Marilyn Monroe in suspenders and stockings

**Susan** Mon 10 Nov - 18:03

A never-before seen photograph of Marilyn Monroe standing in stockings and suspenders, and being dressed by her costume designer is to go on show.

Marilyn Monroe in suspenders and stockings Monroe_suspenders_1111177f

Marilyn Monroe in suspenders and stockings Monroe_suspenders_1111177f

William Travilla - who preferred to be called simply Travilla - became famous for his outfits that helped Monroe achieve global stardom.

They included the white dress worn by the world's best known blonde in The Seven Year Itch and the pink satin dress she wore in Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend.

Now Travilla's collection is being shown on board the HMS President 1918, a floating conference and exhibition centre on the Victoria Embankment, before it is returned to America.

It includes a never-before seen photograph of the designer dressing Monroe, which she signed: "Hey Billy, Thank you for all the many wonderful things you made me. Love, Marilyn X X."

Travilla dressed Monroe in eight of her films. He helped dress some 270 actors and actresses in total, including Paul Newman, Errol Flynn, Joan Crawford, Lauren Bacall, Sidney Poitier and Judy Garland.

He was also a key hand in setting the sartorial tone of the series, Dallas. He died in 1990, aged 70, after a career spanning half a century.

'Travilla: The Man That Dressed Marilyn Monroe' opens on 13 November and runs until 10 December.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/celebritynews/3417523/Marilyn-Monroe-in-suspenders-and-stockings-photograph-seen-for-first-time.html