Style Files

Grace (from Frankie)

Last week I talked about my featherlight weak spot Dynasty. That has been brutally traded in for a new love Grace and Frankie. Grace and Frankie is about two older women whose husbands run a law firm together and inform them during a dinner that they have been in love with each other for twenty years. Opposites Grace and Frankie end up in the shared beach house of both families, are condemned to each other, and develop a wonderfully hilarious friendship. The dialogues, the acting (actresses Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin both won an Emmy for their role in the series), the houses, but also the outfits. Everything is done equally well.

Style

Grace is classy, but reserved and impeccable. There isn't a hair out of place on her and there isn't a gram too much to be seen. In the opening scene, she immediately hands the bread basket back to the waiter and whispers to her husband: “Remember: no appetizer, no dessert.” Her style is not surprising but is so beautifully visual, especially for a woman of her age. She wears natural tones and classic labels. Although we see a somewhat more exuberant version of Grace as the series progresses. This is all due to the influence of the little hippie lady named Frankie.

Brands

The costume designer of the series, Allyson Fanger (who is also nominated for an Emmy), wanted all the labels for Frankie to be nondescript. Frankie is such a unique figure that you absolutely should not be able to think that you have seen a piece of clothing somewhere before. With Grace, it's a totally different story. She is safe and wants to fit into a box, so labels that can be traced are just fine for her. Grace wears Ralph Lauren, Carolina Herrera, Brooks Brothers, and Margaret O’Leary, where they sell the very best cashmere. Grace's style gradually becomes a bit more exuberant and colorful, with birds becoming ’a thing‘. Allyson Fanger had prints from an artist printed on a shirt, creating a unique piece that everyone then coveted.

Typical Grace

Put together, everything done. Classic brands like Chanel (bag) and Cartier (watch), an extra hairpiece here and a fake eyelash there. And of course, completely tight in the bodice. It can't be any other way if your name is Jane Fonda. By the way, did you know that her aerobic videos have been re-released? You can buy them all here at janefonda.com. I can only think of one thing when I see her: that I can't wait to get that old and look as amazing as she does.