The Mexican cardigan sported by Marilyn during one of her final photo sessions on Santa Monica Beach in 1962 is ranked second in The Guardian‘s list of The 10 Greatest Cardigans today (pipped to the post by the cream J-Crew knit worn by First Lady Michelle Obama on a visit to Buckingham Palace in 2009.)
“I think we can agree that Marilyn Monroe knew how to do sexy. And long before Succession’s Logan Roy made the shawl-collar cardigan a thing, Monroe showed the world a chunky, cosy knit could pack a punch. George Barris’s photographs of her in a chunky graphic cardigan belted with a silk-robe looseness, platinum hair sideswept in the sea breeze, are a bluechip style reference. The cardigan fetched $167,500 when it was sold by Monroe’s estate at auction. Gigi Hadid with movie-star waves and winged eyeliner, opening Maxmara’s autumn 2015 catwalk show in a sensuous camel cashmere coat, was one of many homages. Just add jeans for your Boxing Day walk look.
Jess Cartner-Morley