The Double Take DVD in our store contains both versions of romantic caper The Thomas Crown Affair. In the 1968 original — with lots of split screen scenes – the always cool and composed millionaire Thomas Crown (Steve McQueen) is robbing banks for kicks. Pretty soon sassy insurance investigator Vicki Anderson (Faye Dunaway) is hot on his trail, determined to get her man no matter what. In the 1999 remake debonair Mr. Crown (Pierce Brosnan) strikes again. This time he specializes in art theft, stealing a valuable Monet from the Metropolitan Museum of Art in broad daylight. When self-assured investigator Catherine Banning (Rene Russo) enters the scene, the two quickly become involved in a seductive game of cat-and-mouse, in which both players equally enjoy the thrill of the hunt.

I loved the remake when it first came out, but must confess it was Rene Russo’s movie wardrobe that really made the film for me. I’ve always wondered how Faye Dunaway dressed in the original, so last week I watched the two movies back-to-back for a spot of outfit comparison. Fun!

Both enterprising ladies favour a soft, neutral colour palette and rock their oversized sunglasses, but that’s where the similarities end. We are treated to two very different wardrobes and style personas indeed. Vicki sports a flirty and mod look, very much in keeping with the times. She accentuates her features with heavy black eyeliner and false lashes. Her skirt suits are short, with sweet pleated minis, fab belted jackets and hosiery in matching colours. Beautiful patterned blouses, lots of cream and pastels, and large clip-on earrings are all part of her daytime look. So is her long, blond hair that is often arranged into elaborately braided chignons, very sophisticated sixties. And my word, it’s impossible not to fall in love with her delightful low-heeled retro pumps and absolutely stunning hat collection.

Catherine, on the other hand, is the epitome of classic elegance. She wears high necklines and covered up styles that are super alluring. (Big exception: the all-revealing black dress in the seduction scene.) Luxurious fabrics, tons of textural interest and perfect fit are her trademarks. Miss Banning goes about her day in tweed pantsuits with wide-legged trousers, chunky cashmere sweaters that never look bulky, and dons cognac and camel coats for extra warmth. There’s also room in her closet for beautiful suede and leather pieces. My heart beats faster just thinking about all her amazing midi sheath dresses and pencil skirts. She keeps the accessories to a minimum, but finishes off her evening look with pearl necklaces, apricot lipstick and subtly shimmery eyeshadow in gold tones that play up her stunning shoulder length red bob. 

Both leading ladies have a killer wardrobe, but I’m Team Catherine Banning all the way. After all, a woman who turns up for her first day on the job wearing a fantastic three-piece pinstriped skirt suit with a bustier in lieu of the traditional waistcoat is a lass after my own heart! 

What is your favourite Vicki or Catherine outfit? And if you’ve seen both film versions, would you rather borrow clothes from Miss Anderson’s or Miss Banning’s closet?

Papa spent 24 years living and working in British Hong Kong and loved every minute of it. I believe that the city of Hong Kong is part of his soul, very much like it is part of mine. That’s where he met my Mum, and where our family planted their roots. Papa eventually left Hong Kong to retire in Cape Town, and then moved back to the Netherlands after my Mum passed away. Papa hadn’t been back to Hong Kong for years after leaving in 1983. 

So today I’m also taking you back to 2001, which is when Greg, our close friend Karl, and I took my Papa back to Hong Kong for a Christmas holiday. At that point it had been a year since Mama had passed away and Papa was still extremely heart broken. He needed cheering up. He loved spending time with the “youngsters” as he called us, so this trip was therapeutic in many ways. 

During our trip we walked down memory lane revisiting Papa’s old hang outs, the schools my brother and I attended, the apartments we lived in, the hospital where I was born, and the offices where Papa worked. We met up with local friends, discovering all sorts of new nooks and crannies in this beloved city. We also ate lots of delicious and familiar food. It was an incredibly fun holiday, and the first time that I had seen Papa laugh from the heart and belly since Mama’s illness and passing. Priceless. 

