Mike and I were invited to a costume ball for Mardi Gras last month, and when I found out the theme of the party was “Hollywood” I asked my young friend Nicole Dotto to
That’s me as Annie, thanks to Nicole.
help with my costume. Nicole and I met as volunteers for Sit Stay Read here in Chicago. She runs a vintage clothing shop on Etsy and generously agreed to write this guest post about picking out a costume for me.
Wait til Beth feels what I got her!
by Nicole Dotto
Put together an outfit for someone who will not be able to see it?
Oh not daunting at all.
One of Beth’s memoir students cleaned out her closets recently and gave her two really beautiful designer suits: one bright red and one stunning green. Beth asked if I could think of any movie characters who wore either of these—that way she could wear one of the suits and dress up as one of them for the party. I found a photo of Ava Gardner in a red suit. Rear Window’s Miss Lonelyhearts wore a green dress that could have passed. Beth would have looked amazing as Tippi Hedren in The Birds, though Tippi’s suit was pale green. When we realized that my Hollywood characters would require some serious explaining at the party (“No, remember? the lady he was watching across the street? Lonelyhearts”), Beth shrugged and said she’d be happy to go as Annie Hall.
The more I started to share Beth’s real deal crush on Annie Hall’s look, the more we decided that this was the only way to go. and bonus: it was a little less daunting to complete that outfit. I perused the men’s section at two different thrift stores and found khaki pants, a white shirt, green tie with polka dots, black suede vest, and felt hat in less than two hours. the thrift store is my battleground.
I’d never been a personal shopper before Beth asked, although technically I’ve been personal shopping multiple times a week for the past three years. But that’s just for people that I make up in my head. I run an online vintage shop called DOTTO, and even though I have a whole lot of handsome and classic items for sale there, I carry a number of interesting train wreck pieces we can all thank the 1980s for, too.
That’s Nicole modeling the ‘WHO WOULD WEAR THIS?’ kind of thing she carries in her online vintage shop. (sorry, folks. It’s sold.)
I grew up with a slight aversion to shopping but then discovered it’s pretty fun when I am searching for everyone else in the world but myself. I try to vary what I offer in terms of size and style and BRIGHTNESS. I cannot physically stop myself from heading straight toward anything neon or overloaded with sparkle. My true test for items has always been this: if I can’t imagine someone wearing it, it’s just right for DOTTO. Those are the sort of items I am secretly really happy to offer the world.
But back to Beth as Annie Hall. Let’s be honest here. Beth would have loved the outfit even if I’d gotten all of the colors wrong or hadn’t been able to find the right vest or hat, but watching her feel each item and put everything together while I explained just how dapper the high waist and cuffed pant looked and how the tie had to be worn as long as possible, well, that was icing on the cake. The whole time I was there we kept talking about just how cool Diane Keaton is, but I was kind of thinking, huh, don’t you think the same is true for Beth in general?
Nicole asked me to let you blog readers know she’ll give a 10% discount20% discount discount at DOTTO to anyone who tells her they read this Annie Hall post. Look for the discount code here in the comment section, and shop away!
Yes, I agree that Beth is pretty cool! Fun story and Beth’s picture looks like Annie Hall for sure.
One of my all time favorite characters! I always wanted to be Annie Hall…right down to screaming, “There’s a spider in the bathroom the size of Buick!” Lucky Beth, thanks to you, she got to be Annie. Even if it was only for one night.
And the best part: the costume wasuper-comfortable!
Did Mike wear a costume, too?
Carl–here’s a link to the photo of Annie with the rabbi…http://bethfinke.com/AnnieHallandRabbi.jpg
Costume looks great. Looks just like Diane Keaton’s. I hope you had fun.
thank you so much for the comments, Audrey Carl Laura and Maria!
Beth I second the request about Mike’s costume…. ha!
Okay, okay, I give in! I’ll try to explain Mike’s costume, but it won’t be easy. He went as a Rabbi! Those of you who know the movie Annie Hall inside and out will remember the great Wisconsin dinner scene in ‘Annie Hall,’ where Annie’s family members look at Woody Allen and see a Hasidic Rabbi? Those of you who don’t remember, well, it’s too hard to explain.
Hundreds of people were at the Mardi Gras costume ball Mike and I went to, and while only two people recognized us as portraying that scene, plenty of people wished Mike a hearty “l’chaim! any time we passed by.
Great look!
You mean me as Annie Hall, or Nicole in her space jacket? In either case…thanks!
Agree wholeheartedly with Beth’s coolness – also Diane Keaton’s. Hey, Beth, a shout out from your old high school classmate Mary Infanger.
Well, hello there, Mary — what fun to think you found my blog! I’ll email you privately, but hey, thanks for the cool compliment.
Beth, you look AWESOME!! Nicole great job capturing a very cool Annie… Beth fits the part perfectly. I hope you had a good time!
I’d be upset at anyone at a Hollywood party who *wouldn’t* know Miss. Lonelyhearts…but Beth does make a great looking Annie Hall!
I love your look so much and you carry it off so well. As you know, I framed the photo of you and Mike and it occupies a place of honor in our apartment. You look totally NY and nothing like Chippewa Falls. Good work, Nicole! I wish I could claim that 10% discount, but I’m 719 air miles away.
Benita, Mike told me you framed that photograph, but I thought maybe you were joking? What a place of honor!
aw thank you Benita, Darlene, Mary, Linda and lady (or sir) empty pen!
here is a 20% discount code if anyone happens to spy something they fancy!
coupon code: ‘buyerofDREAMS’
(I hope that is okay with you, Beth!)
(and Benita I ship worldwide! to islands and villages and APOs… you name it)
take great care!
Of course I don’t mind you increasing the discount to 20%, Nicole. In fact, I may just take advantage of that generous offer myself…