Our Weakness For Marilyn

But what is it about the blonde bombshell that holds such enduring appeal? Is it the precarious balance of vampish vixen and little-girl-lost that defined her unique sex appeal? Is it the curious open ending of her tragic and untimely death? Or is it her impeccable style? Whether she was coochie-cooing at an enthralled audience with her curves barely contained in a sprinkle of sequins, or wiggling her way down a beach in micro shorts and a crop top, the actress never failed to captivate.

ELLE’s cover star Michelle Williams spent months studying the actress to prepare for her role in My Week With Marilyn, and she was very much struck by Monroe’s style. ‘What I really appreciate about her is what a simple dresser she was. She’s really – in her personal life – completely un-adorned. And I like that. She rarely wore jewellery, and everything that she did wear just had clean simple lines. Everything that she wore looked like she could just take her shoes off and run through a field.’

To celebrate the film's release, we’ve put together a gallery of some of Marilyn Monroe's most iconic looks. It’s a lesson in why some gentlemen prefer blondes.

See our behind the scenes video of ELLE cover girl Michelle Williams here