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Marilyn Monroe: The Seven Year Itch's "subway dress" breaks auction record


Marilyn Monroe "The Girl" ivory pleated "Subway" dress by Travilla, the most recognized costume in film history, from The Seven Year Itch, offered this June 18, 2011 at Debbie Reynolds The Auction by Profiles in History

Tom Ewell and Marilyn Monroe in the "Subway Dress" - The Seven Year Itch (1955) directed by Billy Wilder

An auction of actress Debbie Reynolds' Hollywood memorabilia earned $22.8 million over the weekend and included the record-breaking sale of Marilyn Monroe's iconic "subway dress" from 1955 movie "The Seven Year Itch" organizers said on Monday.

The William Travilla design was estimated to sell for between $1 million and $2 million, the crown jewel at a 12-hour auction of nearly 600 costumes and pieces of memorabilia being sold by actress Debbie Reynolds in Beverly Hills on Saturday.

Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell in "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" (20th Century-Fox, 1953)

Monroe's red-sequined dress from "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" went for $1.2 million.

Auctioneer Profiles in History said the previous costume sales record was held by Audrey Hepburn's iconic little black dress from the 1961 film "Breakfast at Tiffany's", which sold for $923,187. Source: www.reuters.com