Jean Louis designed the white silk dress Marilyn Monroe wore while singing “Happy Birthday” to John F. Kennedy in 1962.
Monroe wore the gown at Madison Square Garden on 19 May 1962 during a Democratic Party fundraiser celebrating Kennedy’s upcoming birthday. The dress was made from sheer marquisette fabric and covered with thousands of rhinestones, creating its famously glittering appearance under stage lights.
The design was closely fitted and was reportedly sewn onto Monroe shortly before the performance. Its illusion-like appearance led many viewers to assume that she was wearing little beneath it, but the garment was a constructed stage costume rather than an ordinary evening dress.
William Travilla is often associated with Monroe’s wardrobe because he designed costumes for several of her films. The birthday gown was different: it was created by Jean Louis, a French-born costume designer who worked extensively in Hollywood.