Marilyn Monroe’s most famous photo is undoubtedly the one where she wears a white dress billowing in the breeze, but perhaps the strangest is the series in which she poses in a mini dress made from a potato sack. What could have been the reason behind this unconventional choice?

There are several versions of the story. One dates back to 1951, when Monroe arrived at the Beverly Hills Hotel in a very sexy, revealing evening gown. A female journalist present called her cheap and vulgar, suggesting that she might as well wear a potato sack. Another possible explanation comes from Monroe’s publicists and Twentieth Century Fox, who reportedly thought she would look stunning even in a potato sack. Naturally, they organized a photoshoot where costume designer William Travilla transformed an Idaho potato sack into a dress with some cutting and fringing. Travilla knew Monroe’s figure well, as he had dressed her in no fewer than eight of her films. He created some of Monroe’s most famous outfits—including the pink gown from “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend” and the white dress from “The Seven Year Itch”

The photos were taken by Earl Theisen in 1951 and later appeared in Stare magazine in 1952. The magazine humorously captioned one of the images: “MMMarilyn MMMonroe doesn’t care too much for potatoes because it tends to put on weight. But she decided to do something for the potatoes. The series was a great success, as evidenced by the fact that an Idaho farmer sent Monroe a large sack of potatoes as thanks for the publicity. However, she never received it. With her characteristic humor, she commented: “The boys all stole it. That’s how much you can trust press agents.”

The potato sack dress has become a symbol of Monroe’s charm and wit. The images are displayed at the Idaho Potato Museum, highlighting their lasting impact on popular culture