Jean Louis: Hollywood's Bombshell Designer

The untold story of the visionary designer who redefined Hollywood glamour, elevating costume design into a true art form.

Jean Louis’s creations illuminated more than 180 films across three decades and resulted in some of the most remembered garments during Hollywood’s Golden Age—from Rita Hayworth’s smoldering satin column dress in Gilda to Marilyn Monroe’s iconic nude illusion gown worn to sing “Happy Birthday” to President Kennedy. Jean Louis: Hollywood’s Bombshell Designer features dozens of film stills, fashion sketches, and movie posters illustrating the career of an artist that helped define the femme fatales, showgirls and ingénues of American cinema’s most famous films.

Arriving at a timely moment amid a renewed resurgence surrounding Marilyn Monroe’s legacy as her centennial approaches in 2026—an anniversary sure to heighten fascination with Old Hollywood style and the ever present influence of Jean Louis on the modern red carpet: Nicole Kidman, Margot Robbie, Beyonce, Sydney Sweeney, and Rihanna have all channeled Jean Louis’ bombshell styles recently and Kim Kardashian made headlines when she wore Monroe’s Jean Louis gown to the Met Gala.

A tribute to craftsmanship, beauty, and style, the book stands as a glamorous testament to the enduring brilliance of Jean Louis and the timeless spell of Hollywood’s most radiant era. | Roger Padilha and Mauricio Padilha are the founders of MAO Public Relations and the authors of several Rizzoli books, including The Stephen Sprouse Book, Gloss: The Work of Chris von Wagenheim, and Antonio Lopez: Fashion, Art, Sex, and Disco. Kim Novak is an American actress whose contributions to cinema have been honored with two Golden Globe Awards, an Honorary Golden Bear, a Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.