Cary Grant To Catch a Thief Clothes – 10 Life-Changing Outfits to Inspire Your Summer Wardrobe
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Cary Grant in To Catch a Thief, movie recap and his stunning 1950s wardrobe
This post is all about Cary Grant To Catch a Thief Clothes
Cary Grant To Catch a Thief clothes range from swimming trunks on the beach to formal evening clothes at a masquerade.
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“A lesson in accessible style”
Cary Grant’s wardrobe of 10 outfits will forever inspire–and thus–transform your summer wardrobe.
Although the costume designer for the film was the famous Edith Head, she was in charge of designing Grace Kelly’s outfits in the film, as Cary Grant selected his own outfits.
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“Hitch trusted me implicitly to select my own wardrobe. If he wanted me to wear something very specific, he would tell me, but generally I wore simply, tasteful clothes – the same kind of clothes I wear offscreen.”
Cary Grant’s personal flair and tasteful pairing of clothing accessories resulted in a classic mens 1950s wardrobe that is still being discussed decades later.
To Catch a Thief Summary
Alfred Hitchcock’s film, To Catch a Thief, is a romantic mystery and thriller masterpiece, with unparalleled chemistry between the leading man (Cary Grant) and lady (Grace Kelly), and has aptly earned the high rating of 7.4 on IMDB.
To Catch a Thief takes its place in cinema history as one of the most stylish movies ever produced–from the chic wardrobes, gorgeous leading man and lady–to the breathtaking setting on the French Riviera.
The suave John Robie’s (Cary Grant) checkered past includes an infamous stint as “The Cat”, where he operated as the cunning and highly successful jewel burglar; this was followed by his heroic service in the French resistance in World War II for which his past life as a thief was forgotten.
John retired from thieving, bought a villa and took up gardening.
But when a number of high profile jewelry robberies occur, all evidence points to John Robie, and he must go on the run–in order to evade the police–and the real villian–and clear his name.
Partnering with the insurance company who doesn’t want to pay up for any more stolen jewels, he obtains the list of clients owning the high-valued jewels, and he surreptitiously arranges to meet and follow the first target on his list of jewelry owners, a mother and her daughter, Frances (Grace Kelly).
The romance begins to blossom between Frances and John, until Frances’ mothers’ jewels are stolen, and Frances is added to the list of people suspecting him, and she even attempts to turn him into the police!
Now John has even more incentive to nab the real thief red-handed and clear his name.
Cary Grant To Catch a Thief Clothes: #1 – Cary Grant’s Casual Outfit
The movie opens with dramatic scenes of several jewel thefts occurring in the breathtaking French Rivera.
The thefts are interspersed with scenes of a cat prowling across the tile roofs, signifying the stealthy and secretive skill of the jewel thief.
The police immediately suspect the infamous cat burglar John Robie (Cary Grant), since the series of robberies echos his unique style.
The first outfit Cary Grant is wearing is a blue-and-white striped sweater, accented by a bright red and white polka-dot scarf, which is casually knotted around his neck; dark blue-glay slacks and tan loafers the look.
Cary Grant’s casual outfit unexpectedly combines a sweater and silk scarf.
Cary Grant picked up the chic sweater pullover and bright red scarf in a local shop on the French Riviera.
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“It’s a look that sets him and his character apart. There’s something mysterious about that scarf, something he doesn’t want to reveal – he’s a former jewel thief trying to escape the shadow of his past.”
John Robie is tending his garden at his villa, when an entire police escort shows up at his estate to question him on the jewel robberies and attempt to pick him up to take them to the police office in Nice for questioning.
He initiated with the request to the policeman, “…but would you mind if I put on something more formal?”
What could he possibly change into in order to look more elegant for a trip to the police station for questioning? I think there’s some good irony directed at the French here for falling for this line.
John hasn’t earned the legendary title of Cat Burglar for nothing, as he nimbly scrambles out onto the roof, while the Police are waiting outside and makes his escape.
Oh, and as a side note, guess who John Robie happens to be sitting next to on his escape?
None other than our director, the man himself, Alfred Hitchcock. Hitchcock likes to insert himself into all of his movies.
Since Cary Grant looks so gorgeous in his classic French chic outfit, it is only fitting that he casually wears this through a number of the key setting scenes in To Catch a Thief, as he sets out to clear his name and discover who the real jewel thief is.
