Who designed the famous white dress worn by Marilyn Monroe in The Seven Year Itch?

William Travilla designed the famous white dress worn by Marilyn Monroe in “The Seven Year Itch.”

The ivory pleated cocktail dress became one of the best-known costumes in Hollywood history after a subway grate scene in the 1955 film. A gust of air lifted the skirt, creating an image that became closely associated with Monroe and with classic cinema.

Travilla was a costume designer who worked extensively for 20th Century Fox. Although the dress is often treated as a simple celebrity outfit, its impact came from the combination of Travilla’s construction, Monroe’s performance, Billy Wilder’s direction, and the film’s publicity.

The dress is often mistakenly credited to Edith Head because Head was another famous Hollywood costume designer. The garment in this scene, however, was created by Travilla.