Marilyn Monroe: Style Icon

Marilyn Monroe was a sex symbol and style icon while she was alive, but her influence remains just as strong more than 45 years after her death. Don't believe us? Just wait until you hear how much certain pieces of Marilyn memorabilia is going for!

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Marilyn's dress from "Some Like it Hot" was so tiny that the curvaceous starlet had to be literally sewn into it. And on a recent edition of "Antiques Roadshow" the current owner of that particular little black dress was shocked to learn that it's worth $150,000 to $250,000!

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And the dress isn't the only thing worth a bundle. A group of 36 images of Monroe, which were taken for Vogue magazine the year that she died, were sold at auction for almost $150,000. The pictures in question were about to be published when the magazine was made aware of Monroe's death, and were used instead as a tribute in Vogue.

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Marilyn's appeal was due to much more than her feminine curves and platinum blonde hair -- her innocence and vulnerability endeared her to men and women alike.

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Born Norma Jeane Mortenson (later changed to Norma Jeane Baker) in 1926, she changed her name and dyed her hair blonde in 1946, which was when her career really took off. She landed a number of movie roles, each garnering her praise, and in 1954 she married baseball star Joe DiMaggio.

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On their honeymoon, she stopped to entertain the troops. Her presence nearly caused a riot. This was the first step toward the demise of their nine-month marriage, although, the couple remained friends.

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Successful, single, and already an icon, Monroe decided to pursue "serious acting," moving to New York to study at the Actors' Studio. She met and married playwright Arthur Miller, who wrote a part specifically for her in "The Misfits." They divorced in 1961, but a year later, Marilyn was named Female World Film Favorite at the Golden Globes, solidifying her status as one of the world's most beloved stars of the silver screen.

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The blonde bombshell inspired thousands of designers and artists, one of the most famous being Andy Warhol. His pop art of actress is recognized all over the world.

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Although, if you want to talk about something highly recognizable, you can't beat the image of Marilyn in the white dress in Seven Year Itch. This dress has been emulated by young starlets on the red carpet (and many of the rest of us) ever since.

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Proof that Marilyn Monroe sells: Hundreds, if not thousands, of magazine covers have been dedicated to her.

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