Tagged: Ocean’s Series

Sinatra’s Orange Sweaters in Ocean’s Eleven

Frank Sinatra and Peter Lawford with female admirers in Ocean's Eleven (1960).

Frank Sinatra and Peter Lawford with admirers in Ocean’s Eleven (1960).

Vitals

Frank Sinatra as Danny Ocean, smooth-talking con man and casino heister

Phoenix to Las Vegas, December 1959

Film: Ocean’s Eleven
Release Date: August 10, 1960
Director: Lewis Milestone
Costume Designer: Howard Shoup
Tailor: Sy Devore

Background

Just because a man is legendary for his tux doesn’t mean he can’t rock a comfortable sweater for more casual activities. When it comes to the Chairman of the Board, there’s no argument.

What’d He Wear?

It may surprise many to know that Frank Sinatra loved the color orange. Continue reading

Rusty’s White Striped Suit in Ocean’s Thirteen

Brad Pitt as "Rusty" Ryan in Ocean's Thirteen (2007).

Brad Pitt as “Rusty” Ryan in Ocean’s Thirteen (2007).

Vitals

Brad Pitt as Robert “Rusty” Ryan, casino heister and hotel manager

Las Vegas, June 2007

Film: Ocean’s Thirteen
Release Date: June 8, 2007
Director: Steven Soderbergh
Costume Designer: Louise Frogley

Background

Happy Memorial Day! I hope all you out in BAMF Land will be celebrating the holiday with an outdoor cookout… or possibly planning a multi-million dollar casino heist with your buddies.

In either case, it’s sartorially acceptable to wear white again. Continue reading

Rusty’s Light Gray Summer Suit in Ocean’s Eleven

Brad Pitt as

Brad Pitt as “Rusty” Ryan in Ocean’s Eleven (2001).

Vitals

Brad Pitt as Robert “Rusty” Ryan, hustler and casino heister

Las Vegas, Spring 2001

Film: Ocean’s Eleven
Release Date: December 7, 2001
Director: Steven Soderbergh
Costume Designer: Jeffrey Kurland

Background

Whether you’re in town for a few crazy nights with friends or a multimillion dollar casino heist, you don’t want to look like a piker in Vegas.

What’d He Wear?

Rusty Ryan, one of the flashier dressers in Danny Ocean’s crew, accompanies Danny to casino big shot Reuben Tishkoff’s pad in a luxurious light gray summer suit in lightweight soft cotton. In some angles, the suit has the bright Nevada sun shining directly on it, so some people assume the suit to be white. These people are wrong, although Rusty is certainly the type of guy who would (and could) wear a white suit. Continue reading

Sinatra Takes it Easy in Ocean’s Eleven

I’m sure the Macy’s commercials have reminded you that there are two weeks until Christmas Eve… as if you’d forget. To make sure you take time to relax, get inspired by Sinatra to take things nice and easy…

Frank Sinatra as Danny Ocean in Ocean's Eleven (1960).

Frank Sinatra as Danny Ocean in Ocean’s Eleven (1960).

Vitals

Frank Sinatra as Danny Ocean, smooth-talking con man and casino heister

Las Vegas, New Year’s 1960

Film: Ocean’s Eleven
Release Date: August 10, 1960
Director: Lewis Milestone
Costume Designer: Howard Shoup
Tailor: Sy Devore

Background

He may be in the middle of the fallout of a major multi-casino heist in Las Vegas, but Sinatra knows when he needs to slow things down a bit. For some relaxation around his hotel room, he takes off the coat and tie and slips into a comfortable cardigan, enjoying some cocktails and banter with Dean Martin before the film’s villain-by-default Cesar Romero shows up to announce his havoc-wreaking plans. Continue reading

George Clooney in Ocean’s Thirteen – A Man in Black

George Clooney as Danny Ocean in Ocean's Thirteen.

George Clooney as Danny Ocean in Ocean’s Thirteen (2007)

Vitals

George Clooney as Danny Ocean, paroled con man and casino heister

Las Vegas, Summer 2007

Film: Ocean’s Thirteen
Release Date: June 8, 2007
Director: Steven Soderbergh
Costume Designer: Louise Frogley

Background

Much of the sartorial attention from the Ocean’s series goes to the flashy, sharp suits favored by Brad Pitt’s character Rusty Ryan. This is not undeserved praise, but flashy and sharp aren’t for everyone. George Clooney, as the gang’s de facto leader Danny Ocean, looks just as cool and confident in subdued suits in black and gray. Continue reading

Rusty’s Airport Attire in Ocean’s Thirteen

Brad Pitt oozes cool as

Brad Pitt oozes cool as “Rusty” Ryan in Ocean’s Thirteen (2007) in Vegas’s McCarran International Airport. Hey, Sopranos fans – am I crazy or does the guy sitting behind him look exactly like Meadow’s friend Noah from season 3?

Vitals

Brad Pitt as Robert “Rusty” Ryan, casino heister and hotel manager

Las Vegas, July 2007

Film: Ocean’s Thirteen
Release Date: June 8, 2007
Director: Steven Soderbergh
Costume Designer: Louise Frogley

Background

Possibly still smarting from Danny’s remark about “Ted Nugent’s shirt” at the end of Ocean’s Eleven, Rusty has relatively toned down his attire for Ocean’s Thirteen. I say “relatively” because he still wears white suits and shirts that reflect better than most mirrors, but it is also primarily solids, with a subtle stripe thrown in occasionally.

