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Drawing inspiration from a timeless icon, Sydney Sweeney made a striking appearance at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, channeling the allure of Marilyn Monroe. The “Euphoria” star, who is 28 years old, donned a vintage Ceil Chapman dress famously worn by Monroe, the legendary actress from “Some Like It Hot.”
The dress, with its figure-flattering silhouette, featured three-quarter sleeves and elegant ruching along the waist and side, accentuating Sweeney’s form. Adding to the vintage glamour, a sparkling brooch adorned her neckline, while she accessorized further with a diamond ring from Octavia Elizabeth and a pair of Ferragamo pumps with bow accents, priced at $1,090.
This particular dress holds a special place in fashion history, as Monroe graced the cover of Life magazine in it on April 7, 1952. It marked her first appearance on the magazine’s cover, setting the stage for many more. Like Sweeney, Monroe had paired the dress with a similar circular brooch, adding a touch of sparkle to the classic ensemble.
A sparkling brooch accented her décolletage, and she added a diamond Octavia Elizabeth ring and bow-trimmed Ferragamo pumps ($1,090) to complete the look.
Monroe wore the same slinky dress on the Apr. 7, 1952 cover of Life magazine, her first of many for the publication. She, too, added a similar circular brooch for some sparkle.
Chapman was a go-to designer for Monroe and many other mid-century screen sirens including Elizabeth Taylor, Jayne Mansfield and Eva Gabor. The New York-based designer was beloved for her knack for flattering women’s bodies and accentuating their curves through expert draping and bias-cut pieces.
Sweeney’s ode to Old Hollywood is just the latest nod she’s made to her blond predecessor in recent months. Stylist Molly Dickson dressed her in a custom Galia Lahav number for the premiere of “The Housemaid” in December that closely echoed Monroe’s iconic white halter dress from 1955’s “The Seven Year Itch.”
The previous month, Sweeney sparkled in custom Miu Miu on the Governors Awards red carpet with a fresh bob styled in soft waves recalling Monroe’s “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” era.
Following Sunday’s event, Sweeney didn’t miss an opportunity to plug her new lingerie line, Syrn, posting a selfie from her dressing room, showing off a phone case covered in the brand’s stickers.
On Monday, Sweeney wore a Canadian tuxedo as she rang the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange alongside American Eagle Outfitters CEO Jay Schottenstein.
The “Anyone but You” actress has been the denim brand’s ambassador since her controversial “Sydney Sweeney Has Great Jeans” campaign launched in July 2025, generating over 40 billion impressions despite backlash over its “jeans” versus “genes” wordplay.
Monroe’s Life cover line? “The talk of Hollywood.” The same could be said for Sweeney.