Lee Jeans has collaborated with designer Vivian Rivetti to recreate Marilyn Monroe's iconic jeans from the 1961 film "The Misfits," offering a limited-edition collection that includes the denim, a Storm Rider Jacket, and a white button-down shirt. The recreation aims to capture the original silhouette – high-waisted and ankle-cuffed – with a slight addition of stretch for modern wearers.
Testers found the $109 jeans to be a significant departure from the looser, more comfortable styles prevalent today. The high waist extended past the belly button, and the waist was notably cinched, with the denim offering minimal stretch and restricting movement. One tester described feeling "sausages" after eating while wearing the jeans, and experienced discomfort from the waistband's tightness.
However, upon looking in the mirror, the fit was reported to flatter the figure, creating a flatter stomach and rounder backside, drawing positive comments from colleagues.
Marilyn Monroe fashion collector and historian Scott Fortner explained that costume designers often used jeans for Monroe to achieve a "glamorous but easy, all-American look." He noted that the original silhouettes were tailored to emphasize her hourglass figure, often at the expense of comfort. Fortner added that while Monroe herself preferred more comfortable attire like capris and silk pants in her personal life, the "Misfit" jeans represent what people associated with her image, influencing the broader adoption of jeans by women in the 1950s and 1960s.
Reactions from testers varied. Gen Z reporter Allison Lax found the jeans offered a "classic look without feeling glaringly retro" but experienced discomfort after about two hours of sitting. She advised against wearing them for travel but admitted to liking her appearance in them and planned to wear them on a date. Millennial photo editor Jesaca Lin was more taken with the accompanying white shirt, finding the jeans "amazing" but "a little too old-school."
Conversely, Gen X reporter Isabel Vincent expressed strong approval, calling the jeans "easy but not sloppy" and stating, "I want to wear them everywhere."
Ultimately, while the jeans may not bestow Monroe's full "bombshell power," they offer a distinct vintage aesthetic. As Vincent noted, "Nobody will be Marilyn Monroe," but embracing such styles could represent a shift away from ultra-casual office wear.