French are glad to
die for love
They delight in fighting
duels!
But I prefer a man who
lives and gives
Expensive jewels!
A kiss on the hand may bequite continental...
But diamonds are a girl's
best friend!
A kiss may be grand...but
it won't pay the rental
On your humble flat, or
help you at the auto-mat
Men grow cold as girls
grow old
And we all lose our charm
in the end!
But square cut or pear
shape, these rocks don't lose their shape
Diamonds are a girl's
best friend.!
There may come a day when
a lass needs a lawyer
But diamonds are a girl's
best friend!
There may come a day when
a hard-boiled employer
Thinks you're awful
nice...but get that ice or else "no dice!"
He's your guy when stocks
are high
But beware when they
start to descend.
It's then when those
louses go back to their spouses,
Diamonds are a girl's
best friend!
I've heard of affairs
that are strictly platonic,
But, diamonds are a
girl's best friend!
And I think affairs that
you must keep Masonic
Are better bets, if
little pets get big baguettes.
Time rolls on and youth
is gone
And you can't straighten
up when you bend.
But stiff back or stiff
knees you stand straight at Tiffany's....
Diamonds....diamonds.....I
don't mean rhinestones....but diamonds...