John Robie starts his quest to clear his name by reconvening with his old World War II French resistance pals, who now suspect him, furious at him, since he stole a long time ago, and he joined the underground to make up for some of the things he’d done, and he’d never stolen since, and fought for 6 years.
He then he narrowly evades escape whisking away in a boat with the daughter of his war buddy, Danielle Foussard, (Brigitte Auber) with Danielle taking Cary Grant to the Beach Club at Cannes. This was Auber’s most famous role and interestingly one of her few English-speaking parts.
Undeniably To Catch a Thief costumes help tell the story and the audience something about what’s happening. The real jewel thief (spoiler alert!) Danielle Foussard (Brigitte Auber) is the female identical twin of Cary Grant, wearing an almost matching sweater, only hers is red and white, whereas his blue and white.
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“Grant’s hair is parted on the right, Auber’s on the left. They are look-alikes and opposites at the same time, so that there is a perfect symmetry throughout the work, a symmetry that carries over to the smallest details in the intrigue,” wrote François Truffaut.”
Cary Grant To Catch a Thief Clothes: #2 – Cary Grant’s Swimming Outfit
Still being tailed overhead by a policeman in plane, Cary Grant sneaks to shore unobtrusively at the the Beach Club at Cannes, wearing vivid checkered retro swim trunks, which he conveniently found in his escape boat and happen to be a perfect fit.
Alfred Hitchcock shoots some memorable scenes of Cary Grant in the water, and the dark checkered swimming trunks show up nicely against his summer tan.
There are some great 1950’s fashion shots and To Catch a Thief costumes on the beach! This is also the first time that Grace Kelly notices Cary Grant, clearly checking him out (we don’t blame her) as he strolls onto shore, and drops into the sand, cognizant of his pursuers. He is too busy trying to blend into the beach throng that he does not notice her.
Who’s ready for a trip to the French Riviera?
Cary Grant To Catch a Thief Clothes: #3 – Cary Grant Semi-Casual Outfit
Back at his villa, Cary Grant is now wearing his third outfit in the film, which is a fitted sweater with subtle stripe pattern and muted contrast collar and cuffs (dark gray), gray slacks.
He plots with the jewelry insurance agent, H.H. Hughson (the actor John Williams) on how to catch the real thief, casually sipping cold champagne.
The romantic French Rivera hillside, the bottle of champagne cooling in the ice pail, and the two elegant men dressed to the nines casually enjoying a picturesque breakfast… not to mention, as a side note, doesn’t that French lunch look delicious?
In typical classic Hitchcock style, not only is the setting picturesque and the leading man elegant, but the dialogue is witty and engaging.
His companion comments on how delicious it is “pastries are as light as air” and compliments his cooks, which Grant this quibs: “very sensitive hands and extremely light touch… she strangled a german general once… without a sound….” to which the insurance agent replies (in shock): “Extraordinary woman”.
Cary Grant explains how he killed 72 men, but jokingly assures his companion that he need not be concerned, as “not one of them was insured”. This earns him a chuckle from his companion.
Cary Grant To Catch a Thief Clothes: #4 – Cary Grant’s Black Tie Outfit
Cary Grant pulls an early James Bond type look by wearing an elegant fitted black suit with bow tie when he surreptitiously arranges to meet the first target on his list of jewelry owners, who is a mother Jessie Stevens and her daughter Frances.
Jessie and her daughter, Frances, first glimpse John Robie in the hotel sitting nearby, to which the mother comments on what an eligible match he would be for her daughter
“handsome, I wouldn’t mind buying that for you…”
John Robie then arranges a funny scene at the casino tables by ‘accidentally’ dropping one of his poker chips down a woman’s strapless dress to get their attention.
It works, as the next scene they’re cozying up together over drinks while the insurance agent watches the drama unfold nervously.
After the drinks, Cary grant walks them the mother and her daughter to their rooms, and then Frances apparently likes what she sees (and his suit) so she pulls him in for a kiss.
Cary Grant To Catch a Thief Clothes: #5 – Cary Grant’s Casual French Chic Sleuthing Outfit
This outfit consists of a dark blue polkadot scarf, white button-up shirt, dark blue gray blazer and light tan slacks. It’s really the accent scarf tied casually around his neck that completes the outfit.
Cary Grant is sporting this outfit the next morning when he meets Frances and her mother, Jessie Stevens and the jewelry insurance agent, where the insurance agent is urgently pleading with the mother to put her jewels in a safe spot, as there has just been a recent high profile jewelry theft, and he’s concerned she may be the next target (!).
