Normally when it comes to the clothing in feature-length films, the women get all of the credit. And while a woman (Dayna Pink) was the costume designer for this summer's Crazy, Stupid, Love, it's Ryan Gosling's character (Jacob) who continually caught my eye. No, it wasn't just because Ryan Gosling is an incredibly good-looking male...it was actually Jacob's 36 costume changes that captivated me and made his character complete.
In an article in Entertainment Weekly, producer Denise Di Novi (referring to Gosling's character) said "His clothes are his art. It's a way of giving his life some higher meaning" (http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20513701,00.html). I can certainly relate to this. Most times when I walk into my closet, I think to myself "what outfit will make me feel the most confident doing x activity?" or "what will make me look and feel studious?" A character is never complete without their costume (right down to their underwear).
Gosling's character is a perfect and nuanced example of this. Being cocky and (somewhat rightfully) overconfident in his ability to woo the ladies, Jacob doesn't fear looking dapper or a little more "choosily dressed" than the above-average male. Dayna Pink dressed him in custom-made suits by Albert Hammon Jr. (of The Strokes) and Ilaria Urbinati (professional stylist). As if the suits themselves weren't enough, Pink made sure to take the next step in having Martin Greenfield (Brooklyn-based tailor and icon) produce the items, making sure that they perfectly fit Jacob's physique.
Finished off with shirts from Alexander McQueen, Simon Spurr, and YSL, along with rings by David Yurman and shoes by Givenchy, Jacob's style is nothing short of the epitome of (albeit flaunted) sophistication. And his character is all the more believable because of it.
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