Marilyn Monroe’s gown not damaged, Ripley’s claims
US: A US museum has denied claims that an iconic Marilyn Monroe gown was left damaged after Kim Kardashian wore it at the Met Gala last month.
Recent images appear to show stretched fabric and missing crystals from the dress, according to Monroe historians.
But the gown’s owner, Ripley’s Believe It or Not, says a “calculated risk” was made in allowing the dress to be worn and it was not damaged “in any way”.
Monroe wore it when she sang Happy Birthday to President Kennedy in 1962.
Scott Fortner, who has curated his own private collection of Marilyn Monroe artefacts, posted photos online earlier this week that he said showed “significant” damage after it was loaned to the reality TV star. Additional images have now been shared online by author Darrell Rooney purportedly showing damage to the gown’s shoulder straps.
Ripley’s Believe It or Not was widely criticised for allowing the TV star to wear the fragile gown. However, on Thursday it rejected the damage claims. Ripley’s bought the dress for US$4.8m (£3.9m) in 2016, setting a Guinness World Record for the most expensive dress sold at auction. It is now estimated to be worth more than US$10m, the museum says. Adorned with more than 6,000 hand-sewn crystals, the gown was designed by lauded French costume designer Jean Louis. It was so tight, Marilyn Monroe reportedly had to be sewn into it.
– BBC NEWS