Lee made the denim jacket worn by Marilyn Monroe in The Misfits.
Marilyn Monroe wore the Lee 101J denim jacket during the 1961 film The Misfits. The garment later became an important piece of fashion and film memorabilia because it combined a recognizable American workwear design with one of the twentieth century’s most famous film stars.
Lee’s 101J was a classic denim jacket style, and its association with Monroe helped demonstrate how workwear could move into popular culture and fashion. The jacket was not created as a luxury fashion item; its significance came from the film appearance and Monroe’s enduring image.
People sometimes attribute famous vintage denim jackets to Levi Strauss because Levi’s is the best-known historical denim company. In this case, the specific jacket connected with Monroe in The Misfits is identified with Lee.