Diamonds are Kim Kardashian's best friend.
The reality star is making headlines for her devotion to luxury after attending the 2022 Met Gala in the iconic dress Marilyn Monroe wore in 1962 when she sang "Happy Birthday" to then-president John F. Kennedy.
This year's theme was "Gilded Glamour," and with over six thousand hand-sewn crystals, Monroe's dress represents just that. Originally costing $12,000, the dress was notoriously so tight on Monroe that she had to be sewn into it.
Kardashian revealed that she had to lose sixteen pounds in three weeks for it to fit, telling Vogue on the red carpet,
"I had this idea to put it on and try it on. They came in with armed guards and gloves, and I tried it on and it didn't fit me. So I looked at them and I said 'Give me, like, three weeks.' And I had to lose sixteen pounds down today to be able to fit this. It was such a challenge--it was like a role. I was determined to fit it."
The fabric was chosen to perfectly match Monroe's skin tone, earning the reputation of a being a dress “that only Marilyn Monroe could wear.” With Kardashian donning it, that no longer seems to be the case. She shared her look on Instagram, writing,
"Met Gala — In America: An Anthology of Fashion. I am so honored to be wearing the iconic dress that Marilyn Monroe wore in 1962 to sing 'Happy Birthday' to President John F. Kennedy. It is a stunning skintight gown adorned with more than 6,000 hand-sewn crystals by costumier Jean Louis."
The dress has been on display at "Ripley’s Believe It or Not" museum in Orlando since its purchase in 2016 for $4.81 million, making it the most expensive dress ever sold. Kardashian and boyfriend Pete Davidson visited the museum a week prior to the gala, causing fans to speculate if she could be wearing the dress for the event. She continued, confirming the theories,
"Thank you Ripley’s Believe It or Not! for giving me the opportunity to debut this evocative piece of fashion history for the first time since the late Marilyn Monroe wore it. I am forever grateful for this moment."
