When we think of Marilyn Monroe, we usually think of the dress. You know the one—the white halter neck flying up over the subway grate. But if you look closer at that iconic shot from The Seven Year Itch, you’ll see the real workhorses of her image. She’s wearing a pair of delicate, white strappy sandals. They’re gorgeous. They’re also terrifyingly thin.
There is a massive amount of lore surrounding marilyn monroe high heels. People love to talk about how she supposedly "engineered" her walk. The most common story? That she shaved a quarter-inch off one of her heels to create that legendary, hip-swaying "monroe wiggle."
It’s a great story. Honestly, it makes her sound like a tactical genius of glamour. But is it actually true? Not quite.
The Myth of the Shaved Heel
Let’s look at the facts. Salvatore Ferragamo, the legendary Italian shoemaker, was the man responsible for most of Marilyn's footwear. He didn't just sell her shoes; he studied her feet. In his autobiography, he famously categorized her as a "Venus." To Ferragamo, a Venus was a woman with a size 6 foot who looked sophisticated but was a homebody at heart.
The idea that she was out there with a wood rasp, hacking away at expensive Italian leather, doesn't really hold up when you talk to the experts.
What the Archives Say
In 2012, the Museo Salvatore Ferragamo in Florence put on a massive retrospective. They had 30 pairs of her shoes on display. Curators and historians looked at them—closely.
What did they find?
- Every single pair was perfectly symmetrical.
- The heel heights matched to the millimeter.
- There were no signs of DIY "shaving" or structural tampering.
So, where did the wiggle come from? It wasn't a mechanical trick. It was her. She had a unique way of walking where she locked her knees and allowed her hips to swing naturally. It was a practiced, athletic movement. To attribute it to a broken shoe actually does a bit of a disservice to her skill as a performer.
Why Marilyn Monroe High Heels Were a Technical Marvel
Marilyn wasn't just wearing "off-the-rack" pumps. By the mid-1950s, she was a regular at the Ferragamo store on Park Avenue in New York. She wanted height, but she also needed to be able to move.
Ferragamo actually patented a specific heel design just for her. Most heels back then were made of wood. They snapped easily. Especially if you were doing multiple takes of a dance number. To solve this, Ferragamo created a "stiletto" that was half wood and half steel.
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The steel core provided the strength. The wood provided the "give" and the aesthetic finish. This allowed her to wear four-inch heels—which was quite high for the era—without the shoes collapsing under the pressure of her gait.
The Most Iconic Pairs Ever Worn
If you’re looking to understand the impact of marilyn monroe high heels, you have to look at the "Red Jewels."
In the opening of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Marilyn (alongside Jane Russell) wears a pair of red pumps encrusted with Swarovski crystals. They are dazzling. In 1999, Christie’s auctioned off a pair of these for $48,300. They weren't just shoes; they were jewelry for the feet.
Then there are the "Viatica" pumps.
- The Look: Sleek, pointed toe, often in beige or ivory.
- The Movie: Some Like It Hot (1959).
- The Vibe: Pure, understated elegance.
She famously loved beige. Why? Because it lengthened the line of her leg. She knew that a shoe that matched her skin tone didn't "break" the visual flow, making her 5'5" frame look much taller on screen.
The Struggle for Comfort
"I don't know who invented high heels, but all women owe him a lot."
That’s a quote often attributed to Marilyn (though some say it was Bette Midler—the history is a bit messy there). Regardless of who said it, Marilyn lived it. She was almost never seen in flats. Even in her private life, she’d pair four-inch Ferragamos with simple Capri pants or a button-down shirt.
But it wasn't easy.
Footage from behind the scenes of her films often shows her rubbing her feet or switching into slippers the second the cameras stopped rolling. She suffered for the silhouette. In the 2012 Ferragamo exhibit, you could see the wear and tear on the insoles. You could see where her weight shifted. It makes her feel human. We see the goddess on the poster, but the shoes tell the story of a woman who was literally standing on steel pins for 12 hours a day.
How to Channel the Marilyn Look Today
If you want to replicate the look of marilyn monroe high heels without needing a Hollywood budget, you have to focus on the "line."
She didn't like chunky platforms. She hated heavy straps that cut off the ankle. She wanted the foot to look as arched and delicate as possible. If you’re shopping for a modern equivalent, look for a "tapered" heel rather than a blocky one.
- Seek out a 4-inch stiletto. That was her sweet spot.
- Go for a pointed toe. It’s the classic 1950s silhouette that never actually goes out of style.
- Nude or Beige is your best friend. It’s the oldest trick in the book for making legs look miles long.
- Look for a leather sole. It sounds fancy, but it allows for that "slide" and "pivot" that Marilyn used in her walk.
The real secret to her shoes wasn't a lopsided heel or a hidden trick. It was the fact that she chose shoes that complemented her body rather than fought it. She worked with the best craftsman in the world to ensure she could be a "Venus" while standing on four inches of steel.
Next Steps for Your Wardrobe
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Go check your closet for a pair of classic pumps. If they have a heavy platform or a thick ankle strap, they aren't "Marilyn." To get that 1950s "bombshell" look, you need a clean, uninterrupted line from the hip to the toe. Try on a pair of beige pointed-toe heels next time you're out. You'll notice immediately how they change your posture. Just maybe don't try to shave the heels down yourself—leave that to the myths.