AGNF + LHP Collaboration: Iconic Women – Marilyn Monroe

Happy weekend, everyone!! Today is super exciting because we have a guest writer on the blog…(and she’s been my partner in this collaboration) photographer, Lizzie Harrell! I just have to start by saying this collaboration was a dream come true. A lot of my style inspiration is drawn from women of the past that I admire for their style and grace. When I first approached Lizzie with this idea, she believed in it immediately.  It was in that moment I knew this collaboration was going to be something special.  Be sure to check her her out on Instagram. Lizzie, take it from here….!

I’m excited to share a recent collaboration I’ve been working on with S.J. over at All Glam No Filter! For the next several weeks we’ll be featuring recreated photographs of iconic women we admire. These women are not only beautiful, they have left a lasting legacy in fashion, popular culture, feminism, and beyond. Enjoy!

About Marilyn

Before she was Marilyn Monroe she was Norma Jean Baker, a young girl who overcame a tumultuous childhood with a mentally ill mother and a string of foster homes to become one of the most iconic actresses in Hollywood.

Although she was well-known for playing the “dumb blonde”, Marilyn rose above that stereotype proving she could deliver strong performances in serious dramatic roles and was one of the first women to start her own production company.

Marilyn passed before the modern women’s movement and throughout her career she was objectified as sex symbol, but many consider her a proto-feminist or a martyr for modern feminism. Possessing a quality that was at the same time innocent and sensual, Marilyn’s comfort in her own skin and casualness towards nudity helped make it more culturally acceptable for women to embrace their sensuality. She also used her influence to support other women. When Ella Fitzgerald wasn’t allowed to perform at Mocambo because of her race, Marilyn called the venue’s owner and told him that she wanted Ella booked immediately and she would be at the front table every night.

It’s no secret that Marilyn lead a troubled life, exploited by Hollywood, unable to have a child she desperately wanted, and struggling with relationships and drug abuse. Long after her untimely death, Marilyn is still a paradox. A tragic figure, yet as inspiring and alluring today as ever.

Marilyn may be the most photographed person of the 20th century and with so many photographs of her it was really hard to choose which one to recreate! Ultimately we picked two Marilyn looks for this collaboration: Marilyn Monroe Ballerina photographed by Milton H. Greene and Marilyn photographed on the patio outside her Hollywood, CA home by Alfred Eisenstaedt.

Hope you enjoyed this look a Marilyn’s influence and the photographs we recreated to celebrate her. Stay tuned for another iconic woman next week!