A Woman's Fashion Choices in a World Controlled by Men. Why should society consider Marilyn Monroe a Fashion Icon, if she did not choose her famous styling choices?

Seminar paper from the year 2023 in the subject Design (Industry, Graphics, Fashion), grade: A, Harvard University (Faculty of Arts & Sciences), course: Expos 20: Fashion & Power, language: English, abstract: This paper explores the complex interplay between fashion, sexual objectification, and empowerment, using Marilyn Monroe as a central case study. It examines how Monroe, often celebrated as a fashion icon, navigated the tensions between societal expectations and personal identity in a patriarchal world. The study delves into the distinction between Monroe's public persona-shaped by Hollywood's portrayal of her as a seductive symbol-and her private style, which was markedly more minimalist and reflective of her true self, Norma-Jean. Through this lens, the paper argues that while Monroe's fashion choices, particularly those dictated by male filmmakers, contributed to her objectification, they also provided her with a form of empowerment. This paradox highlights the nuanced ways in which women like Monroe have historically negotiated power within the confines of societal norms. Ultimately, the paper contends that while Monroe's public image was largely crafted by male-driven narratives, her personal style offered her a means of reclaiming some agency, illustrating the ongoing struggle for female autonomy in a male-dominated society.