Marilyn Monroe's Iconic Seven Year Itch Dress Sells for $5.6 Million

Sexy white halter style that the late screen legend made famous on the big screen is priciest item up for auction at this weekend's movie memorabilia sale in California

By Ella Stewart Jun 20, 2011 3:53 PMTags
Marilyn Monroe,  The Seven Year ItchRex Features via AP Images

Die-hard Marilyn Monroe fans will spare no expense to get a little piece of the star.

The ivory dress that the screen legend wore in the famous subway scene in The Seven Year Itch was snapped up at auction for a whopping $4.6 million in Beverly Hills this weekend. Add another $1 million in fees and the dress cost a cool $5.6 million.

So who decided to sell off this piece of movie history? Turns out it was another Hollywood legend...

The William Travilla-designed pleated halter dress—which was estimated to go for $1 million to $2 million—was put up for sale by actress and movie memorabilia collector Debbie Reynolds.

According to Reuters, Reynolds had hoped to showcase her enormous collection of costumes in a new museum, but recent financial troubles forced the 79-year-old star to unload the items instead.

Other pieces sold at the auction include Monroe's red Gentlemen Prefer Blondes dress, which raked in $1.2 million; Audrey Hepburn's My Fair Lady Ascot dress, which fetched $3.7 million; and Judy Garland's blue Wizard of Oz dress used in test shots sold for $910,000.