"What's the most American thing you can think of?
It's Marilyn Monroe."
This is the reflection, entrusted to Vogue, which guided Kim Kardashian in her choice of outfit for the Met Gala 2022: the dress worn by the icon to sing her legendary "Happy birthday" to John Fitzgerald Kennedy in 1962. Sixty years later , the American reality TV star is creating a stir by donning this legendary piece.
Embroidered with more than six thousand crystals and subtly transparent, the dress was designed by Bob Mackie and made by French designer Jean-Louis Berthault for the actress.
A unique piece, only worn by Marilyn Monroe herself.
A legendary dress in many ways.
All the looks of the stars at the Met Gala 2022
In images, in pictures
See the slideshow39 photos
See the slideshow39 photos
A record dress
Key element of the highly sensual performance of Marilyn Monroe, only a few months before her death, the famous dress remained etched in the annals.
For its extremely sexy character, which shakes up the puritan America of the 60's, on the one hand.
And for the trajectory it followed, from another.
Acquired at the time for a little over a thousand dollars, the creation of Jean-Louis Berthault was resold twice at auction, in 1999, then in 2016, by the Julien house.
This time, it reached the record sum of 4.8 million dollars, making it the most expensive dress of all time.
Today it is the property of Ripley's Believe It Or Not Museum.
In other words, wearing it was a real challenge.
Under close surveillance
A true work of art, the embroidered dress is usually kept in the dark, at a constant temperature of 20 degrees and a humidity level of no more than 50%.
To realize his dream of wearing it, Kim Kardashian therefore had to comply with a very strict protocol.
Starting with the fitting, carried out with a replica of the piece.
After this first step, the original dress traveled to her by private jet, with her bodyguards.
Equipped with a pair of gloves, the American star made a second fitting, inconclusive this time.
No question of modifying the room, Kim Kardashian then indulges in a drastic diet, losing 7 kilos.
Verdict during her last fitting a few months later: “The dress fit me like a glove” she says.
Performance on the steps of the Met
However, the epic does not end there.
During the Met Gala evening, Kim Kardashian must rule out any risk of altering the precious dress.
She has to change her usual beauty products to avoid stains and put it on, assisted by a preservative, in a fitting room created for the occasion.
“Each step was timed, I had to practice climbing the steps.”
she confides.
After a few seconds of glory, the star must trade the collector's item for a replica.
The price to pay for a few seconds in the skin of Monroe.