Vitals

Cary Grant as Peter Joshua (maybe), mysterious government agent

Megève, France, Winter 1963

Film: Charade
Release Date: December 5, 1963
Director: Stanley Donen

Background

The first scene of 1963’s Charade finds its two romantic leads – Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn – engaged in a flirtatious tête-à-tête at a ski resort in southeastern France. The tone of the film is excellently set in this first scene with the immediate danger of a Luger aimed at our heroine… and the immediate comedic relief that follows when it turns out to be a boy’s insanely realistic water pistol. Grant then swiftly comes onto the scene to trade barbs with Hepburn, although she nicely deflects each of his charming attempts with a witticism of her own.

What’d He Wear?

For his mountaintop introduction to Reggie Lambert, Cary Grant’s abundantly-named character – here introduced as “Peter Joshua” – is dressed for a day on the slopes… or at least a chilly day very near the slopes.

Grant wears several layers below his simple black padded ski jacket, likely constructed from weatherproof nylon. The padded ski jacket closes with a brass zipper that Grant wears up to the neck. The zipper ends a few inches below the bottom of the jacket, where two ends of a brown leather drawstring cord are loosely tied together.

The black ski jacket has two jetted pockets that zip closed horizontally on each side of the chest. Grant’s jacket also has short elasticized black cuffs and a short standing “tanker-style” collar, which is mostly enveloped by the shirt collar.

The black and white buffalo check flannel collar that Grant wears outside his jacket appears to be attached to a warm red polo shirt with at least two black buttons. Only the collar is seen in the film, with an image purportedly of Grant on set showing the rest of the shirt (as well as a jacket with a larger, shirt-style collar).

An additional layer of protection from the cold comes from the white, green, and yellow printed scarf that Grant wears tied at his collar.

The outfit is completed by a pair of black creased-leg ski trousers, likely worn with a pair of ski boots although Grant’s feet are never seen in the scene.

Grant also wears a pair of black leather gloves that fasten on the inner cuff with either a button or a snap.

How to Get the Look

Cary Grant shows an easily fashionable way to dress for a day at a winter resort… and you know it must look good if it catches the eye of Audrey Hepburn!

• Black nylon padded ski jacket with tanker-style collar, brass zip front, drawstring bottom, and two zip chest pockets
• Red long-sleeve polo shirt with black-and-white buffalo check flannel collar
• Black ski trousers with creased legs
• White/green/yellow printed scarf
• Ski boots
• Black leather gloves

Do Yourself a Favor and…

Check out the movie.

The Quote

Cary smoothly delivers some of the smoothest pickup lines in history, nicely balanced by the always classy Audrey.

Peter Joshua: Do we know each other?
Reggie Lampert: Why, do you think we’re going to?
Peter Joshua: How would I know?
Reggie Lampert: Because I already know an awful lot of people, so until one of them dies I couldn’t possibly meet anyone else.
Peter Joshua: Well, if anyone goes on the critical list, let me know.