Marilyn Monroe’s Personal Ferragamo Shoes
Auction History
These shoes originate from the 1999 Christie’s sale titled “The Personal Property of Marilyn Monroe.” They were part of Lot 292 alongside a beige beret and Marilyn’s jewel patterned Pucci blouse, photographed by George Barris in 1962.
Marilyn and Ferragamo
After moving to New York, Marilyn became a regular at Ferragamo’s Park Avenue store. She often bought shoes in multiples, paying about forty to fifty dollars per pair. Ferragamo even patented a special half wood, half steel heel for her comfort and kept a custom shoe form for her orders.
On Screen and In Life
White stiletto heels were one of her defining looks. Similar styles appear in Some Like It Hot, The Misfits, and the unfinished Something’s Got to Give.
The Personal Property of Marilyn Monroe
October, 1999
Collector’s Note
These Ferragamo heels represent one of the most important and enduring relationships between Marilyn Monroe and any designer. After moving to New York, Marilyn became a regular client at Ferragamo’s Park Avenue store, where shoes were created specifically for her using a custom form to ensure both comfort and precision fit. What survives in this pair is not simply an example of fine Italian craftsmanship, but physical evidence of a designer adapting his work to the exact needs of one of the most recognized women in the world.
What makes these shoes especially meaningful is their authenticity of use. Ferragamo was not a symbolic or occasional choice for Marilyn. It was a brand she returned to repeatedly, purchasing multiple pairs and relying on them both publicly and privately. The visible wear patterns confirm that these were not preserved as keepsakes, but worn as functional parts of her daily life. They carried her through the ordinary and extraordinary moments that defined her final years.
Their provenance, originating from the historic 1999 Christie’s auction of Marilyn’s personal property, firmly anchors them within the documented record of her estate. Today, these shoes stand as a powerful reminder of the intersection between Marilyn Monroe and Ferragamo, a partnership that helped shape one of the most recognizable silhouettes in modern cultural history.
Scott Fortner
Marilyn Monroe Collection
Founder & Owner
@mariylnmonroecollection 
TheMarilynMonroeCollection