Muses Sessions by KULLI Parfum
Some people leave behind movies.
Some people leave behind music.
Some people leave behind paintings.
And then there are people like Marilyn Monroe, who leave behind a feeling.
Creative Director and Photographer: Designed By Elias
Model: Cleo Heine
Hair and Make Up: Carrie Foster
Styled: KULLI Atelier
Dress: The Nitty Gritty
Location: Mellwood Art Center
Nearly a century after she first stepped in front of a camera, Marilyn Monroe remains one of the most recognizable faces in history. Her image has appeared on magazine covers, posters, perfume advertisements, coffee mugs, museum walls, and countless social media feeds. Yet what continues to fascinate me isn't just her beauty.
It's her humanity.
As we continue the Muses Sessions with KULLI Parfum, I wanted to pay homage to one of the most iconic women who ever lived. Not because she was who she was on the screen. Not because she was famous.
But because she reminds us that beauty is often born from vulnerability.
Behind every icon is a human being trying to find their place in the world.
And honestly, I relate to that.
The Dress
A couple of weeks ago, Cleo and I went to Nitty Gritty on Barrett Avenue in Louisville to search for a dress for our Marilyn-inspired photoshoot.
Originally, the plan was simple.
We wanted to recreate one of Marilyn's glamorous looks—the black sparkling dress paired with a perfume bottle, elegant and timeless.
That was the vision.
Then something unexpected happened.
While browsing through the racks, Cleo suddenly stopped.
She pulled out a beautiful blue ballerina dress and held it up.
Immediately, I knew exactly what she was talking about.
Without saying much, we both pulled out the iconic photograph of Marilyn Monroe wearing her famous ballerina-style tulle dress by Milton Greene.
The resemblance was undeniable.
Cleo tried it on.
She sat down in a chair.
And the moment I looked through the camera, I knew.
This was the photograph.
This was the story.
This was the one.
The Story Behind the Original Dress
One of my favorite things about icons is learning what happened behind the scenes.
The famous ballerina dress photograph wasn't as effortless as it looked.
The original dress was reportedly too small for Marilyn.
It couldn't even be fully zipped.
Instead, she had to hold the dress in place and pose in a way that created the illusion that everything fit perfectly.
The image became legendary.
But like so many things in life, the magic existed because people found a way through imperfection.
And then Marilyn decided to play a joke on us.
The Zipper
When I brought the dress back to the studio and placed it on the mannequin, I carefully started zipping it.
And then...
The zipper broke.
My heart dropped.
Immediately.
For a moment, I thought, "Oh no."
But then I did what any good Mellwood Art Center neighbor would do.
I ran to see Miss Ruth.
If you've never met Miss Ruth from It's A Stitch, you are missing out on one of Louisville's treasures.
She has been sewing and repairing garments for decades. Sixty years of experience. The kind of knowledge that cannot be taught from a YouTube video.
Within twenty minutes, she had the dress repaired.
Problem solved.
When I later told Cleo what happened and reminded her about the original story of Marilyn's dress being too small and impossible to zip, we both started laughing.
We looked at each other and said:
"I think Marilyn is playing with us."
And honestly?
Maybe she was.
Pride, Identity, and Finding Yourself
This photoshoot also arrives during Pride Month.
And that feels important.
Because when I think about Marilyn Monroe, I don't just think about Hollywood.
I think about transformation.
I think about reinvention.
I think about becoming who you are despite what the world expects you to be.
For many LGBTQ+ people, Pride is not simply a celebration.
It's a journey.
It's the process of learning who you are.
It's letting go of shame.
It's realizing that your uniqueness is not something to hide.
It's something to celebrate.
For a long time I searched for love.
I searched for validation.
I searched for permission.
But lately I've realized something.
I found myself.
And once you find yourself, something changes.
You stop chasing.
You stop performing.
You stop apologizing.
You simply become.
And from that place, love has a chance to find you.
I think Marilyn understood that feeling.
Not because she had all the answers.
But because she spent her life searching too.
Perfume and Memory
People often ask me why I chose perfume.
Out of all the art forms available, why fragrance?
The answer is simple.
Perfume captures memory.
One scent can transport you twenty years into the past.
One fragrance can remind you of a grandmother, a first kiss, a wedding day, a childhood home, or a moment that changed your life forever.
Perfume is invisible.
But it stays with us.
Just like the people who inspire us.
Just like Marilyn.
Just like the friendships we build.
Just like the memories we create.
Why We Created the Muses Sessions
The Muses Sessions are not about celebrity worship.
They are about inspiration.
Every artist has a muse.
Every dream has a spark.
Every person has someone who helped them believe a little bigger.
Sometimes that muse is a movie star.
Sometimes it's a musician.
Sometimes it's a grandmother.
Sometimes it's a friend.
The purpose of these sessions is to celebrate the people, stories, and energies that inspire us to become more ourselves.
To shine brighter.
To love deeper.
To create boldly.
Thank You, Marilyn
Thank you for the beauty.
Thank you for the vulnerability.
Thank you for reminding us that imperfection often creates the most memorable moments.
Thank you for the ballerina dress.
Thank you for the laughter over a broken zipper.
Thank you for inspiring another generation of dreamers, artists, photographers, performers, and creators.
And thank you for reminding us that no matter where we begin, we all have the ability to become something extraordinary.
Because the truth is, the most beautiful thing Marilyn Monroe ever wore wasn't a dress.
It wasn't diamonds.
It wasn't perfume.
It was her willingness to keep shining despite everything.
And that's something worth celebrating.
Happy Pride Month.
Happy Muses Sessions.
And thank you, Marilyn.
Creative Director and Photographer: Designed By Elias
Model: Cleo Heine
Hair and Make Up: Carrie Foster
Styled: KULLI Atelier
Dress: The Nitty Gritty
Location: Mellwood Art Center
