Bob Mackie is a famous costume designer and fashion designer, arguably most famous for collaborations with Cher, Liza Minnelli and Carol Burnett. What I didn’t know before now is that one of Mackie’s first jobs was working with French couturier Jean Louis. Mackie was the one who sketched out the famous dress worn by Marilyn Monroe for the “happy birthday, Mr. President” moment. Add to all of that, Mackie has a history dissing the Kardashians! So of course he had some thoughts about Kim Kardashian wearing Marilyn’s famous Jean Louis dress (which Mackie had originally sketched).
Another person who didn’t love Kim Kardashian’s choices? Fashion designer Bob Mackie, who drew the sketch for the original gown in his early career working as an assistant to Jean Louis. “I thought it was a big mistake,” Mackie tells EW, while previewing the new Turner Classic Movies’ fashion on film series Follow the Thread. “[Marilyn] was a goddess. A crazy goddess, but a goddess. She was just fabulous. Nobody photographs like that. And it was done for her. It was designed for her. Nobody else should be seen in that dress.”
Mackie also echoes historians’ concerns that wearing the gown was undoubtably damaging to its preservation and structural integrity. He was only 23 when he did the sketch for the gown under the direction of Louis, not even knowing what the dress was for besides an original design for Marilyn Monroe to wear.
TCM host Alicia Malone, who spoke with Mackie as part of the network’s forthcoming Follow the Thread series and can be seen on CNN’s Reframed: Marilyn Monroe, also raises concerns for the impact on the gown. “There are all the issues with the actual preservation of the dress and things like oxygen can affect a dress,” she explains. “Usually, these outfits are kept very much in controlled environments and we see that with the Met. The Costume Institute is so careful about how they are handling these historic items. So, it was quite alarming that she was able to wear it. I personally wish she wore a replica instead of the real thing.”
Malone says there are striking similarities between Kardashian and Monroe, however. “You can draw many parallels between Marilyn Monroe and Kim Kardashian in the way that they’re both very publicity savvy,” she notes. “Of course, this was very much a publicity stunt that worked for Kim Kardashian. Marilyn Monroe was someone who also loved to create sensation, as she did with that naked dress. Also, they are women who have changed the ideal beauty of the moment. Marilyn Monroe, when she came in her curves became very popular during the 1950s. And we see a lot of young women vying to look like Kim Kardashian. For better or worse, she’s changed the ideal body shape for women.”
The thing is, Kim didn’t borrow the dress from The Costume Institute. One could argue that a piece of such cultural and fashion significance actually should be in the best kind of museum, under lock and key, where no one could put their grubby little hands on it. But the dress is homed at the Ripley’s Believe It or Not museum. Ripley’s purchased the dress at auction (for $4.8 million) and they’ve been exhibiting it for years. They were the ones who decided to lend it out to Kim. Mackie’s beef should be with them and their poor decision-making. And yes, Kim should have never worn it. She couldn’t fit in it, she couldn’t get it over her ass, it was all a huge mess. And she didn’t even pull it off!
Photos courtesy of Instar, Avalon Red.
-New York, NY – 20220502-2022 MET Gala-In America An Anthology Of Fashion -PICTURED: Pete Davidson and Kim Kardashian -PHOTO by: JOHN NACION/startraksphoto.com This is an editorial, rights-managed image. Please contact Startraks Photo for licensing fee and rights information at sales@startraksphoto.com or call +1 212 414 9464 This image may not be published in any way that is, or might be deemed to be, defamatory, libelous, pornographic, or obscene. Please consult our sales department for any clarification needed prior to publication and use. Startraks Photo reserves the right to pursue unauthorized users of this material. If you are in violation of our intellectual property rights or copyright you may be liable for damages, loss of income, any profits you derive from the unauthorized use of this material and, where appropriate, the cost of collection and/or any statutory damages awarded 
Kim Kardashian attends The 2022 Met Gala Celebrating “In America: An Anthology of Fashion” at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 02, 2022 in New York City,Image: 688273084, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Pictured: Kim Kardashian, Credit line: – / JPI Studios / Avalon 
Kim Kardashian attends The 2022 Met Gala Celebrating “In America: An Anthology of Fashion” at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 02, 2022 in New York City,Image: 688273097, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Pictured: Kim Kardashian, Credit line: – / JPI Studios / Avalon
Kim Kardashian, Pete Davidson attends The 2022 Met Gala Celebrating “In America: An Anthology of Fashion” at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 02, 2022 in New York City,Image: 688279040, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Pictured: Kim Kardashian, Pete Davidson, Credit line: – / JPI Studios / Avalon 
Kim Kardashian, Pete Davidson attends The 2022 Met Gala Celebrating “In America: An Anthology of Fashion” at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 02, 2022 in New York City,Image: 688279134, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Pictured: Kim Kardashian, Pete Davidson, Credit line: – / JPI Studios / Avalon 
Kim Kardashian, Pete Davidson attends The 2022 Met Gala Celebrating “In America: An Anthology of Fashion” at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 02, 2022 in New York City,Image: 688339239, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Pictured: Kim Kardashian, Pete Davidson, Credit line: – / JPI Studios / Avalon
-New York, NY – 20220502-2022 MET Gala-In America An Anthology Of Fashion -PICTURED: Pete Davidson and Kim Kardashian -PHOTO by: JOHN NACION/startraksphoto.com This is an editorial, rights-managed image. Please contact Startraks Photo for licensing fee and rights information at sales@startraksphoto.com or call +1 212 414 9464 This image may not be published in any way that is, or might be deemed to be, defamatory, libelous, pornographic, or obscene. Please consult our sales department for any clarification needed prior to publication and use. Startraks Photo reserves the right to pursue unauthorized users of this material. If you are in violation of our intellectual property rights or copyright you may be liable for damages, loss of income, any profits you derive from the unauthorized use of this material and, where appropriate, the cost of collection and/or any statutory damages awarded 
-New York, NY – 20220502-2022 MET Gala-In America An Anthology Of Fashion -PICTURED: Pete Davidson and Kim Kardashian -PHOTO by: JOHN NACION/startraksphoto.com This is an editorial, rights-managed image. Please contact Startraks Photo for licensing fee and rights information at sales@startraksphoto.com or call +1 212 414 9464 This image may not be published in any way that is, or might be deemed to be, defamatory, libelous, pornographic, or obscene. Please consult our sales department for any clarification needed prior to publication and use. Startraks Photo reserves the right to pursue unauthorized users of this material. If you are in violation of our intellectual property rights or copyright you may be liable for damages, loss of income, any profits you derive from the unauthorized use of this material and, where appropriate, the cost of collection and/or any statutory damages awardedncG1vNJzZmivp6x7pLHLnpmirJOdxm%2BvzqZmcG5nZ4V3e8GomZilkZi4qrG%2Bp6abp5SurKa40p6WrKCfqrmlq8GelqydlaOsqrq%2BppiroZyuu6C5zqepqJ2jlLGzsdKsZg%3D%3D