Tagged: Smoking Jacket
Heaven Can Wait: Don Ameche’s Blue Silk Smoking Jacket
Don Ameche in Heaven Can Wait (1943)
Vitals
Don Ameche as Henry Van Cleve, successful businessman
New York City, Fall 1923
Film: Heaven Can Wait
Release Date: August 11, 1943
Director: Ernst Lubitsch
Costume Designer: René Hubert
WARNING! Spoilers ahead!
Background
Born 116 years ago today on May 31, 1908, actor Don Ameche stated during a 1983 interview that his favorite filmmaking experience over what was then a half-century in the movies was appearing in Ernst Lubitsch’s dazzling supernatural comedy Heaven Can Wait, adapted by screenwriter Samson Raphaelson from Ladislaus Bus-Fekete’s play “Birthday”. Continue reading
Mad Men: Roger Sterling’s Red Plaid Smoking Jacket
John Slattery as Roger Sterling on Mad Men (Episode 7.03: “Field Trip”)
Vitals
John Slattery as Roger Sterling, Madison Avenue ad executive
New York City, Spring 1969
Series: Mad Men
Episode: “Field Trip” (Episode 7.03)
Air Date: April 27, 2014
Director: Christopher Manley
Creator: Matthew Weiner
Costume Designer: Janie Bryant
Background
Four years ago, on Friday the 13th of March 2020, COVID-19 was officially declared a national emergency in the United States. After a week or two of being instructed to reminded to sing “Happy Birthday” twice while washing my hands, it was a very surreal Friday in the office as rumors swirled about how this newly classified pandemic would affect our reality.
As nationwide lockdowns set in across the United States, the following Monday started the first of what was initially intended to be a “two-week” work-from-home policy that ultimately stretched over nearly 15 months. While I applaud those who consistently dressed to work from home as though it were another day in the office, adjusting to this “new normal” for me—even as a style blogger—meant unprecedented levels in workday comfort, eventually finding an agreeable compromise of a presentable upper-half and comfortable lower-half that was best for my own personal productivity.
“What does this have to do with Mad Men?” you ask, in all fairness.
Aside from the fact that Mad Men was one of the first of my favorite shows that I rewatched in its entirety during the spring 2020 quarantine period, the stylish series also presented a look I’d long been wanting to revisit that reminded me of that odd lockdown period as I tried to blend loungewear with business attire.
At the start of Mad Men‘s seventh season, Don Draper (Jon Hamm) demonstrates a nearly half-century head-start on the WFH trend as the recently grounded ad man has been covertly working on accounts from his Manhattan penthouse, currently persona non grata at SC&P after getting a little too candid during a client pitch at the end of the previous season. His reputation resurged enough to secure a job offer from a rival company, Don pays a late visit to his former friend and colleague Roger Sterling (John Slattery), confronting him over feeling abandoned by the agency he co-founded—and, more specifically, his old pal. Continue reading
Secret Honor: Philip Baker Hall as Nixon
Philip Baker Hall as Richard M. Nixon in Secret Honor (1984)
Vitals
Philip Baker Hall as Richard M. Nixon, disgraced former U.S. President
New Jersey, early 1980s
Film: Secret Honor
Release Date: July 6, 1984
Director: Robert Altman
Background
This week, we learned that the great Philip Baker Hall died at the age of 90. Familiar as a recurring face in Paul Thomas Anderson movies and as the anachronistic, straight-talking “library cop” Bookman on an early Seinfeld episode, Hall’s breakthrough screen performance was reprising his stage role as a disgraced Richard Nixon in Secret Honor.
“You have read in the press the reasons for the Watergate affair. Today, my client is going to reveal to you the reasons behind the reasons,” Hall narrates into a tape recorder as the now-former President Nixon. It was fifty years ago today when five burglars were caught breaking into the DNC headquarters at the Watergate hotel, igniting a political scandal that resulted in the fall of a president and a widespread cynical distrust of American government.
Subtitled “A Political Myth”, Secret Honor was originally a one-man play written by Donald Freed and Arnold M. Stone, who adapted their work for Robert Altman’s film of the same name. Avoiding caricature of an easily caricatured man, Hall portrayed Nixon—the only human who ever appears on screen—who spends the film’s hour-and-a-half runtime ranting to the contents of his study, specifically a tape recorder, an increasingly empty bottle of Scotch, a loaded revolver, his mother’s grand piano, and portraits of presidents and significant figures in his life from Henry Kissinger to his own mother. Continue reading
Pal Joey: Sinatra’s Silk Loungewear
Frank Sinatra as Joey Evans in Pal Joey (1957)
Vitals
Frank Sinatra as Joey Evans, womanizing nightclub singer
San Francisco, Spring 1957
Film: Pal Joey
Release Date: October 25, 1957
Director: George Sidney
Costume Designer: Jean Louis
Background
The same year that Pal Joey was released, Frank Sinatra released A Swingin’ Affair!, his latest concept album from Capitol Records. The fourth track, “I Guess I’ll Have to Change My Plan”, was written by Arthur Schwartz and Howard Dietz in 1929, when it was introduced by Clifton Webb in the songwriting duo’s revue The Little Show.