My Papa is a very kind, generous, strong, disciplined, gentle, practical, patient and academic soul. He is also very sentimental and slightly stubborn. The stone jacket that you see Papa wearing in these photos was stained and a little worse for wear. There is no way that my late Mum would have allowed Papa to wear a worn and stained jacket. I desperately wanted to pass it on, but when I tried Papa said in a firm voice, “No. Way.” And that was that.

Mama had bought the jacket so he could not bear to part with it. He wore it every day on our trip because it comforted him. 

Papa still speaks of this trip with fond memories. Greg, Karl and Papa were like the three musketeers, laughing and enjoying their beers and each other’s stories like old mates. As a daughter who only wants the best for her wonderful Daddy, I was very touched by this dynamic. 

We see my precious Papa about once a year. He’s coming to visit Seattle at the end of June and we are extra excited to share our stories of Japan. We’ll also see familiar friends, eat lots of Asian and French food, see the odd movie and visit many a bookstore.   

Papa will be sporting a much newer Summer jacket when he visits. As the years went by, the sentimental stone jacket became even more stained, worn, and tore at the sleeve and side seams. So we bought Papa a taupe jacket from Nordstrom a few birthdays ago to replace the one that Mama had bought. Papa was finally ready to exchange one sentimental piece for another, and I know Mama wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.  

I love you Papa, and wouldn’t change you for the world. You are a role model and very dear to my heart. I wish you many more happy and healthy years with your kids, grandchild and our doggies. 

We at YouLookFab wish all the dads a very happy Father’s Day on Sunday.

Suz suggests reading this article in the Guardian on body image, which discusses the role of the fashion industry in creating body image dysmorphia. 

Inge enjoyed seeing Gap’s 1993-1995 “Who Wore Khakis?” campaign on That Kind Of Women. 

Velvety Chocolate thought that this infographic in The Big Picture showing the retail strength of Amazon was eye-openeing. 

Kari was taken aback by the high cost of cheap fashion, and shares her thoughts on the subject on A Pencil Skirt Life. 

Mac read on Passage des Perles how many women have fit issues when clothes shopping, and what a few retailers are doing to address these challenges. 

Rae is excited about another season of printed pants and so am I. 

MaryK recommends reading an article about how Gloria Steinem feels about aging and looking your age in USA Today. Coincidentally, we recently had a great discussion in the forum about looking one’s age. 

Last but not least, Kat from Corporette talks about what to wear to an office pool party.

Note: by white footwear I mean all shades of white, off white, bone and cream, but excluding athletic sneakers. 

I LOVE the look of white footwear throughout the year. My love for white peds started in the ’80s and it stuck. White boots, booties, stacked sandals, ankle strap shoes, thong sandals, mules, peep-toes, ballet flats, mary janes, Converse, espadrilles, loafers, flat oxfords, sandal booties, pumps – I adore these styles in all shades of white, although I wear only a handful of them. 

I have a thing for white items in general, so that might be why I am drawn to white footwear. White footwear looks fresh, crisp, bold, and above all modern to my eye. It can also look graphic or retro depending on the style of the shoe. 

White footwear is a perfect marriage with white trousers, cropped pants and jeans, creating an elongated column of colour. They also look great when matched with a top, topper or dress that incorporates white. You don’t need to be tanned to wear white footwear either. I think it looks fabulous on all skin tones. 

When I work with my clients, I’ve found that their thoughts on white footwear are divided. Some like it for the same reasons that I do, while others find the vibe frumpy, unflattering, jarring, unsophisticated, hard to successfully pull together in an outfit, or just old fashioned. 

Granted, white footwear is bold and bright, and not quite as versatile as a metallic or nude-for-you shoe. For me, there is something magical about white footwear, and my wardrobe is never without it. 

Do you wear white footwear? If so, do you wear it in the warmer months, or throughout the year? Do you think that white footwear is hard to match up in outfits? Does it look frumpy to your eye?