Sorry, Kim — Marilyn Monroe's Iconic Dress Should Have Never Been Worn Again

Even those who don't consider themselves historians or a Marilyn Monroe fans are most likely aware of the blonde bombshell's breathy rendition of "Happy Birthday" for President John F. Kennedy.

It's an iconic pop culture moment. It was the only version of Happy Birthday that ever mattered.

Based on a design by a young Bob Mackie and custom-made by French costumier Jean Louis, the sparkly frock was inspired by stage costumes Jean had made for Marlene Dietrich and her Las Vegas cabaret in the '50s.

The electrifying moment that she rids herself of her fur cover-up and flicks the microphone right before singing to the President was one of the most memorable moments in American history.

It's almost like the gown was made just for her...

The hand-sewn crystals were enough to catch the eye of everyone in the audience at Madison Square Garden that night. The dress was sold for a whopping $1.26 MILLION in 1999 to New York-based Gotta Have It! Collectibles.

The dress's new home was the Orlando-based museum, which also featured the original Bob Mackie sketch as part of the display.

All was well in the world until fans noticed something very familiar about Kim's 2022 Met Gala look.

While many of Kim's fans thought she looked great (which to be fair, she totally did) others were quick to point out how wrong it was for someone to be wearing such an iconic garment.

Kim told Vogue how she prepared to wear Marilyn's custom dress which required her to lose 16 pounds in three weeks, which turned into an entirely different conversation on social media.

"I didn't starve myself, but I was so strict."

Thankfully, Kim only wore the gown for a matter of moments to walk the red carpet, changing out of it and into an exact replica before entering the gala portion of the night.

"I'm extremely respectful to the dress and what it means to American history," she explained.

"I would never want to sit in it or eat in it or have any risk of any damage to it and I won't be wearing the kind of body makeup I usually do," Kim said.

One of the first to speak about the look was professor of fashion history at the Fashion Institute of Technology, Dr. Justine De Young.

Speaking with People, Dr. Young said the look was "irresponsible and unnecessary."

"Such an iconic piece of American history should not be put at risk of damage just for an ego-boost and photo-op."

Also speaking with People was Marilyn historian Scott Fortner, who insisted Marilyn would not be happy with someone copying her look.

"Marilyn stood nude as the fabric for the dress was literally sculpted to her body to precisely match every curve. The fabric, which is a flesh-colored soufflé gauze imported from France, was layered strategically so she wouldn't need to wear undergarments," he continued.

From growing up in poverty with parents who weren't able to properly care for her to being sexually exploited by Hollywood, Marilyn was a gentle soul who didn't get the respect and praise she deserved for what an intelligent and compassionate person she was. She battled mental health issues, toxic marriages, and exploitation before her untimely death on August 4th, 1962.

The only similarity she and Marilyn share are their statuses as sex symbols.

To be clear, I'm not here to insult Kim Kardashian. Regardless of how you feel about the Kardashian family, there is no denying their impact on pop culture and their relevancy in modern society.

Many historians have spoken out about Ripley's decision to let Kim wear the iconic dress. Most recently, dress designer Bob Mackie spoke out about it, and spoiler alert, he wasn't too impressed.

The 82-year-old told Entertainment Weekly that Kim wearing the dress was a big mistake — huge!

"Nobody photographs like that. And it was done for her. It was designed for her," Bob argued. "Nobody else should be seen in that dress."

Well, there you have it folks!