Marilyn Monroe’s mink stole which she wore in ‘Love Happy’ is to be auctioned off.
The fashion accessory worn by the late actress in the final Marx Brothers film will be auctioned by Nate D. Sanders Auctions in Los Angeles.
The Hollywood icon – who passed away aged 36 in 1962 from a barbiturate overdose in Los Angeles – was one of the biggest sex symbols of the 1950s, and her walk-on role in the 1949 film came before her big breakthrough.
In the film, Marilyn was seen holding the mink stole as she walked past Groucho Marx in a cleavage-baring dress with the intention of catching his attention.
After having recently been dropped from her contract at Columbia Pictures, her agent Harry Lipton landed her an audition for the small role in the film. Marilyn practised her walk – which would then become one of her distinctive trademarks – in front of a mirror for a week before her audition in order to prepare for the role.
The mink stole was made by Western Costume Company, and is light brown in colour with a brown-grey satin lining and black trim. It is 76 inches in length, with its widest point being 15 inches, and 9 inches at its narrowest point.
The news of the mink stole auction comes as it was revealed the dress she wore in hit film ‘Some Like It Hot’ as well as handwritten notes and letters belonging to the pop culture icon had been uncovered, and would also be auctioned off. More than 1,200 items including jewellery, make-up, and shoes will make it to the Los Angeles auction in November.
The auction for the mink stole opens on Thursday (29.09.16) and bidding starts at a whopping $20,000.
Marilyn Monroe’s mink stole to be auctioned
