Much has been said in the last week since the 2022 Met Gala about global star Kim Kardashian donning the very dress that Marilyn Monroe wore 60 years ago to perform ‘Happy Birthday’ for American President JFK, and then a green dress worn by Marilyn in 1962 at the Golden Globes. Many are shocked, confused, flabbergasted and, of course, many don’t understand the outrage. Why is it so bad that someone should wear an old dress? Surely, clothes are there to be worn?

Well, as with many things, especially historical, it’s never quite so simple. Here is why this whole situation should have never been allowed to happen. If you’re more visual, watch Molly’s short breakdown on TikTok.

The Jean Louis gown that Marilyn wore back in 1962 for JFK’s 45th birthday has become one of the most famous dresses of the 21st century, if not ever. The sheer, glittering dress scandalised America at the time - the sheer fabric smothered in over 2,500 rhinestones gave the illusion that Marilyn was naked and that her skin was encrusted with diamonds. It was the original naked dress! Made specifically to her measurements with exacting detail, Marilyn had to be sewn into the piece so it fit like the most perfect glove. This is a gown designed to be worn by one person and only once. In 1999 the gown sold for $1.26 million, almost twice the asking price, but this would be blown out of proportion by Ripley’s in 2016 who bought the iconic piece for $4.8 million.

Fashion is one of our greatest tools for understanding society, culture and historical events. This Marilyn Monroe dress is one of those items of clothing that has every right to be considered a historical artefact. It was worn in the last year of a women’s life who was serially abused by the media, the Hollywood system and those in her personal life. Her impact on the collective consciousness during the 50s and 60s is undeniable, and she wore this gown at what was the most tumultuous time for her which would, ultimately, end in her death. To add even further, this dress has a link with JFK. As such, the dress should be held in a museum. However, it is not.

Contrary to popular belief, Ripley’s is not a museum and therefore it can do whatever it likes with its items, and that includes not taking great care of them. Across the globe, museums that house historical garments have a strict protocol to follow in order to preserve items to the best of their abilities. Rule no.1? Don’t wear it!

The Birthday dress is not only highly valuable but also highly delicate and it always was. By placing someone else into the dress you are risking tearing seams, breaking off rhinestones and permanently altering the shape. And for why? So a celebrity who never knew Marilyn can wear it for only five minutes on a red carpet? Did no one at Ripley’s ask themselves whether this was a necessary risk?

I am sure that if they said no then Kim would’ve just worn the replica she had made and we wouldn’t be having this conversation now. The fact that Kim even had a replica created in the first place says it all. If it’s too delicate to wear for longer than five minutes, don’t even try.

This neatly brings us to another issue, the fact it didn’t fit. Marilyn and Kim are very different shapes, which is, of course, not a problem. However, of course, the dress wasn’t going to fit Kim - it barely fit Marilyn, to begin with! Kim admitted on the Met Gala red carpet, rather proudly, that she lost 16 pounds in just three weeks to help fit into the dress. It goes without saying that this is incredibly dangerous and not something we should ever be admitting to in public, especially when you have such a large audience. Even though Kim went to such drastic lengths to make it fit, she couldn’t do the back up completely so had to wear a fur coat to cover it.

This entire situation has varying knock-on impacts - all negative. Firstly, it creates the impression that you can wear these historical artefacts. What is now going to stop other celebrities from having similar ideas? Secondly, it makes a mockery of fashion conservationists and historians who spend their lives trying to protect and preserve history via the medium of fashion. Thirdly, it promotes dangerous crash dieting. And fourthly, it adds to the commodification and exploitation of a woman who spent the last years of her life screaming out against her awful treatment. There is a very fine line between respecting and honouring a deceased icon and then using them for your own benefit.

But, who is to blame for all of this? First and foremost, the blame cannot lay entirely at the feet of Kim Kardashian. She is simply a celebrity who had an idea and wanted to see if it could happen. There’s no real reason why Kim would have prior knowledge of fashion conservation and related ethics. The truth of the matter is that there were many people who should’ve known better, both at Ripley’s and The Met who we assume had prior knowledge. Kim Kardashian should never have been allowed to wear any of Marilyn Monroe’s dresses and no one should ever again.