Marilyn in the
Red Dress
Red Dress
From March to December 2009 the Jersey Museum is holding a major exhibition of stage and personal costumes worn by screen idol Marilyn Monroe. This exhibition is a window into the life of the ultimate Hollywood star and all the exhibits belong to David Gainsborough Roberts. One of these pieces is the glittering red dress worn by Marilyn in the film, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.
David gave me an original cover from Time magazine 1953, showing an image of Jane Russell and Marilyn, wearing the red dress, together with an ankle length black frock coat – the fourth commission.
This black coat had a centre back split from waist to hem with another pleat on either side and the design had to be worked around these features.
I drew out the design on paper, positioning and repositioning it on the back of the coat until it fitted.
Then I drew the whole figure on white cotton with a fine line waterproof pen. This time I wanted the face to look more brazen, stronger. I again used a layer of painted organdie on all flesh areas. The dress was painted in red fabric dye, using fabric crayons to get the squiggly effects and overlaid with a semi- transparent red silk. Yet more painting and drawing was used on top of that to achieve the finished textural effect. I had to mix my own glittery fabric glue, completely permanent and totally transparent to apply with a tiny stencil type brush to build the sparkle. Small sequins and rocaille beads added to the effect so that the dress really shimmers.
The jewellery, bracelets, earrings and ring look like diamante but are in fact made of silver lined crystal beads.
The coat took one hundred and sixty hours to make and was a huge success when David Gainsborough Roberts wore it to the preview of the Marilyn Exhibition at the Jersey Museum.
Since then he has worn it many times and it is always admired.
It gives me pleasure too. It is a fine piece of work. A commission that fulfilled it’s brief and delighted its owner. A job well executed and received.
David gave me an original cover from Time magazine 1953, showing an image of Jane Russell and Marilyn, wearing the red dress, together with an ankle length black frock coat – the fourth commission.
This black coat had a centre back split from waist to hem with another pleat on either side and the design had to be worked around these features.
I drew out the design on paper, positioning and repositioning it on the back of the coat until it fitted.
Then I drew the whole figure on white cotton with a fine line waterproof pen. This time I wanted the face to look more brazen, stronger. I again used a layer of painted organdie on all flesh areas. The dress was painted in red fabric dye, using fabric crayons to get the squiggly effects and overlaid with a semi- transparent red silk. Yet more painting and drawing was used on top of that to achieve the finished textural effect. I had to mix my own glittery fabric glue, completely permanent and totally transparent to apply with a tiny stencil type brush to build the sparkle. Small sequins and rocaille beads added to the effect so that the dress really shimmers.
The jewellery, bracelets, earrings and ring look like diamante but are in fact made of silver lined crystal beads.
The coat took one hundred and sixty hours to make and was a huge success when David Gainsborough Roberts wore it to the preview of the Marilyn Exhibition at the Jersey Museum.
Since then he has worn it many times and it is always admired.
It gives me pleasure too. It is a fine piece of work. A commission that fulfilled it’s brief and delighted its owner. A job well executed and received.