I guess I’ll have to change my plan
I should have realized there’d be another man
Why did I buy those blue pajamas
Before the big affair began
Professor Hank Moody’s New Boots
Vitals
David Duchovny as Hank Moody on Californication. (Episode 3.02: “The Land of Rape and Honey”)
David Duchovny as Hank Moody, borderline alcoholic and womanizing college professor, née novelist
Venice Beach, Fall 2009
Series: Californication
Episode: “The Land of Rape and Honey” (Episode 3.02)
Air Date: October 4, 2009
Director: Bart Freundlich & David Von Ancken
Costume Designer: Peggy A. Schnitzer
WARNING! Spoilers ahead!
Background
Midterms are in full swing for fall semester college students, so BAMF Style is taking a look at Californication‘s Hank Moody making his brief foray into the world of academia. Continue reading
Californication – Hank Moody on a Plane (Season 1)
David Duchovny as Hank Moody at LAX in “Filthy Lucre”, the ninth episode of Californication.
Vitals
David Duchovny as Hank Moody, womanizing novelist with substance abuse issues
Venice Beach, Fall 2007
Series: Californication
Episodes: “California Son” (Episode 1.08) & “Filthy Lucre” (Episode 1.09)
Air Dates: October 1, 2007 & October 8, 2007
Directors: Scott Winant (Episode 1.08) & Scott Burns (Episode 1.09)
Costume Designer: Peggy A. Schnitzer
Background
It’s been almost three months since BAMF Style has checked in with Hank Moody, the hero of Californication. In “California Son”, Hank had just come to terms with the death of his father with the help of a roll in the sack with ex-girlfriend Karen. He departs LAX for a brief exodus home to JFK, returning a few weeks later. Upon his return in the next episode, Hank is pleasantly surprised to find Karen waiting outside LAX but soon discovers that she is there to meet boring dial tone Bill – her fiance – rather than Hank. Hank makes the best of this uncomfortable situation. Continue reading
Californication – Hank Wears Blue in Season 2
David Duchovny as Hank Moody in “Coke Dick & First Kick”, the sixth episode of Californication’s second season.
Vitals
David Duchovny as Hank Moody, novelist and womanizer researching a rock biography
Venice Beach, Spring 2008
Series: Californication
Episodes: “Coke Dick & First Kick” (Episode 2.06) & “Blues from Laurel Canyon” (Episode 2.11)
Air Dates: November 2, 2008 & December 7, 2008
Director: Michael Lehmann
Costume Designer: Peggy A. Schnitzer
Background
David Duchovny turns 53 today. Happy birthday to one of BAMF Style’s favorite TV lovable degenerates! Continue reading
Californication – “Girls Interrupted”
David Duchovny as bored writer and master chef Hank Moody on Californication.
Vitals
David Duchovny as Hank Moody, womanizing novelist with substance abuse issues
Venice Beach, Summer 2007
Series: Californication
Episode: “Girls Interrupted” (Episode 1.07)
Air Date: September 24, 2007
Director: Tucker Gates
Costume Designer: Peggy A. Schnitzer
Background
As one of the first episodes to feature more heavily on the Flanderization of Charlie Runkle (Evan Handler), Hank Moody gets relatively less screen time than usual in “Girls Interrupted”, the seventh episode of Californication‘s first season.
When we do see him, the attire is all pretty standard. We do get a better look at the green button-up he wore earlier in the season and finally find out about Hank’s signature dish, an infamous conglomeration of cheese for the whole family! Continue reading
Californication – “Absinthe Makes the Heart Grow Fonder” (1.06)
David Duchovny as Hank Moody in the Californication episode “Absinthe Makes the Heart Grow Fonder”.
Vitals
David Duchovny as Hank Moody, womanizing novelist with substance abuse issues
Venice Beach, Summer 2007
Series: Californication
Episode: “Absinthe Makes the Heart Grow Fonder” (Episode 1.06)
Air Date: September 17, 2007
Director: Ken Whittingham
Costume Designer: Peggy A. Schnitzer
Background
Hank eases through this episode, the sixth in the first season, in some very typical Moody attire, stuff that we should be getting used to seeing by now. The most interesting change-ups for Hank are an unseen T-shirt and some overly preppy Dad clothes.
In this episode, all Hank wants to do is go see his daughter perform with her band in Venice Beach. Instead, he has his record collection stolen with his favorite T-shirt and guitar, he is forced to deal with a pedophiliac coke-addicted high school teacher, and he ends up soaked in a swimming pool. However, the night ends on a good note for our hapless hero. Continue reading
Californication – Pilot Episode
David Duchovny as Hank Moody in the pilot episode of Showtime’s Californication (2007).
In honor of Wednesday being hump day, I present the first article on someone who does plenty of humping as well.
A far cry from Cary Grant or William Powell, Hank’s simple but individual style has been one of the most inquired about and copied since Californication‘s debut in 2007. This is interesting (and ironic?), because what makes Hank so appealing is the way that he avoids copying anyone else.
Vitals
David Duchovny as Hank Moody, womanizing novelist with substance abuse issues
Venice Beach, Summer 2007
Series: Californication
Episode: “Pilot” (Episode 1.01)
Air Date: August 13, 2007
Director: Stephen Hopkins
Costume Designer: Peggy A. Schnitzer
Background
The first time we meet Hank Moody is cinematic and instantly and hilariously establishes his character. With the operatic intro to the Stones’ “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” playing, he pulls up to a grand-looking California church in his dirty and beat-up black Porsche. He exits the car, his permanent hangover causing him to squint at the sun through his sunglasses. A half-smoked Camel dangles from his mouth. He removes the sunglasses, looks at the church with agony, and raises his hand to the cigarette. Continue reading