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The Style of “Grace and Frankie”

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The Style of Grace and Frankie

Until this weekend when I watched Grace and Frankie, all of the first season at once, I did not understand.  After all, I am too busy to participate in something so frivolous as watching an entire season of a show in one go…or so I thought.

But, my son, warned, “Mom, are you sure you want to do this? It is addicting. You will not get anything else done.”

He knew it is not my nature to sit for hours and truly relax and enjoy.  However, I looked at a bedroom where I want to place an office and just wasn’t ready to tackle all of the “stuff.”

The alternative was to become a Netflix fan and join the throngs of people who will sit and watch a series one show after another after another for hours at a time. Yep, now I’m a binge-watcher.

The Style of

Because of blogger reviews, I selected “Grace and Frankie,” starring and produced by Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin.  The writing is very well done, though not on Gilmore Girl-level, but still engaging dialogue, sometimes so real it is uncomfortable.

When Grace dreams about the MRI, she almost had me climbing walls, since that is a personal fear of mine.   Best line ever from the first season… “I think I just peed a little on Ryan Gosling’s face!”

sit on ryan goslings face grace and frankie

You may not be able to get a Ryan Gosling chair, but you can get a Ryan Gosling pillow!

Grace and Frankie are beautifully cast and styled.  The messages communicated through their clothing perfectly nails the characters’ personalities.  The show is a great lesson in how clothing will tell a story about the individual who wears the look.  Let’s examine a little closer:

Grace’s Style: Classic, Chic

Clothing:  Garments fit her figure perfectly; neutral-based wardrobe, white collared blouses, a few solid color blouses and limited prints, pencil skirts, dresses.  Even when relaxing, she looks well dressed.  The impression is these are expensive, classic pieces she would use over and over again….cashmere wraps and cardigans, stand up collars.

Beauty:  Grace goes all out for hair color, hair pieces, false eyelashes, and full makeup (I noticed there is usually dark eye shadow).  One episode Frankie makes reference to Grace’s plastic surgery.

Accessories:  She wears a lot of dress heels and boots with heels.  Smaller handbags that always complement the complete outfit.  Grace’s jewelry consists of simple earrings and understated necklaces.

Frankie’s Style: Bohemian

Clothing:  Loose, flowy, over- sized, with lots of color and prints to reflect the artist in this woman. While she is very stylish, the style reflects who she is: creative, ethnic, and environmentally conscious.

She is not the business woman Grace has been, and so there is no clothing which indicates a difference between a career and home life.  Her most professional style was worn to a funeral.

Beauty:  Frankie is very natural, down to earth.  Long, gray natural hair and limited makeup.  She prefers homemade, organic beauty remedies.

Accessories:  She loves a statement necklace, dangly earrings, and scarves.  There are many scenes where she wears a scarf in her hair.  Shoes are organic, Tom-like, flat selections.

Half the inventory at Soft Surroundings could be in Frankie’s closet.
Shop Soft Surroundings Now!

From the moment we meet Grace and Frankie in the restaurant, we can see from their overall fashion, these women are very different.  But, we will join them as they also learn, despite differences, they are women sharing an experience and at the core have similar hearts.

It is so evident in the episode where they switch clothing that deep inside they are women who care, love, laugh, cry and bond.

I have this quote on my blog from business woman, Alison Vaugh,

“Appearance can be a powerful and useful tool in controlling the kind of message you send to others about who you are, your age, and how you view your age.  If you get the response you want, your style fits; if you do not get the response you want, consider making some changes.”

Except when the storyline called for it, I was not aware in my marathon watching of the characters’ ages, though both would be over 70.

Both Frankie and Grace were vibrant, engaged, intelligent women learning how to handle what life threw at them.  Their styling reflects their personalities and does not scream “old” at all.

Who would you be…Grace or Frankie…classic or bohemian?  Have you watched the show?  Does your style say who you are?

 

Pamela Lutrell

Pamela Lutrell began her blog, over50feeling40, July 2010 with a desire to encourage women over 50 to walk in strength, confidence and joy. Of course, head turning style makes each day fun!

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Comments

  1. I have just spent several evenings watching Grace and Frankie and thoroughly enjoyed the storyline! I so noticed the fashions because they really “are” the characters at a glance. I would definitely be Grace, but have days when I long for Frankie style!

  4. Amazing Pam, as I have this on my watch list and will get into it sometime this week (probably on a night I cannot settle down to sleep!) I love your description of their fashion choice differences!

    xoxo
    Karena
    The Arts by Karena
    Coco Chanel: Three Weeks

    • I am sooo excited about havin help for me to break out at 75 in shabby fashion! I LOVE all of Lillys wardrobe n jewelry. But i love the series, watch it over n over.would u suggest a book for me?

  8. One of my favorite episodes was when they dressed each other to go out…and all of a sudden, Grace became the wild one, and Frankie the more polished one.

  9. Ha! I spent Friday binge watching Grace and Frankie. It’s fantastic! Jane and Lilly have such great chemistry.
    I am Frankie all the way. Except I don’t agonize over my paintings the way that she does.

  10. My personal style statement has always been “comfortably rumpled elegance”, so I guess I am a mixture: classic with a boho twist.

      • Walker,
        Like you, I used to always wear very tailored clothes. But that was back in my corporate days. Now I work from home, and like you, want to start dressing more like Frankie. It’ll be so fun and comfortable to dress like that!

        Everyone,
        Please share any clothing and accessories shops (preferably online) where they have the type of clothes that Frankie wore. Thank you!

        • I’ve been searching for organic fabrics in Frankie’s style for years. I used to hire someone to make a few things, but still have not found an online source. This is a clear unmet need for business opportunity.

