Publicity or Preservation: Kardashian, the Monroe Gown, and Caring for Historic Garments I was recently included as part of a panel discussion on the importance of caring for and preserving historic garments, hosted by @costumesocietyamerica . Of course, the conversation revolved around Marilyn Monroe’s “Happy Birthday Mr. President” dress having been worn to the 2022 Met Gala. The world was shocked. Curators, conservators, and archivists, however, were appalled. The panel included several professionals in costume design, restoration and preservation areas. A link to the video on YouTube is included in my bio. As part of prepping for the discussion, I returned to before and after photos of the gown and did a bit more analysis. Using the original photo I posted of the damage to the dress, I counted 22 crystals missing from the rear, left side of the gown. Again, that’s just in one section of the gown. I think it would be logical to assume there are more missing elsewhere. Photo #3 It still baffles me that @ripleysbelieveitornot and the Kardashian family continue to say there was no damage to the gown. Before and after photos tell a much different story. In relation to beading on the gown, and in my ongoing efforts to provide factual data and information related to Marilyn, I’d like to clarify and share the full amount she paid for the gown in 1962. Photo #4 Her receipt for the dress verifies the following: Made to Order Dress: $1,027.36 Cost of Rhinestones & Mirrors (not including beading) $321.89 Pair of Shoes: $35.68 Tax: $55.40 Total: $1,440.33 Marilyn’s personal financial documents, which I purchased at auction in 2016, verify that Marilyn paid someone named Carmen Rameriz $988.50 to apply the crystals to the gown. In total, she paid $2,128.83 for the Happy Birthday Mr. President dress. I checked two inflation websites, and both said that with inflation, were Marilyn to have purchased the same gown today, she would have paid $20,884.81. And now you know. #marilynmonroe