For much of Ocean’s Thirteen, and especially the final scene, Rusty embraces the summer climate and wears a lot of bright earth tones. It is a very cool look and, as usual for Brad Pitt, is risky for the standard layman to execute successfully. However, Rusty’s confidence and – dare I say – swagger work in his favor and even Roman Nagel has to admit early on that Rusty “has style”. Continue reading

Sinatra’s Dark Gray Ocean’s Eleven Suit

Today marks the sad anniversary of 15 years since the death of the legendary Frank Sinatra. To pay tribute to the man, here is another installment from the original Ocean’s Eleven.

Frank Sinatra as Danny Ocean in the original Ocean's Eleven.

Frank Sinatra as Danny Ocean in the original Ocean’s Eleven (1960).

Vitals

Frank Sinatra as Danny Ocean, smooth-talking con man and casino heister

Las Vegas, New Year’s 1960

Film: Ocean’s Eleven
Release Date: August 10, 1960
Director: Lewis Milestone
Costume Designer: Howard Shoup
Tailor: Sy Devore

Background

A great suit is great not just only for looking good but also for its versatility. In several key scenes in Ocean’s Eleven, Sinatra wears a sharp gray suit, the same suit seen in the iconic Rat Pack poster of all five members standing in front of a sign for the Sands in Vegas. What makes this suit diverse is that Sinatra’s character, Danny Ocean, wears it for both a night at the casino and the funeral of an old buddy.

In an interesting reversal, the original Ocean’s Eleven is actually darker than the modern remake. According to Frank Sinatra, Jr., in the DVD commentary, Danny and his men were to charter a plane, flown by one of the “eleven”, and get the stolen money out of Vegas successfully. Unfortunately, the entire group would then be killed in a plane crash.

Other than the irony, there’s not really much that is very funny about this ending. After it was decided that no one really cared for it, an alternate ending was developed. The new ending still featured death, but only one compared to eleven. This sort of black comedy was not very common in 1960, and the Rat Pack handled it perfectly. They would be the perfect guys to defy cinematic conventions and say, “Fuck it. Someone’s gotta die for this movie.”

What’d He Wear?

Sinatra wears a dark gray wool suit, tailored for him by the legendary Sy Devore. Continue reading

Clooney hits A.C. in Ocean’s Eleven

Today is the 52nd birthday of George Clooney, a guy who typically tops the lists of modern men’s style icons.

George Clooney at the tables as Danny Ocean in the 2001 Ocean's Eleven remake.

George Clooney at the tables as Danny Ocean in the 2001 Ocean’s Eleven remake.

Vitals

George Clooney as Danny Ocean, paroled con man and casino heister

Atlantic City, Spring 2001

Film: Ocean’s Eleven
Release Date: December 7, 2001
Director: Steven Soderbergh
Costume Designer: Jeffrey Kurland

Background

For all of the fanfare he gets as an icon of men’s style these days, I’m a little surprised it took me this long to write something about Mr. Clooney.

The 2001 remake of Ocean’s Eleven needs little introduction. As one of the very few remakes widely considered to surpass the original in terms of quality (although the Rat Pack is a lot of fun to watch in their 1960 version), Steven Soderbergh’s heist film paved the way for a number of similar heist films to pop up in cineplexes throughout the early 21st century, most notably The Italian Job and the rest of the “Ocean’s Trilogy”. Continue reading

Dino’s New Year’s Eve Tuxedo in Ocean’s 11

Vitals

Dean Martin as Sam Harmon in the original 1960 Ocean's Eleven.

Dean Martin as Sam Harmon in the original 1960 Ocean’s Eleven.itals

Dean Martin as Sam Harmon, lounge singer and part-time casino heister

Las Vegas, New Year’s Eve 1959

Film: Ocean’s Eleven
Release Date: August 10, 1960
Director: Lewis Milestone
Costume Designer: Howard Shoup
Tailor: Sy Devore

Background

Much as Dean Martin was seen as Frank Sinatra’s second-in-command in the Rat Pack, Martin’s character Sam Harmon was the right-hand man to Sinatra’s Danny Ocean in the original Ocean’s Eleven. When the film was remade forty years later, Dean Martin’s Sam Harmon became Brad Pitt’s Rusty Ryan, who matched Martin’s sharp-dressed style with classy suits and sport jackets.

However, Pitt knew to stay away from the territory Dean Martin was known for: his tuxedos. Continue reading

Rusty Ryan’s trip to Florida

As the weather continues to cool down, some people may choose to head south for their holiday celebrations. If this applies to you, take an example from Brad Pitt’s Florida suit in the Ocean’s Eleven remake. Happy 49th birthday, Mr. Pitt.

Brad Pitt as

Brad Pitt as “Rusty” Ryan in Ocean’s Eleven (2001).

Vitals

Brad Pitt as Robert “Rusty” Ryan, hustler and casino heister

St. Petersburg, FL, Spring 2001

Film: Ocean’s Eleven
Release Date: December 7, 2001
Director: Steven Soderbergh
Costume Designer: Jeffrey Kurland

Background

Disclaimer: Reading the tips on this article will not make you look like Brad Pitt, nor will women treat you like you are Brad Pitt. However, it may give you a few steps in the right direction when emulating the great style that defined Ocean’s Eleven. Continue reading