black mid dress JOIE Midi Size medium measures 38.5 from adjustable straps to hem Black Midi Dress: Elegant Bodycon

You might be inclined to reach for something with a wing collar, but that style should actually be reserved for white tie occasions

The custom-made Jean Louis gown was so tight fitting that Miss Monroe was said to have been sewn into it before she performed for President Kennedy on May 19, 1962, ahead of his 45th birthday

It flares into a full, pleated A-line skirt that fans out over the stomach and hips to emphasize the narrowest point of the waist

The monochrome palette photographs beautifully and reads as both powerful and graceful

When not writing, shopping or at Reformer Pilates (a clich but she's hooked), Gemma will likely be planning her next holiday (and what she's going to wear)