William Travilla created Marilyn Monroe’s iconic white halter dress for The Seven Year Itch.
Travilla, usually credited professionally as Travilla, designed the costume for the 1955 film The Seven Year Itch. Monroe wears the pleated ivory-colored dress in the famous scene above a subway grating, where rising air lifts the skirt. The image became one of the most recognizable moments in twentieth-century film fashion.
The dress was a studio costume rather than a general fashion collection. Its halter neckline, fitted bodice, and pleated skirt were designed to read clearly on screen while emphasizing movement. The scene also made the garment inseparable from Monroe’s public image.
The original dress later became a major piece of Hollywood memorabilia. It is sometimes incorrectly attributed to Edith Head, another celebrated costume designer who worked extensively in film, but Travilla designed Monroe’s dress for this film.