Was Marilyn Monroe REALLY a size 12? (or 16)

[Vintage Suits by Mary]

Yes she was! However, sizing in the garment industry has changed radically since the 1950s. Marilyn Monroe's measurements were:

Height: 5 feet, 5½ inches
Weight: 118 pounds
Bust: 35inches
Waist: 22inches
Hips: 35inches

That is similar to about a size 4 today. Even near the end of her career, when she was "fat", her measurements were

Bust:37 inches
Waist: 23 inches
Hips: 36 inches

Still pretty tiny!

Even Lucille Ball was a "perfect size 12" according to her studio publicity department. Her measurements were even smaller than Marilyn's.

So, when you are out shopping for vintage, don't be horrified that you can only fit into a 14 or 16. It doesn't mean you are fat, it only means that sizes are different than they were back in the day.

Also, one of the reasons that there is almost no plus size vintage is that there were almost no plus size people back then. Widespread obesity is a very recent phenomenon and was practically unheard of until the late 70s.

[Natalie]

Yeah I'm constantly debunking this myth to people around me too. They think she's this plus size icon and I'm like "NO! she was tiny and very fit".
If people are looking for a nice, gorgeous size 12 icon I always point them over to Christina Hendricks :)

[Delyssia LaBelle {Madam}]

i used to take comfort in the fact that me and marilyn were the same size, thanks for ruining my dream...lol, JK.

im working my way down in inches now, not sure i will reach 22! but the goal is 25inches. its so hard for me to believe such tall girls, i guess being 5feet 4inches, i think one more inch and a half is tall...but that a girl of that height was only 118lbs and still had curves. when i get under 130 i start loosing all my coke bottle shape. i guess there just gifted. same with Dita! hard to believe at 5 feet 6 inches shes only 114!!!! 

[richardwangphotography]

All recent measurements of Marilyn Monroe are based upon a article written by London Times correspondent Sara Buys.  She was allowed to wear and then measure Monroe's clothing.

 

http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/fashion/art...

 

The reason people think of Monroe as large was because she has a 13 inch drop from bust to waist, which is very abnormal.  (Most women are between 8 - 10 inch drop.)  With an E cup size, she very much create a hourglass shape.

 

[Lainey Belle{★}]

Thank you!! lol. I really hope people read and learn from this.  I hate when I hear people saying uneducated things about her.  She had a tiny waste!

[Vintage Suits by Mary]

Don't be too discouraged. Back then pretty much all women wore girdles and long line bras all the time. If your waist was squeezed constantly, it would be small too!

Delyssia LaBelle {Madam} said:

i used to take comfort in the fact that me and marilyn were the same size, thanks for ruining my dream...lol, JK.

im working my way down in inches now, not sure i will reach 22! but the goal is 25inches. its so hard for me to believe such tall girls, i guess being 5feet 4inches, i think one more inch and a half is tall...but that a girl of that height was only 118lbs and still had curves. when i get under 130 i start loosing all my coke bottle shape. i guess there just gifted. same with Dita! hard to believe at 5 feet 6 inches shes only 114!!!! 

[NolaChick™ {Madam}]

I love Marilyn, but she doesn't look "tiny" or "fit" here...

 

[Vintage Suits by Mary]

I don't know if she was ever "fit" once she became a star. She does look like she is those measurements though. Here is a comparison of my fit model who has approximately the same measurements (larger waist though)

NolaChick™ {Madam} said:

I love Marilyn, but she doesn't look "tiny" or "fit" here...

 

[richardwangphotography]

I think it's somewhat disingenuous to claim that she's not "fit" based upon the posted picture. It's just a very bad picture of Monroe and any woman, even your fit model,  shot at that angle and pose would look very big.

 

Here are some images from the same photo shoot.

 

Also look at the George Barris session with Monroe on the beach.

 

http://www.immortalmarilyn.com/MarilynPhotographerBarris.html

 

Why is there such a fascination with Monroe's size?

[Vintage Suits by Mary]

I think it's somewhat disingenuous to claim that she's not "fit" based upon the posted picture. It's just a very bad picture of Monroe and any woman, even your fit model,  shot at that angle and pose would look very big.

 

Why is there such a fascination with Monroe's size?

 

I wasn't saying she wasn't "fit" based on the photo, I was comparing her to the aerobicized and yoga'd girls of today. And I do not know why people are so fascinated with her size. I just hear all the time when I am asked why I don't make plus sizes that "Marilyn Monroe was a size 16!" If a size 16 was the same today that is was in the 50s, you bet I'd be making it!

[Roxy Tart {PL Team / Comm. Mgr}]

This topic comes up all the time, and I think it's important for girls to know that she was not a modern size 16. I see nothing wrong with being a 16, but if you're goal is to look like Marilyn, you better know the real measurements and get your ass into a gym! Thanks for starting this thread doll!

[GiGi Von Vroom]

I've always said this!  She was gorgeous!  But in NO way plus-sized.  I think some companies today base their sizes off of those old measurements.

[Miss Nikki Sin{★}]

oh god...no, she wasn't plus sized, but even if she was, would that be such a bad thing??????