Cary Grant also tells the nervous insurance agent (in code) his plan to scope out the other mansions, especially the roofs, of the potential next jewelry theft targets, which makes the nervous insurance agent, event more nervous (as he does have a the tiniest bit of doubt, that possibly Cary Grant still is the notorious theft on the prowl…
Frances Stevens, has set her eyes on John Robie and she invites him to go for a swim, or “if you’re not athletic, then sunbathing.”
To which he replies sarcastically: “I think I can manage to stay afloat. Thank you.”
Cary Grant also wears this same outfit during his scouting of the other mansions of the insured jewelry that he believes will be targeted by the jewel thief.
Frances invites herself along for the jaunt, and does the driving in a sporty convertible; and there is a classic car chase scene as the Police tail them.
Who says you can’t mix a bit of business with pleasure, especially if you’re Cary Grant? After the thrilling car chase, they enjoy a romantic and delicious picnic lunch. John Robie perfectly dressed for a thrilling and romantic day out.
Cary Grant To Catch a Thief Clothes: #6 – Cary Grant’s Second Swimsuit
What other movie do you get the chance to see Cary Grant wearing swimming outfits, not once, but twice, except in To Catch a Thief?!
Cary Grant joins Grace Kelly on the beautiful French Rivera beach for some sunbathing, and Cary Grant is sporting his retro tan swim shorts.
Cary Grant To Catch a Thief Clothes: #7 – Cary Grant’s Undercover Covert Outfit
John Robie sports a fedora, aviator glasses, dark blue-button vest, light yellow button-up shirt, and dark blue gray slacks (oh yeah) and a fishing pole (!) during the scene when he’s surreptitiously meeting with the insurance agent.
The disguise is warranted since Cary Grant is hiding from the police.
Pretty hard to top this dashing undercover outfit! Maybe detective Columbo could take a style lessor or two from Cary Grant’s fashion!
Cary Grant To Catch a Thief Clothes: #8 – Cary Grant’s Elegant Business Suit
John Robie wears a business outfit consisting of a dark gray suit, white button-up shirt, dark blue tie, and black socks and shoes when meeting with the police and jewelry insurance agent in discussing the ongoing jewel case and suspects.
He dramatically wraps up the meeting by announcing that he indeed knows who the real ‘cat’ is.
As other critics have so aptly pointed out, there are very few men who wore a suit as well as Cary Grant. “He somehow managed to make the plain grey banker’s suit seem impossibly glamorous, sexy, elegant, even daring. The shirt, flawless white, the tie, knotted with surgical precision, completed the look. And that was it. That was enough. His suit spoke for him, sang for him,” Richard Torregrossa says in his book, Cary Grant: A Celebration of Style
Cary Grant To Catch a Thief Clothes: #9 – Cary Grant’s Athletic Outfit
What outfit does Cary Grant sport during the final chase scenes on the rooftop as he sits on top of the roof and eagerly awaits the thief to make her move?
His practical athletic outfit ready–worn for nimble physical exercise and surreptitious tailing–is a black polo sweater and black slacks.
Cary Grant races across the tile rooftop and nabs the real jewel thief.
Confident, handsome, and elegant as always. No need for his sweetheart, Frances, to doubt his athletic prowess any longer! She’d better take back those cracks she made earlier–when inviting him to the beach.
Cary Grant To Catch a Thief Clothes: #10 – Cary Grant’s Evening Outfit
And now, for the final outfit in the film…
Cary Grant is wearing a black button up shirt, black slacks, and black fitted trench coat in the closing scene when Frances comes to visit him in his villa.
After some prodding, he admits that he does need her in his lift. “I guess I’m not the lone wolf I thought I was, Francie”
This post was all about Cary Grant To Catch a Thief Clothes
What was your favorite To Catch a Thief costume?
Do you prefer Cary Grant’s formal clothes and or his uniquely elegant take on casual 1950’s fashion, accented by choice accessories?
If you haven’t seen the movie, we recommend it, if only for the fantastic 1950’s fashion!
Other posts you might like:
To Catch a Thief Grace Kelly – 10 Elegant Outfits You’ll Love
Grace Kelly’s 1950’s Fashion in Hitchcock’s Dial M for Murder
Last updated: Sep 07, 2024
In my opinion, simplicity and naturalness are the secrets under the Grant’s elegance. Even a common suit, but well fitted, is a winner shot.
Very true!