In a costume that fairly screams mid-century showbiz glitz, Marilyn poses on the set of There’s No Business Like Show Business. She is about to join costars Ethel Merman, Dan Dailey, Donald O’Connor, Mitzi Gaynor, and Johnny Ray in the movies’ title song/finale. As a nod to the well-known patriotism of Irving Berlin (the movie was built around his songs), Travilla put Merman in white, Gaynor in red, and Monroe in this blue showstopper. The gown is made of Dupion silk with an overlay of tulle, cut on the bias. The drama comes from a mass of oval tulle petals in gradiating shades of blue that follow the bias from just below Marilyn’s hip-line to her ankles. Rather than rely on wire to frame the petals, Travilla had the tulle starched. This allowe for more fluidity of movement. The petals are trimmed in silver sequins and the body of the dress is embellished with dangling crystals of gradiating blue tones. -Marilyn in Fashion by Christopher Nickens and George Zeno
