Cary Grant wore his own grey sharkskin suit in "North by Northwest"

Some suits are so good they carry an entire film. Well, not exactly – North by Northwest is arguably Alfred Hitchcock’s finest thriller – but the film’s wardrobe, or lack of it, is at least equally iconic. The lone suit Gary Grant wore as ad man Roger O. Thornhill in the film has had short stories written about it, and was all the inspiration the James Bond franchise needed for its celluloid 007.

The suit was all Grant, quite literally. This was an era when leading actors often dressed themselves for their movies, and with the tailoring repertoire of Grant available, why not let him run wild? The entire look – dove grey sharkskin two-piece, white shirt and steely grey satin tie – was reportedly sourced by Grant and it shows. The suit’s jacket perfectly flatters his tall, lean silhouette. The shirt, a simple point collar example made from comfortable-looking lightweight cotton, is cut on the larger side befitting the mid-century time period. Sure, it’s much fuller than we’re used to seeing today for a tailored shirt, but it works perfectly with Grant’s high-waisted trousers. We at Wayne Edwards can give you that soft monochromatic look with our custom shirts and bespoke custom clothing. For men’s custom suits in Philadelphia no better place to shop.