An Inside Look Into Fleur Du Mal’s Collab With Marilyn Monroe’s Estate

As far as female sex symbols go, Marilyn Monroe is by far one of the most iconic and paradoxical. So, when I saw that Fleur du Mal, a brand best known for their chic and coquettish lingerie did a recent collaboration with the Marilyn Monroe Estate and photographer, Bert Stern’s Estate to create an exclusive, capsule collection inspired by Stern’s photography and Monroe’s most memorable styles on and off film—my curiosity was piqued on how this perfectly paired partnership came about.

For those unfamiliar with Fleur du Mal’s, a quick glance of the brand’s Instagram page will reveal the brand’s elevated aesthetic, as well as quickly getting your mind wandering and your pulse racing with its tantalizing content. “I launched Fleur du Mal almost 11 years ago, at the end of 2012. I was inspired to create a brand that explored everything surrounding desire and empowering people to embrace their sexuality” founder Jennifer Zuccarini, who studied art history at Montreal’s Concordia University and fashion design at The Fashion Institute of Technology, tells me. Zuccarini, who is hands on with all designs, sourcing fabrics, print development, creative, all while being present at every shoot, undoubtedly achieved her goal. “Fleur du Mal is sensual, beautiful, provocative, while still being playful and cheeky in spirit.”

The whole concept for the collaboration with Marilyn Monroe came about through one of Zuccarini’s friends who worked with ABG, who owns the license. “We were really inspired to explore this idea, it was very different for us as a collaboration,” shares Zuccarini. “Monroe was an advocate for women’s independence. She was ambitious and fearless about pursuing her dreams. We referenced some of her most iconic looks but imagined in our Fleur aesthetic. You might not recognize the reference immediately, but we tried to capture her essence in every piece.” The influence of Marilyn’s legendary film, Some Like It Hot, can be seen in silhouettes, intricate details, and color palettes of numerous apparel and lingerie pieces in the collection.

It was looking at the old photos that sparked Zuccarini to ask Marilyn’s estate if it were possible to use some of Stern’s images for the collection. “I’m a big fan of his work. He was such an iconic photographer. I had the privilege of having lunch with him years ago before he passed away,” continues Zuccarini. When she inquired with Monroe’s estate about using some of the imagery for the collection, they said they didn’t have access to it, so she decided to reach out directly to Stern’s estate. “We connected with SHANNAH Laumeister Stern who was Bert Stern’s late wife and runs his estate. She loved the idea and agreed to collaborate and let us use 2 of his iconic images from The Last Sitting. We actually shot the campaign at Stern’s former home and studio in Sag Harbor. It was really special.”

The Fleur x Marilyn Monroe capsule collection offers a sultry, yet playful mix of ready-to-wear, lingerie, and lounge in fabrics like satin, lace, and silk with sassy details like beaded pasties, sheer paneling, and cutouts. One of my favorite pieces is the Embellished Cutout Dress. “The cutout dress was really inspired by the dress Marilyn wore in Some Like It Hot. I never really looked at the details, which were quite risqué, especially for the times,” shares Zuccarini. “There was a real cutout on the backside of Marilyn’s dress, sheer cups with a beading detail that looked like pasties, and a heart-shaped cutout on the butt. When we started doing the research, I didn’t notice these details from watching the movie. Rather, I caught them while looking at the still photography.”

The synergistic collaboration of all three entities produced a capsule that seemed to be destined to come together—and it must of have been a huge feather in Zuccarini’s cap to fuse her signature style with that of Marilyn’s to create a collection that epitomizes vintage glamour with modern sophistication. “It was such a delight for us to draw inspiration from Marilyn Monroe, the most iconic sex symbol, and interpret it into this capsule collection. I’ve always been fascinated by Marilyn. She was incredibly charismatic and magnetic and had the world under her spell.”

As an interesting aside, prior to speaking with Zuccarini I had never visited her website. I had only bought pieces from the brand from other retailers, so I was unaware it offered so much more, including swim and menswear. “It’s funny. You wouldn’t be the first person who thought that. But we have had ready-to-wear inspired by lingerie since the beginning. It has always been part of our DNA,” Zuccarini tells me. I adore Fleur du Mal’s lingerie aesthetic and attention to detail so to find out that there are other categories like beautiful dresses and swim options, I was thrilled.

As far as what people can expect coming down the pike, Zuccarini shares with me that the brand is preparing to drop a new lingerie collection this fall, two new (and completely different) collaborations in the upcoming year and venturing into a new category. “What makes me happy is making things beautiful. In the future, I see Fleur offering home and beauty and venturing more into sexual wellness.” I am excited to see the new offerings—especially what the brand offers in the sexual wellness space. I am sure whatever sex tech devices Zuccarini comes up with will be the perfect balance between beauty and brawn.