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From May, 07 issue of San Diego Magazine...
Dressing the Part
Books
By Eilene Zimmerman
While writing a book about Cary Grant�s style, San Diego writer Richard Torregrossa discovered the power of a jacket and tie
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THERE�S NOTHING LIKE a crisp, white dress shirt, a well-fitting wool suit and an understated pair of cufflinks to make a man feel powerful. To make him feel like, well, Cary Grant. Journalist Richard Torregrossa had just this sort of transformative experience while writing his new book, Cary Grant: A Celebration of Style (Bulfinch Press, $35). The Rancho Bernardo� based author spent nearly three years researching and writing, and in the process went from starting his day in sweats to starting his day in a suit, shirt and tie. He even donned cufflinks for a while, until they made it difficult to use the computer�s mouse.
It all began when Torregrossa, who�s covered fashion for the past decade, attended the Giorgio Armani fall show in New York in 2003. |
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Armani noted his line that year had been inspired by �the timeless elegance of Cary Grant� and cited movies such as Notorious and North by Northwest as evidence of the actor�s superb style. (Armani wound up writing the book�s introduction.) Torregrossa�s curiosity was piqued. When he returned to San Diego, he rented the Alfred Hitchcock movies and had a fashion epiphany.
�I realized Cary Grant�s style is as relevant today as it was when he made those films,� he says. Thus began Torregrossa�s journey through the actor�s life. The resulting book is part biography, part style manual.
Grant was born Archibald Alexander Leach into a workingclass, dysfunctional family in Bristol, England. He left home at 16 to play the greatest role of his life: Cary Grant, movie star.
�He transformed himself from a poor kid into an aristocratic presence, and he did it by dressing like the men he wanted to become,� says Torregrossa. �What I learned from him is that clothes are empowering. Style is a tool of empowerment.� In fact, Grant�s style��what he wore and how he wore it��likely launched his career as a leading man. Torregrossa writes that Mae West spotted Grant��dressed in an impeccable white Navy uniform costume��across a parking lot at Paramount and told her producer, �If he can talk, I want him in my picture.� (The resulting film was She Done Him Wrong.)
After traveling to Savile Row and Beverly Hills to interview Grant�s former tailors, Torregrossa began to view clothing as an art form. �Grant had such respect for clothes and the power of style,� he says. �This wasn�t like going to the dry cleaners and getting your pants altered. Grant used to say it takes 500 details to make one favorable impression. That�s something akin to Picasso.�
When he began dressing better and paying attention to his own clothes, Torregrossa felt like a new person. �I say this somewhat jokingly, but not only did my clothes become more stylish but my prose did, too. I was definitely more productive and more connected to the world,� he says.
I glance down at my own work attire��unflattering gray sweatpants and a Rutgers College sweatshirt��while cradling the phone on my shoulder. �Really?� I ask.
�Really,� he says. �In fact, I�m wearing a suit right now.�
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