Mary Stremlow, who researched the topic for the Marine Corps and wrote about it in a publication for the History Division, the basic womens wardrobe was first selected in 1942, even before the Marine Corps Womens Reserves
Her figure was at its peak, the dress was a classic shape of fashion at the time. In this YouTube clip of Monroe serenading President Kennedy, you can see all of those hand-sewn crystals in action, glittering around her like thousands of tiny stars: [I]t was Marilyn who was the hit of the evening, read Time magazines 1962 recap of the event
She shared the look in an Instagram carousel from the weekend, including a shot en route to the festivities and another posing between her stylist, Jared Ellner, and actor Owen Thiele
For the women, formal pantsuits or cocktail dresses are great, but keep in mind the dress length should be just above the knee or longer