Fred Astaire vs Cary Grant

[jake431]

I read the most recent blog on Sartorialist and I confess he makes an interesting case for Fred Astaire. I'm curious to know your thoughts, people. Bartenders, if this belongs in a better location feel free to move it, I won't be offended!

http://thesartorialist.blogspot.com/

-Jake

 

[Baron Kurtz]

Gary Cooper . . .

bk

 

[The Wingnut]

I've always preferred Astaire's style to Grant's.

 

[David V]

Firmly in the Astaire camp.
If for no other reason than his reversed calf shoes.

 

[dhermann1]

In a fist fight? Or a dance off?
How about a charm battle? How many women would swoon over each?
I think maybe Grant had broader opportunities to show his style, since he had had more diverse roles, and his career lasted a little longer.
Wouldn't want to choose a favorite as a performer. Maybe Grant got to wear more nice clothes.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.

.

 

[Sefton]

I like his point about Astaire being closer to any everyman (o.k.,minus the incredible dancing talent! ) than Grant. Astaire needed his clothes to look perfect. Grant was nearly perfect in form and would look great in a t-shirt and work trousers. I don't care too much for the tie as belt though on Astaire it worked.

 

[BJBAmerica]

Close race, but Astaire wins by a Top Hat, White Tie & Tails lol

 

[jake431]

I like his point about Astaire being closer to any everyman (o.k.,minus the incredible dancing talent! ) than Grant. Astaire needed his clothes to look perfect. Grant was nearly perfect in form and would look great in a t-shirt and work trousers. I don't care too much for the tie as belt though on Astaire it worked.

I agree - I could never pull off wearing a tie as a belt myself, but Astaire obviously had a very nuanced sense of his own style that made it work for him.

-Jake

 

[Will]

They were both gods but I think Astaire tried too hard, too often. I've a photo of him somewhere wearing a button down oxford cloth shirt with a double breasted flannel suit. And a collar pin. And a tie bar. The effect was dizzying.

Grant, on the other hand, was always just about perfect.

 

[jake431]

They were both gods but I think Astaire tried too hard, too often. I've a photo of him somewhere wearing a button down oxford cloth shirt with a double breasted flannel suit. And a collar pin. And a tie bar. The effect was dizzying.

Grant, on the other hand, was always just about perfect.

I think the Sartorialist's point was exactly that though - Cary Grant would be perfect fallen out of bed in pj's, with a hangover, he didn't have to try. While Astaire might have over-reached on occasion (as your example certainly indicates!), when he put it together, it was just all working for him. I suppose it would be interesting to know to what degree either of them relied on stylists to help get their "looks".

-Jake

 

[Matt Deckard]

Lincoln versus Roosevelt.
Bugs versus Mickey



Astaire tried
Grant tried

Wait no... they succeeded, they didn't try!

They both looked great in and out of pyjamas
Well... Astaire had character... Grant looked great and had character.

You can't compare the two.... they both end up on top.

 

[Senator Jack]

Limiting myself to the two: Astaire, all the way. Why be the top of the mountain when you can go over it? Sometimes you fall down the other side but at least you took the chance. Cary Grant didn't take chances. Astaire did, and when it worked, it was sublime.

Regards,

Senator Jack

 

[jamespowers]

Limiting myself to the two: Astaire, all the way. Why be the top of the mountain when you can go over it? Sometimes you fall down the other side but at least you took the chance. Cary Grant didn't take chances. Astaire did, and when it worked, it was sublime.

Regards,

Senator Jack

:eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

 

[Will]

I think the Sartorialist's point was exactly that though - Cary Grant would be perfect fallen out of bed in pj's, with a hangover, he didn't have to try. While Astaire might have over-reached on occasion (as your example certainly indicates!), when he put it together, it was just all working for him. I suppose it would be interesting to know to what degree either of them relied on stylists to help get their "looks".

-Jake

According to the biographers that I've read (a couple for each man), neither used a stylist. There weren't any then.

I think it's a credit to how hard Grant worked that so many men assume he'd have looked great under any circumstances. He obsessed about how he looked.

Film and tv actors, along with American politicians, are virtually the only people who have the benefit of being able to observe themselves in hour after hour of film so they can make improvements to their walk, their posture, and every other detail. The result looks to us as though they are naturals. Don't believe it.

 

[cookie]

Archibald Leach late of Bristol

Funnily enough I noticed the Cary Grant book in the window of my second hand bookshop. It won't be there this afternoon...

 

[BJBAmerica]

Funnily enough I noticed the Cary Grant book in the window of my second hand bookshop. It won't be there this afternoon...

It's a great book, packed with photo's....I got it last Christmas. The Astair book is nice also, but not nearly as thick or packed with photos or information as the Grant book.

You won't be sorry to have that book on your bookshelf!!!

 

[katiemakeup]

Apples and Oranges. They both had great style though. Astaire's influence was more European even though he was an American and Grant's had more of a sporty American look even though he was a Brit.

They both are very very sexy.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

According to the biographers that I've read (a couple for each man), neither used a stylist. There weren't any then.

Yes and no. The role of "stylist" was played by the actors' tailors or haberdashers.


Eddie Schmidt, a first rate Hollywood tailor, was most definitely Clark Gable's "style mentor," whereas James Oviatt (a haberdasher) was Adolphe Menjou's "fashion savant" for decades.

.

 

[cookie]

Eddie Schmidt, a first rate Hollywood tailor, was most definitely Clark Gable's "style mentor," whereas James Oviatt (a haberdasher) was Adolphe Menjou's "fashion savant" for decades.

.

Tell me about Menjou...I do not know anything about him...