        • Kathy,

          There are online shops all over with great clothes, but it is very hard to be made known. Look for a shop called Layered in Studio City CA. Google the names of brands you like, and see if they are near you. Artful Home has great (expensive ) clothes. Farfetch.

      • I also would like to know where to find Frankie’s jewelry loved a blue necklace she wore in season two

        • Linda, I know this is a few months late. I just started to watch Grace and Frankie mostly for the jewelry Frankie wears, then got hooked on the plot. Handmade jewelry like Frankie wears is all over the internet, crying to be found. Look for Facebook sites that have handmade jewelry, go to Pinterest, I haven’t found the specific artists who make her jewelry, but you can find some with that feel. I am trying to find a way to get the attention of the costume designer Allyson, to think about my jewelry for Frankie.

          The clothes may come from a shop in Studio City called Layered, and some of that can be bought online. It is very hard for artists who make one of a kind, to find a way to find women like you.

    • I have had some success with this style shopping online at jill.com and soft surroundings.com. There is also Eileen Fischer.

  12. My 77 year old mom who lives in assisted living kept talking about this show so she re watched the pilot episode with me. So funny and well written! I’ll pay more attention to the fashion next time.

  14. For years I’ve worn more tailored clothes and now I’m feeling this urge to dress more like Frankie. I can’t explain it and yet I feel a strong urge to let go, to relax into this new stage of life–I just bought a very expensive (for me) dress today, a one-of-a-kind dress in a patchwork of colors and patterns. It’s a 50/50 bet as to whether I’ll keep it once it arrives!
    I can’t say what brought this on–maybe it’s a reflection of the changing attitude and the desire to stop worrying about what other people will think (thanks Mom!). And, that difference is reflected in these two characters. One of Grace’s first reaction to her husband’s coming out is to worry about her status, what people are thinking–Frankie lives for herself not for the public eye- it’s refreshing.
    I had lots of thoughts about the show–it’s worth a watch as the aging theme is pretty uplifting!

  17. I want the camel cardigan that Grace wears in episode 1 & ends wearing it again at the end of episode 13! Anyone know who makes it?

  18. I love the necklaces Frankie wears. I would love to find out who makes them .I think the sterling one going in a circle with dark beads is so cool. Anybody have any ideas. The white circles one is also cool Carla

  19. Well, it’s clear that we are all interested in the clothing and accessories that they wear. I want that caftan that Frankie wears on the beach and I’ll stop at nothing until I find it! lol. Someone from the series needs to look at these blogs and satisfy my obsession – or should I say our. I think that I’ll open a boho boutique….yes, I think I will.

  20. I’d love to know who makes the thin long sleeve tops that Frankie wears as a layering piece. She’s worn it in black and blue in many of the episodes.both seasons.

  21. I have done extensive research on the clothing provided to Grace & Frankie. I absolutely love both styles and the jewelry is certainly awesome! I love the blue earrings worn by neighbor Babe in season 2. A costume designer by the name of Alyson Fanger provides all clothing and jewelry for the show. I sure wish she would create a fashion line based on the show’s costumes. I believe it would be quite successful! I would definitely be first in line for some of those gorgeous designs!!

  22. I have never seen so many people on the same quest! I watched the first episode for all of 15 minutes before googling with the objective of finding Frankie’s outfit ! SOMEONE from the show MUST know how/where to find it! Come on, throw the fans a bone!

    • I too loved the show and have been looking for Frankie’s clothes. I read that she shopped at a store called Layers…………but the websites that have been suggested here are excellent. pricey but nice styles! Can’t wait for the next season!

  23. I loooooove Jane Fonda’s style. It is very similar to Monster n law and funny thing is my 22 yr old loves the show and styling. She introduced me to the show. She’s Lilly in styling and I’m striving to be Jane when I’m at my best. I still have young children so I do struggle but I do think about it often.

  24. I love watching Frankie and Grace I think these women were the perfect choice for the characters. I like their personality and their wardrobe shows the difference between them but they complement each other, I also enjoyed Babe character enjoyed the outfit she wore in the episode about assisted suicide, where do their wardrobes come from ,

  25. I love this show! I’ve always been a bit of the “bohemian type”. I see a lot are on a quest to find out where Frankie gets her sheer long sleeve t-shirts (as am I). Prior to watching this show I developed shingles on my arms and that left scars. Summers and warm weather caused me to try and find a way to cover my arms without being uncomfortable. I shop online for sheer long sleeve shirts and layer them with a t-shirt. You can “google” sheer long sleeve shirts and get a wide variety of sites that carry them in every color and size.

  26. I decided to watch this show & I am so glad that I did! I started on the first one and finish the second one up right after. This show speaks to so many of us older ones and married forever ones. Frankie and Grace sure took the news a heck of a lot better than I would have. But what I really did like was the wardrobe on both, Frankie and Grace. I could be both!! But the jewelry that Frankie would have on, I loved every piece! I can not wait for the next Season and I want me one of those Vibrators, if it will help my Arthritis!! lol!!!!

  28. I would kill for Frankie’s wardrobe and accesories. I think she looks fabulous and I’d take her look any day over Grace’s. Grace looks stylish and lovely but she always looks so controlled to me, which is her character of course. Lovely to look at but somewhat icy.

  31. I love, love this show! A young friend of mine suggested I watch and I am having a wonderful time. Binge watched for two nights and have decided to keep it to one episode a night to savor the humor. These ladies crack me up! I lean a bit more towards Frankies’ boho/hippy edge but also can pull Graces’ style off when need be. My question is where can I get Frankies’ reading glasses? I am mad about them!Love the rimless top of them! Any ideas anyone?

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