20/05/2026

LYFE WEDNESDAY | MAY 20, 2026

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M EMORABILIA belonging to late model and movie star Marilyn Monroe is heading to the auction block, offering a rare glimpse into the private world of one of Hollywood’s most enduring legends. Items up for sale include pieces from her wardrobe, jewellery, letters, handwritten notes, paintings and poetry. “Marilyn is just an icon. People love and adore Monroe to this day,” said Brian Chanes, Heritage Auctions’ Hollywood and entertainment senior director, during a recent preview of the collection. Born Norma Jeane Mortenson in Los Angeles in 1926, Monroe became a renowned actress, model, singer and sex symbol known for her blonde hair and hourglass body. She died in 1962. Sale to coincide with birthday Heritage Auctions is opening bidding to the public on items from the estate of poets Norman and Hedda Rosten, close friends and confidants of Monroe. The sale, which happens June 1, coincides with what would have been the star’s 100th birthday and features personal belongings dating from 1955 to 1962. Among the most striking offerings are documents never seen publicly, shedding light on Monroe’s inner life. The papers explore her romantic relationships, fears surrounding a lost pregnancy and her reflections on mortality. “It’s really special because this isn’t material that’s been bought and sold over the decades. This is something that’s a discovery,” Chanes said. From costume jewellery Monroe wore to artwork she once held in her hands, the collection offers buyers intimate access to her personal world. The auction also includes correspondence from her ex husband, playwright Arthur Miller, revealing the emotional complexities of their marriage, as well as an unseen letter from Monroe’s psychiatrist describing the day leading up to

Memorabilia belonging to

Monroe is displayed

alongside a photograph during a preview

of an auction. – PICS FROM REUTERS

Telling Marilyn Monroe’s story

A flower lays atop the Hollywood Walk of Fame star for the late actress.

o From jewellery to private letters, iconic late actress’ hidden world heads to auction

overdose and they had to halt filming, she wrote, ‘I feel like I’m drowning,’” Chanes recalled. “You can feel the anguish in her writing,” he added, noting Monroe sketched a stick figure submerged in water on the same stationery, begging for help – an image that highlighted the mental health struggles she faced throughout her career. – Reuters

her death. Chanes

highlighted one particularly emotional piece from the period when Monroe was filming Some Like It Hot . Writing on stationery from the Hotel del Coronado, she pleaded for help as her struggles threatened to derail production. “Right before she was about to

Lights, camera, Dior: Jonathan Anderson unveils Cruise collection FRENCH fashion house Christian Dior’s new creative director Jonathan Anderson recently unveiled his first Cruise collection in Los Angeles, transforming the Los Angeles County Museum of Art into a dazzling catwalk that fused high fashion with California culture. California’s natural landscape and vintage car culture. Guests were seated among classic automobiles as simulated fog drifted across the runway.

The Cruise collection draws inspiration from cinema, California’s natural landscape and vintage car culture.

Models emerged in looks evoking Hollywood icons such as Marilyn Monroe, Sophia Loren and Audrey Hepburn, with shimmering, fringed and layered designs, off-the-shoulder silhouettes and accents of ruffled scarves and flowers in bloom. Blurring the line between runway and stage, Anderson introduced theatrical elements, styling models as

Guests including The Queen’s Gambit star Anya Taylor-Joy, Oscar winning actor Al Pacino and singer Miley Cyrus underscored the show’s Hollywood ties. For the Cruise collection, Anderson drew on themes of cinema,

Dior’s head of creation across all divisions – menswear, womenswear, couture and accessories – becoming the first designer since Christian Dior to oversee the entire house. He joined the LVMH-owned label in April 2025 and debuted his menswear collection just months later, quickly establishing himself as part of a new generation reshaping the luxury industry during a prolonged slowdown. Prior to Dior, the 41-year-old Northern Irish designer spent 11 years as creative director of Spanish luxury house Loewe. – Reuters

large, stylised lettering, adding a playful architectural note. A buttercup-yellow dress embellished with rosettes ushered in a softer palette, with warm yellows and oranges inspired by the California poppy, the state flower. Some models fully embodied the bloom in a gown of layered orange ruffles resembling petals. The juxtaposition of vintage cars with vibrant, sunlit hues throughout the show captured the essence of Los Angeles as a city of contrasts. Anderson made history in June last year when he was appointed

actors, directors and artistes in a nod to the entertainment industry. Standout pieces included a sparkly red cocktail dress, a shimmering pink trench coat with matching sunglasses, a black-and grey patterned suit jacket and a button-down shirt and jeans – a range of looks tied to industry archetypes. In menswear, the focus shifted to sharp geometric shadowing, including grey wool flannels recalling the film noir genre. Some models wore dramatic feathered hats spelling out “Dior” in

Models wear creations from the Christian Dior Cruise 2027 collection show at the Los Angeles County Art Museum. – PICS FROM REUTERS