Marilyn Monroe's Personally Owned Black Sequin, Velvet and Lace Gown From the Collection of Bebe Goddard W/LOA - This stunning black evening gown was personally owned by Marilyn Monroe. The gown is made of black velvet with sequins along the front and a black velvet bow with rhinestones to one side and a lace and crinoline bottom. The gown comes with a letter of authenticity from Eleanor "Bebe" Goddard, who was known as the foster sister and teenage friend of a young Norma Jean Baker, as Marilyn was known at the time. Goddard and Monroe met and became friends after each had been in a series of foster homes, and they later spent several of their teenage years in the Van Nuys home of Goddard's father and his new wife Grace who was a close friend of Marilyn's institutionalized mother. The letter states in part, "This beautiful gown was purchased by Marilyn's agent, Johnny Hyde to wear to a special party...Marilyn gave the gown to me several months after she wore it. She told me she couldn't be seen in the same dress more than once now that her pictures were being taken when she was at parties and premiers."