Marilyn Monroe’s iconic Pucci dress and Hugh Hefner’s favorite velvet pajamas will be sold at an auction in Los Angeles in honor of Playboy royalty.
Monroe’s pink silk jersey dress with a rope belt and crystal tassels, which she wore for her Vogue photo shoot with photographer Bert Stern, is estimated to sell for around $60,000 – with the current high bid at $20,000.
One of the most recognizable treasures is Hefner’s custom-made ensemble, including his burgundy tuxedo jacket, silk pajamas and slippers with a copy of the Time Magazine issue featuring the Playboy founder, a tribute to Hefner after his death.
Hefner’s clothes and then the magazine were to sell for $3,000, but the highest bid at the time of writing was already $6,000.
Together with clothing items, an original copy of the first issue of Playboy magazine from 1953 with Marilyn Monroe on the cover is being auctioned.
Among the iconic items up for auction is Monroe’s pink Pucci silk jersey dress with a rope belt and crystal tassels, which she wore during her Vogue photo shoot with photographer Bert Stern
Pictured: Monroe’s pink Pucci silk jersey dress with a rope belt and crystal tassels.
The most recognizable of all the items is Hefner’s custom-made luxury ensemble
Hefner’s set includes his burgundy tuxedo jacket, silk pajamas and slippers with a copy of the Time Magazine issue featuring the Playboy founder, a tribute to Hefner after his death.
An original copy of the first issue of Playboy magazine from 1953 with Marilyn Monroe on the cover is up for auction
‘Monroe also appears on the inside cover of the first issue of Hugh Hefner’s famous magazine in an article on pages 17 and 18 entitled ‘What Makes Marilyn’ and a color pin-up of Monroe, taken by Tom Kelley during the Red Velvet Session of 1949. on page 19,” read the description on Julien’s auction site.
“Monroe is called ‘Sweetheart of the Month’, which evolved into Playmate of the Month.”
“The magazine hit newsstands in December 1953 and sold for 50 cents a copy.”
The most expensive item of the entire auction is Marilyn Monroe’s black fur-lined dress that she wore in the 1955 film “The Seven Year Itch,” estimated at between $100,000 and $200,000.
The description of the dress designed by William Travilla on Juliens read: ‘A fabulous Mae West inspired evening gown with a touch of black magic and cellophane glamour!’
‘This dress has an extra twist: a feather boa in dazzling black and white (just a little extra spice, not in the original film).
“Imagine Marilyn swinging in during a dream sequence that was unfortunately cut from the film.
‘In this enchanting scene, Richard Sherman, played by Tom Ewell, daydreams about his neighbor, the beautiful girl, played by none other than Marilyn herself, who channels her inner Mae West in this unforgettable dress.’
A number of items associated with the iconic late actress Marilyn Monroe – including the dress she wore in 1955’s The Seven Year Itch – will be auctioned in March as part of a Julien’s auction lot.
Monroe was pictured on the set of the 1955 romantic comedy
Another item coming to auction is a custom tube of Elizabeth Arden lipstick in an orange shade, which is expected to sell for around $9,000.
The red painting is decorated with square decals of Monroe’s face and the Playboy Bunny icon, with a young Hefner depicted in the center
Also for sale at the auction is a lavender satin leotard that Monroe wore in an image for the December 22, 1958 issue of LIFE magazine, in which Monroe paid tribute to the late actress Lillian Russell
According to Julien’s, the garment is expected to fetch between $20,000 and $40,000.
A brooch worn by Monroe is among the items in the vintage lot
A religious medal of Saint Christopher, once owned by Monroe, is among the items in the lot
A red polka dot umbrella that Monroe once owned is among the items for sale in March
Some of Hefner’s paintings from his collection will also be auctioned, such as a 1985 Andy Warhol screenprint titled “Playboy Bunny.”
Also up for auction is a lavender satin leotard that Monroe wore in an image for a 1958 issue of LIFE magazine, in which she paid tribute to the late actress Lillian Russell
‘This auction is more than an event; it is a celebration of the cultural impact, elegance and sophistication embodied by Playboy, Hugh Hefner and Marilyn Monroe,” said Julien’s.
‘Don’t miss your chance to bid on these rare and iconic items that defined an era and continue to shape our modern world. Please join us in honoring the lasting legacy of these three unforgettable icons.”