The 99th anniversary of Marilyn Monroe’s beginning handed on June 1 with scant press consideration, however don’t anticipate the display screen icon’s centennial to go equally unnoticed. The year-long festivities main as much as her a hundredth birthday start this month with the debut of Pantone’s Marilyn Monroe Assortment Palette, an assortment of shades designed to seize totally different points of her identification, with names corresponding to Star White and Excessive Danger Crimson.
Genuine Manufacturers Group, which acquired a controlling stake in Monroe’s title and likeness rights in 2011, might be rolling out a wide range of merchandise using the palette with companions together with luxurious items label Tiffany & Co., Piper Heidsieck champagne, watchmaker Blancpain and jewellery designer Lele Sadoughi.
It’s only one entry in what guarantees to be a big roster of occasions and activations celebrating Monroe’s influence on artwork and tradition by way of her iconic movies – from the comedies “Gents Choose Blondes,” “The Seven Yr Itch” and “Some Like It Sizzling” to the elegiac drama “The Misfits” – and past.
Earlier this month, it was introduced that “Marilyn Monroe: Hollywood Icon,” an exhibition exploring her public picture by way of authentic screen-used costumes, images, manufacturing paperwork, letters and different private gadgets, might be kicking off a nine-month run on the Academy Museum of Movement Footage on Might 31, 2026. The life and legacy of Monroe – who was born Norma Jeane Mortenson in 1926 and died of a barbiturate overdose in 1962 on the age of 36 – can be being explored by way of the ballet “Marilyn,” which had its world premiere on the Portland’s Newmark Theater this previous April and can return for a two-week run in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in April 2026.
Selection spoke to Dana Carpenter, EVP of Leisure at Genuine Manufacturers Group, concerning the genesis of Pantone’s Marilyn Monroe Assortment Palette and the way it ties into their total plans for her 100th birthday celebration.
For some, a colour palette may seem to be an unlikely entry level for a centennial marketing campaign. How is it being utilized in numerous model partnerships?
It really lends itself naturally to loads of classes. We see this translating to issues like attire and style equipment, whether or not that’s doing restricted runs within the colour palette or utilizing that colour and infusing it into designs and prints and patterns for for issues like clothes, footwear, and many others. It might probably additionally translate into issues like packaging.
How was the colour palette developed?
The Pantone staff was tremendous collaborative, and we had loads of enjoyable placing the palette collectively. We talked about Maryln’s historical past. We checked out images, each from her onscreen persona and her off-screen life, as a result of we felt it was actually necessary to have a look at her from each of these angles. She was a really multifaceted individual. She had an unbelievable profession, however her private life was additionally fairly fascinating. So all of these traits helped us to determine the story and the colours that we felt have been most iconic to her. Clearly, it’s very easy to say, oh, she’s very well-known for her purple lips, however there have been different parts that we thought have been fascinating and symbolic, whether or not that was a very stunning glittering gold to extra core colours like black and white, that are very vital, whether or not you have a look at infusing from her magnificence mark or her platinum blonde hair, which she known as pillowcase white.
Inform us the tales behind among the shades.
Positive. Excessive Danger Crimson is a very deep purple. We felt it evoked a really robust sense of energy as a part of Marilyn’s historical past and legacy as an actress, an activist and a feminine founder. We additionally checked out two shades of pink. We’ve a Sizzling Pink, which is somewhat bit extra playful and in addition signifies the lightheartedness of Marilyn, and Dynasty Pink, which is a metallic we predict is admittedly female, robust and delightful, that has loads of versatility to use in a wide range of totally different partnerships and product classes.
Are there any shades that harken again to her pre-Marilyn years as Norma Jeane?
I feel that Peach Bud most likely accomplishes that as a result of it actually speaks to her luminous complexion. While you have a look at early photographs of her, that glow and smile that she had and her complexion actually shines by way of.
Along with being a feminine founder who established personal manufacturing firm, she was additionally a manufacturing facility employee throughout World Warfare 2. Is there something you’re doing that leans into her Rosie the Riveter section?
Not simply but. However I feel, for us, Marilyn’s self-made storyline when it comes to how she picked herself up by her bootstraps, so to talk, and actually made herself into this unbelievable icon, not having been handed something herself and coming from the foster care system, is such an extremely uplifting and highly effective story. So all the pieces that we do actually is about ensuring that we’re persevering with to tell and educate how extremely various Marilyn was and what an clever and highly effective advocate she was, not simply the attractive bombshell on display screen.
This interview was edited for size and readability.