When we think of Marilyn Monroe, the mind usually goes straight to that billowy white dress or the "Happy Birthday, Mr. President" gown that was so tight she had to be sewn into it. But honestly? The real story of her style—the stuff she actually used every day—is tucked away in her accessories. Specifically, the Marilyn Monroe purse collection.
It’s kind of wild how much we can learn about a person from what they carried. Most people assume her closets were overflowing with thousands of designer bags like a modern-day influencer. The truth is way more interesting. She wasn't a "bag-a-day" kind of woman. She was loyal to her favorites, often carrying the same few pieces until they were literally falling apart at the seams.
The Iconic Evans Minaudière (And Why It’s Famous)
If there is one "holy grail" in the Marilyn Monroe purse collection, it is undoubtedly the gold-tone Evans minaudière. This wasn't just a bag; it was basically a survival kit for the 1950s screen siren.
Sold at the legendary 1999 Christie’s auction, and later appearing in the 2016 Julien’s "Property From The Estate of Lee Strasberg" sale, this little gold box told a story no biographer could. When it was opened for the first time in decades, it still contained her essentials.
- Two Mercury dimes (minted in 1943 and 1945).
- Eight Philip Morris cigarettes, still tucked into their little compartment.
- A Revlon lipstick in "Bachelor’s Carnation."
- A small comb and a gold-plated mirror.
You've gotta love the humanity in that. She wasn't just a face on a poster; she was a woman who needed a smoke and a dime for a payphone. The minaudière itself featured citrine crystal florets on the ends and came with a black velvet carrying case. It eventually sold for nearly $50,000. Not bad for a metal box she used to touch up her makeup.
The I. Magnin Alligator Handbag
Marilyn had a thing for I. Magnin & Co., the high-end San Francisco department store. Her chocolate brown alligator handbag from the 1950s is probably her most "professional" looking piece.
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It’s a classic, structured top-handle bag with burgundy leather lining. What’s cool about this one is the interior stamp that says "Elegance" and "Evans." It had purpose-built pockets. Not just random slots, but specific places for a matching leather-covered lighter, a lipstick case, and a powder compact.
She lived in an era where everything was "matchy-matchy," and this bag proves she played the part perfectly. It wasn't about flashy logos. In fact, most of her bags were surprisingly understated. She leaned into the classic mid-century silhouette—bags that looked as good with a pencil skirt as they did with her favorite mink stoles.
The Needlepoint Purse from her Wedding to Joe DiMaggio
Wait, did you know she carried a needlepoint bag to marry the biggest baseball star in the world?
In 1954, when she wed Joe DiMaggio at San Francisco City Hall, she didn't carry a diamond-encrusted clutch. She carried a colorful floral garden motif needlepoint purse. It’s such a soft, domestic choice for a woman who was constantly being sexualized by the media.
This specific piece has become one of the most studied items in the Marilyn Monroe purse collection because it highlights a different side of her personality. It was made by a brand called "Celebrity." It felt personal. Almost hobby-like. It’s a far cry from the "diamonds are a girl's best friend" persona.
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The Mystery of the Bucket Bag
There’s a famous photo of Marilyn standing in a doorway, looking effortlessly chic in a simple black outfit, carrying a tan leather bucket bag. For decades, fashion historians have tried to track down the exact brand.
Some think it might have been an early Gucci or a custom piece she picked up while traveling. She had a personalized brown leather Gucci address book, so we know she was a fan of the brand. But the bag itself remains a bit of a mystery. It had that "slouchy but elegant" vibe that wouldn't look out of place on a shelf today.
What She Carried When No One Was Looking
Beyond the red carpets, Marilyn’s daily life was a lot more "grey pony handbag from Mexico."
That sounds specific because it is. One of the items found in her estate was a simple grey pony-skin bag she bought on a trip to Mexico. When it was auctioned, it still had three one-peso bills inside.
She also had a thing for straw bags. When she lived in New York with Arthur Miller, she was often spotted carrying large, unbranded straw totes for her books and scripts. People forget she was an avid reader. She needed a bag that could fit a copy of Ulysses, not just a lipstick.
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The Collector’s Market Today
If you’re looking to own a piece of the Marilyn Monroe purse collection, honestly, you're going to need a very deep pocket. Or a lot of luck.
Most of her authentic bags are either in private collections (like that of David Gainsborough-Roberts) or museums. However, the influence of her style is everywhere. Brands like Versace later paid homage to her with their 1991 Pop Art collection featuring her face, but that’s "Marilyn-inspired," not "Marilyn-owned."
How to Spot a "Marilyn Style" Bag
If you want to channel her look without spending $50k at Julien's:
- Look for Gold-Tone Hardware: She rarely did silver.
- Structured Frames: Think "doctor bags" or "kelly styles."
- Minaudières: Metal or lucite evening boxes are key.
- Natural Materials: Alligator, suede, and even needlepoint were her go-to's.
The Legacy of the "Bag"
Marilyn’s things—her receipts, her checks, her bags—serve as a paper trail for a life that was often lived in the shadows of her own fame. Her purse wasn't a status symbol. It was a container for her life.
It held the scripts she was memorizing. It held the cigarettes she smoked when she was nervous. It held the dimes she used to call her friends.
When we look at the Marilyn Monroe purse collection, we aren't just looking at leather and metal. We’re looking at the tools of a woman who was trying to navigate a very complicated world, one lipstick touch-up at a time.
Next Steps for Enthusiasts:
If you're looking to verify a vintage find or learn more about her personal effects, your best bet is to study the 1999 Christie's Auction Catalog (The Personal Property of Marilyn Monroe). It’s basically the bible for Monroe collectors. You can often find used copies of the catalog online, and it’s a goldmine of high-res photos and provenance details that show exactly what she kept behind closed doors.