Marilyn Monroe

Marilyn Monroe’s measurements

There’s a lot of discussion about whether Marilyn Monroe really was a size 16, and whether that was a US size 16 or a UK size 16, so I  thought I’d look into it in more depth and see what I could find out.

Like most women (with perhaps the exception of Sophia Loren who claims (rightly or wrongly) to have the same vital statistics for the last 40 years) Marilyn’s weight fluctuated a great deal over the years, but these are her measurements according to her dressmaker and her studio:

Height: 5 feet 5½ inches
Bust: 35-37 inches
Waist: 22-23 inches
Hips: 35-36 inches
Bra size: 36D

Now according to ASOS (which just happened to be the first place I thought to look) a 36″ bust is a UK size 12, which is a US size 8.  This would make Marilyn’s hips a UK size 10 (US size 6) and her waist would be a miniscule UK size 4 (US size 1).  Personally I didn’t know sizes even went that small, but what do I know..?!

So taking into account the fact that sizing has become more generous over the years, and that the size 16 statistic was probably from one of her slightly heavier times, this would still only make her a UK size 16 (US size 12).

The thing that really stands out to me is how much of an extreme hourglass figure she had. It’s no wonder that she had all her clothes tailor-made when she was a size 12 on top and a size 4 around her tiny waist, wowsers! Most people would have to do some extreme corseting to get a figure like that!

Next I got to wondering how Marilyn compared to other starlets and pin up girls of the time. So here we go. I’ve also included the measurements for Jane Russell, Brigitte Bardot, Elizabeth Taylor, Betty Grable, Sophia Loren, Audrey Hepburn and Bettie Page.  Let me know if I’ve missed out anyone important!

Jane Russell’s measurements

Jane Russell

Jane Russell was renowned for having a magnificent bust. Bob Hope once joked, “Culture is the ability to describe Jane Russell without moving your hands”. Her measurements were:
Height: 5 feet 7 inches
Bust: 38 inches
Waist: 24 inches
Hips: 36 inches
Bra size:38D

Brigitte Bardot’s measurements

These measurements are from 1956. There are also reports that her waist was a tiny 19 inches at one point fuelling the argument that Bardot was the original size zero girl…
Height: 5 feet 7 inches
Bust: 36 inches
Waist: 20 inches
Hips: 35 inches
Bra size:  36B

Elizabeth Taylor’s measurements

I had no idea Elizabeth Taylor was this tiny!
Height: 5 feet 2 inches
Bust: 36 inches
Waist: 21 inches
Hips: 36 inches
Bra size:  36c

Betty Grable’s measurements

Betty Grable WWII pin up for YANK Magazine

Betty Grable

At the time of her famous World War II pin-up poster Betty Grable‘s vital statistics were:
Height: 5 feet 4 inches
Bust: 36 inches
Waist: 24 inches

Hips: 35 inches

Sophia Loren’s measurements

Sophia Loren's measurements

Sophia Loren claims to have kept pretty much the same figure since the 1950s. In 1957 her figure was:
Height: 5 feet 9 inches
Bust: 38 inches
Waist: 24 inches
Hips: 38 inches
Bra size: 38c

Audrey Hepburn’s measurements

Famous for her slender gamine figure, Audrey Hepburn still had a real hourglass figure if you look at her statistics!
Height: 5 feet 7 inches
Bust: 34 inches
Waist: 20 inches
Hips: 34 inches
Bra size: 34A

Bettie Page’s measurements:

Bettie Page

Height: 5 feet 5 inches
Butst: 36 inches
Waist: 23 inches
Hips: 35 inhces
Bra Size: 36D

So, who have I missed? I’m sure I’ve forgotten to include some pretty crucial people, so let me know and I’ll add them in! 🙂

See how these movie stars’ measurements compare to models in the 1950s here, you’ll be quite surprised!

 


Image source and copyright: This work is in the public domain because it was published in the United States between 1923 and 1963 and although there may or may not have been a copyright notice, the copyright was not renewed | Source and copyright: This work is in the public domain in that it was published in the United States between 1923 and 1977 and without a copyright notice.| Source and copyright: This work is in the public domain because it was published in the United States between 1923 and 1963 and although there may or may not have been a copyright notice, the copyright was not renewed.