Auctions Highlight Marilyn Monroe and Hugh Hefner Legacy in Hollywood Sale
A significant collection featuring Marilyn Monroe and Hugh Hefner drew widespread attention as a large portion of items from their archives crossed the auction block. The three day event concluded with bidders competing for pieces tied to two of America’s most enduring cultural icons, underscoring the lasting impact of their legacies in film, fashion, and pop culture.
Among the highlights, a long sleeved silk jersey Pucci dress commanded a final price of 325000, setting a record for a Pucci dress sold at auction according to organizers at Julien’s Auctions. The sale demonstrates the enduring appeal of iconic screen costumes and couture used in defining moments of midcentury cinema and style.
Also in Los Angeles, a crypt mausoleum at Pierce Brothers Memorial Park and Mortuary in Westwood Village, located near the final resting places of Monroe and Hefner, changed hands for 195000. A Monroe tombstone valued at 88900 required replacement after fans’ constant visits caused wear. Hefner’s burgundy tuxedo, slippers, pajamas, and pipe set fetched 13000, while a round mansion bed crafted for Hefner as a replacement for his master bed in the original Playboy Mansion in Chicago brought 13000. These pieces illustrate how memorabilia can evoke a deep personal and historical resonance for collectors and fans alike.
Anthony Jabin, a Beverly Hills tech investor, purchased the tomb, bed and other items. He expressed a personal dream tied to Monroe and Hefner, noting his intention to share a life connected to their legacies. The auction included Monroe garments and personal items that add context to her career and public image, including a famous dress from a milestone moment in which Monroe’s screen presence left an indelible mark on audiences around the world. The dress from The Seven Year Itch, described as a Mae West style black cellophane effect evening gown designed by William Travilla, was worn by Monroe in a dream sequence that was later cut from the film, and it sold for a notable sum. The event also featured the original Jean Louis dyed cream beige silk jersey cocktail dress Monroe wore to a Misfits press conference in 1960, which found a new owner for 65000.
Another poignant item was Monroe’s signature Elizabeth Arden lipstick, sealed in a gold box with a label bearing a historic note. The lipstick sold for 65000, marking it as the second best selling lipstick at auction in history. A custom made swimsuit set created for Monroe in the 1954 musical There’s No Business Like Show Business achieved 29250, and the lavender satin underwire swimsuit worn by Monroe as the character Lillian Russell in a Life magazine issue from December 22, 1958 changed hands for 29250 as well.
In total, the auction offered more than 600 lots, drawing commentary about the unlikely but powerful alignment of Monroe and Hefner within popular culture. Organizers observed that while the two never met in person, Monroe first appeared in Hefner’s inaugural Playboy magazine issue in 1953, linking their legacies in a way that helped propel both figures to iconic status within twentieth century America. Playboy itself emerged as a defining global brand, emblematic of the era’s fascination with celebrity, fashion, and entertainment.
Beyond the memorabilia, the event reminded collectors and fans that Monroe and Hefner occupy a place in American cultural history that continues to inspire reinterpretations in film, fashion, and media commentary. Their influence endures not just in single artifacts but in the broader narrative of glamour, rebellion, and media entrepreneurship that defined a generation.
In another notable cultural moment, fashion historians and fans recall Kate Moss revisiting the Monroe image, underscoring how Monroe’s style continues to echo through contemporary fashion and celebrity photography. Citations from organizers and curators at Julien’s Auctions document the breadth of the sale and its significance in preserving cultural memory for future generations. Source attributions accompany the event writeups, providing context about the provenance of each item and its place within the Monroe Hefner story.