Marilyn returned to Jax because the designer understood her body and her aesthetic in a way few others did. Jack Hanson designed specifically with her in mind. These pants were not a one time purchase. She bought repeatedly and wore constantly. That level of loyalty to a designer reveals something important about how she approached her wardrobe. She found what worked and she stuck with it.
Marilyn Monroe’s Personal Jax Pants
A Favorite Designer, Worn Constantly Throughout the Late 1950s and Early 1960s
From the personal wardrobe of Marilyn Monroe: A pair of black wool pants by Jax, one of her favorite clothing lines.
About Jax
From Marilyn in Fashion by Christopher Nickens and George Zeno
Jack Hanson, a graduate of Hollywood High School, a World War I vet, and former shortstop with the Los Angeles Angels, was an unapologetic butt man. He thought post-war women’s slacks lacked oomph, so he sketched up some ideas, borrowed $500, and opened Jax in the coastal town of Balboa, California. His snug pants zippered up the back, calling attention to the rear end, and they sold for $60 – a hefty amount in the late ’50s. Hanson even eliminated hip pockets so nothing would distract from the derriere. Lacking money for advertising, Hanson drew crowds when he had his salesgirls model the line in the shop’s window. These were pants that only women with superb shapes dared to wear, but they were a smash and soon he was adding stores in Beverly Hills and New York, near Marilyn Monroe’s apartment.
“If any one person made us, it was Marilyn.” Hanson told Sports Illustrated in a 1967 interview. “She wore our things constantly, everywhere, and was always in the shop. We designed a lot of things especially with her in mind…”
Hanson and his wife became personal friends of Monroe’s, and she encouraged them to add other items to their line. Soon Jax blouses and dresses joined the famous pants. In addition to Monroe, other devoted Jax customers included Natalie Wood, Janet Leigh, Jill St. John, and Nancy Sinatra. Even Audrey Hepburn and Jacqueline Kennedy were rumored to be Jax fans.
Red more about founder Jack Hanson and Jax here.
In the photos below, while wearing black Jax pants, Marilyn records songs for Let’s Make Love in 1960, and she also rehearses some of her dance numbers with world famous choreographer Jack Cole.
Category:
Clothing & Accessories
Item Type:
Black Wool Pants Worn by Marilyn Monroe From a Favorite Designer, Jax
Designer:
Jax
Era:
Late 1950s - Early 1960s
Provenance:
Julien’s Auctions
Icons and Idols: Hollywood, Bob Mackie and Sharon Tate
November 16, 2018
Icons and Idols: Hollywood, Bob Mackie and Sharon Tate
November 16, 2018
Collector’s Note
Scott Fortner
Marilyn Monroe Collection
Founder & Owner
@mariylnmonroecollection 
TheMarilynMonroeCollection