One of the most glamorous women in the history of Hollywood is Marilyn Monroe (1926 – 1952). She was just starting to become a respected actor before her untimely death — having completed thirty-one films. She has been an idol for curvy women since she hit her 30s although there is some debate as to the size of those curves. Her weight ranged from 118 – 140 lbs so even at her heaviest she was no bigger than a size 12 (and us girls all know that in the fashion industry anything bigger than a 6 is plus size). Regardless of her size, she was curvy, not scrawny, and we still love to emulate her.

The scene and costume she wore from her movie Seven Year Itch is the most popular costume women gravitate towards. If you are thinking of a Marilyn costume but are unfamiliar with the famous subway grate in which her white flowing dress gets a gust of air, or you just want to get into character, here’s the famous clip to inspire you:

You’ve got the attitude all you need is the costume. Buy Costumes has a 50’s Starlet Costume that goes up to size 3x. It includes the flowing dress, you’d still need a wig (unless you are already blonde) and shoes.

If you want a dress that you can wear after Halloween you might want to invest in Monif C’s Marilyn Convertible Dress. It will give you at least ten different styles after the party. It fits sizes 8 to 24 but comes with a fashionable price ($195) but you are also getting quality and wearability.

Next to the dress the most important feature of a Marilyn costume is the make-up. Learn how to get the Marilyn look with these simple instructional videos.