"My father used to say, "Let them see you and not the suit.
That should be secondary." - Cary Grant.
North By NorthWest (1959) bought together not only Cary Grant and Alfred Hitchcock for one last outing but also a man and a suit.
A suit that is regarded by many as the best movie suit ever.
"North By Northwest isn't a film about what happens to Cary Grant, it's about what happens to his suit." - Todd McEwen
It is fair to say that the suit, barely seen off Cary Grant's character, Roger Thornhill's back, for the entire length of the movie is now iconic.
It set the tone for future spy movies including Sean Connery's James Bond in Goldfinger.
Arthur Lyons at Kilgour, French & Stanbury made the original suit for the film. Copies of the suit were made by Beverly Hills tailor Quintino, for some scenes where the suit requires to get dirty.
The two piece suit is a lightweight worsted woool, in a blue-grey fine glen pattern. Which looks like a solid colour from a distance.
The suit jacket has a three-button front, with slighly narrow lapels rolled to the middle button. The jacket has jetted pockets, three-button cuff and no vent in the back.
The trousers have a long rise, double forward pleats, turn-ups and side adjusters. One rear jetted pocket with slanted side pockets.
The look is finished off with a white poplin, double cuffed shirt with blue enamel cuff links.
The tie is grey with white pin-dots.
Shoes are cap-toe oxfords in burgandy with grey socks.
And not forgetting.....
...those iconic tortoiseshell sunglasses.
