How to Make a Marilyn Monroe Costume

Marilyn Monroe is still an icon. Her hair, her lips and her smile got her far, and to make a Marilyn Monroe costume you will have to pay attention to the detail to pull of her look.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Start with the dress. The most memorable picture of Marilyn is in the sexy white low cut dress standing over the steam grate. You could also go for the pink dress from "Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend." Shop around at second hand stores and thrift shops first. If you can't find something close, then make or order a dress that will fit your needs.

2. Prep the hair. For those of you who do not have a platinum blond bob cut already, you may need to get a wig. There are many sold that are touted as "Marilyn Monroe" wigs, but any curly platinum blond wig would be fine. Most wigs are very stylable once you get them home. The curls should be fat and you should push the hair away from the face except for the front and top. She tended to have a curl that hung over her forehead.

3. Put on the face. Marilyn Monroe had her signature birthmark, and her full lips. When trying to create a birthmark you can use an eyebrow pencil, or a fake one made from putty or silicon. Due to slippage, you may want to go with a beauty mark that won't slide off of your face an any given moment. The lips are important. Line your lips to look more full if yours don't match hers.

4. Pad the correct areas. The era of Marilyn Monroe was one of women with a larger body. She was sexy, but she wore a size fourteen. If you need to pad some of the dress in order to get the curves that she had, go for it.