Marilyn Monroe dress shines at Melbourne exhibition

The Hollywood legend’s iconic dress from the movie Some Like it Hot has been unveiled at ACMI’s Goddess exhibition alongside outfits worn by Margot Robbie and Michelle Yeoh.

A dress worn by Marilyn Monroe in Some Like It Hot at ACMI's Goddess exhibition. Picture: Eugene Hyland.

Iconic costumes and accessories worn by Hollywood legends Marilyn Monroe and Marlene Dietrich, and new generation stars Margot Robbie and Zendaya have been revealed at ACMI new exhibition Goddess: Power, Glamour, Rebellion.

The world premiere exhibition features 150 pieces, including Monroe’s dress from Some Like It Hot, Mae West’s sky-high platform shoes, Geena Davis’s famous denims in Thelma and Louise, and Michelle Yeoh’s fight-ready robes in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.

Davis will attend the exhibition opening on Tuesday night, and head a panel discussion on gender equity in media, television and film.

Madeline Di Nonno, chief executive of the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media, said at ACMI on Tuesday: “We’re changing the world one story at a time. We’ve chosen to focus on narrative culture change work, and our tagline goes, ‘If she can see it, she can be it.’

Iconic outfits at ACMI's Goddess exhibition. Picture: Eugene Hyland

The world premiere exhibition features 150 pieces. Picture: Eugene Hyland

Robes by Michelle Yeoh in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon at ACMI's Goddess exhibition. Picture: Eugene Hyland.

“When we think about gender inequity in the world, it may take hundreds of years for women to achieve true gender equity, but the power of the media, the power of storytelling — (it can happen) overnight,’ Ms Di Nonno added. “The next TV show, the next video game, the next movie — overnight, you can have gender parity.”

Goddess curator Bethan Johnson said the women featured in the exhibition are fierce, formidable, bold and defiant.

Ms Johnson added: “ACMI stands in solidarity with our trans and gender diverse communities who have been subjected to hateful violence.”

Victoria’s Creative Industries Minister Steve Dimopoulos said the world premiere event further cements Melbourne as Australia’s cultural hub.

“Culturally, we are setting the standard,” Mr Dimopoulos said. “People look to us for iconic premieres. We don’t have a rock, a reef or a harbour, we have our own resources, and our own people. We try twice as hard (to land exclusive arts events) and we’re three times as good.”