MAC cosmetics to release Marilyn Monroe Collection

MAC Cosmetic has unveiled plans for a special makeup collection inspired by Marilyn Monroe’s glamorous beauty. The limited-edition line (in partnership with Authentic Brands Group) includes nearly 30 products -- eye shadow, lipstick (think retro red and hot pink), nail lacquer and eyeliner -- and will arrive in stores in October.


“Marilyn’s an icon, plain and simple. Her look not only defined a generation but also is relevant today,” MAC senior vp James Gager told THR. 


-courtesy The Hollywood Reporter

Book Review: Marilyn by Nick Yapp

I wanted to love this book.  It is a large size coffee-table type book that is heavy on photos.  It features a beautiful cover photo (unfortunately shared with the popular Fragments book) and is crammed with photos courtesy of Getty Images.  I particularly enjoyed the early childhood Norma Jeane photos as they are not often published uncropped.  If this book was strictly a photo book I would have no problem recommending it to new fans as a great collection of photos spanning Marilyn's entire life.

However, I just can NOT get past the accompanying text.  It is terrible.  I had a feeling it was going to go downhill when it started off misspelling Marilyn's grandmother as Delia Monroe instead of Della.  The author focused on the mental illnesses in her family, the alleged rape and that "Monroe lost count of the number of abortions and miscarriages".  He also threw in a story that Marilyn was forced to give away a baby.  All of this is within the first few pages.

In her early career, he highlights Henry Rosenfeld (famous dress manufacturer) as a man who loved her and lent her money, kept her secrets and paid her often considerable legal fees??  Huh?  Johnny Hyde is mentioned only to say he died and Marilyn had made her third serious suicide attempt.  And yes he even includes Marilyn's "marriage" to Robert Slatzer.  Give me strength.  He describes her in several places as having a permanent need to flaunt her sexuality and arouse men even if she met them briefly.  That she would invite male escorts to her place at the same time and leave them waiting while she decided which one she wanted.

In the end I just did not like the way she was portrayed.  I realize she was not perfect but I can't recommend this to fans, especially new fans, who will read it and think they have an understanding of who Marilyn was.

Book Review: Dressing Marilyn

This book is definitely filled with some fresh information you won't find in other Marilyn books.  Of course that is because it focuses on Marilyn's relationship with fashion designer William Travilla.  Marilyn fans are all familiar with his work (even if they don't realize this) since Travilla created almost ALL of Marilyn's legendary dresses.  Including what is most arguably her most famous dress, the white billowing dress from The Seven Year Itch.

The book builds on an exhibition that took place in the UK featuring prototypes and gowns that Marilyn wore from the Travilla estate's collection.  I have always been a fan of these dresses (and the sketches which have appeared on my website for many years) so I really enjoyed the way they were presented in this book.

I would have enjoyed more detailed information on Travilla's life (his biography section was the same length as the book introduction).  However, the book is really about the dresses.  It goes into great detail about how they were made including fabric choices and how the dresses were altered.  There are chapters dedicated to each of the famous gowns (the gold dress, the pink dress, the white dress, etc).

Accompanying the text are wonderful photos of Marilyn wearing the dresses on screen and in test shots.  I particularly enjoyed seeing current photos of the dresses (from various collections and the Travilla estate) as well as the original sketches and patterns.  The patterns would even include a swatch of fabric.  It is visually stunning to see it all put together like this.

I would recommend the book to Marilyn collectors and in particular anyone who has an interest in fashion design and how these gowns are constructed.  I really enjoyed the presentation and it made up for being unable to see the exhibit of these gowns in person.

-Melinda

You can purchase this book through the Amazon link below....

Check out the book section of my website for more Marilyn book reviews.

5 Tattoos Added

Thanks to Heather, Agustina, Judith and Suzie for allowing me to display their art in the tattoo section of my website.

Franklin Mint Stops Making Dolls

As a long-time Franklin Mint doll collector I am saddened by the news that the Franklin Mint has stopped producing portrait dolls.  I didn't really think much about the lack of Marilyn dolls listed on the site over the past month.  I assumed they were just out of stock and would be replenished soon.  Didn't expect them to just stop.  Especially since they had advertised on my site back in December specific to Marilyn dolls.  No idea why you would bother to do that if you were about to discontinue everything.  Unless they really just wanted to sell off the stock they had.  

They currently have only 1 Marilyn doll  remaining on the site and it has a reduced price.  When these dolls are gone that will be it.  Here is the response I received from the Franklin Mint when I inquired about the lack of dolls.

Dear Melinda,

Thank you for your email.

Please be advised that we do not have any immediate plans to produce any new Portrait Dolls.

If we should decide to do so in the future, we will certainly advise our collectors through advertisements.  We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

The Franklin Mint is planning a number of new programs for the months to come which you may find of interest.  We will be informing you about them as they are completed.

Thank you for your understanding and we hope to serve your collecting needs better in the future.

My Week with Marilyn DVD to be released March 13

You can now pre-order My Week With Marilyn on DVD through amazon.com.  Please consider using this link if you are going to purchase this film.  A portion of all sales goes towards the hosting costs of Marilyn and the Camera.