Retro Marilyn Shift Dress in handmade calico — fashion art by Susan Kistner for Bright Hopes Art

Retro Marilyn Shift Dress

Type: Shift dress Material: Calico Category: Women’s clothing
£80inc. UK delivery

Named for its reference point — the ease and presence that Marilyn Monroe brought to everything she wore. This shift dress is made in natural calico, unbleached and honest in its texture. The silhouette is clean and confident, with a hemline and shoulder width that have been refined specifically for this fabric.

Calico has a particular character: it moulds with wear, softens in washing, and develops its own quality over time. This is a dress that gets better the more you wear it.

TypeHandmade shift dress
MaterialNatural calico
Made bySusan Kistner, Lincolnshire
ProductionSmall-batch — limited availability
SizingMade-to-measure available — contact to discuss
EthicsSustainably sourced, zero-waste construction

Purchase this piece

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Want made-to-measure? Get in touch.

Carefully folded in acid-free tissue, placed in a rigid postal box, and shipped via Royal Mail Tracked 48. Delivery within 3–5 working days.

Returns accepted within 14 days if the item is not as described or arrives damaged. Contact Susan within 48 hours of receipt with photographs.