Jack Nicholson as Jack Torrance in The Shining (1980)
Vitals
Jack Nicholson as Jack Torrance, former teacher, aspiring writer, and potential hotel caretaker
Silver Creek, Colorado, Fall 1979
Film: The Shining
Release Date: May 23, 1980
Director: Stanley Kubrick
Costume Designer: Milena Canonero
WARNING! Spoilers ahead!
Background
Want to inject some Halloween spirit into your office attire this week without sending your co-workers into a panic? Take seasonal inspiration from Jack Torrance’s tweed jacket and tie as he successfully interviewed for the job of caretaker of the Overlook Hotel in Stanley Kubrick’s adaptation of Stephen King’s The Shining.
Jack’s on his best behavior as he sits down for his interview with the hotel’s affable manager Stuart Ullman (Barry Nelson), who—given the hotel’s murderous past—takes care to forewarn Jack of the potential for cabin fever. Through Jack Nicholson’s trademark grin, the interviewee reassures Ullman that “five months of peace is just what I want,” as he outlines a new writing project.
What’d He Wear?
From his plastered smile to almost-obsequious amiability, Jack’s clearly trying to make a good impression for the interview… despite it literally resulting to be the job from hell. He may not own a full two-piece suit, so he cobbles together the pieces from his days in academia—note the professorial tweed jacket and knitted tie—and tried to create the effect of a suit with gray trousers which may also be the only non-denim pants he owns.
Made from a gray-and-black broken twill tweed, Jack’s two-button sports coat has notch lapels, a welted breast pocket, and straight hip pockets with flaps that he occasionally wears tucked into the pockets themselves. Cut with a long single vent that dates it more than the moderately timeless width of the notch lapels, the jacket also has the unique detail of a single button on each cuff rather than the more traditional three, four, or even two.
Jack wears a muted teal cotton shirt patterned with a white graph-check that’s offset by a thinner overlay check bisecting each cell. The two chest pockets with their squared flaps and the unique spread of the soft collar suggests that this is a sportier shirt not typically worn with a tie, contributing to Jack’s scrappy quasi-academic appearance. The texture of his bottle-green knitted tie coordinates with the jacket’s coarse tweed, though the tie’s viridescence clashes against the predominantly teal shirt.
Jack’s double reverse-pleated trousers are a medium-to-dark shade of gray that doesn’t quite contrast enough against the jacket, creating too much of a mismatched suit effect. The trousers have side pockets and plain-hemmed bottoms that are just flared enough to be fashionable in the late ’70s. He holds the trousers up with a brown leather belt that has a gold-finished squared single-prong buckle.
Jack strides through the Overlook lobby.
Jack’s burgundy leather moc-toe penny loafers coordinate with the informality of his jacket and tie, the shoe leather also echoing his belt leather. Gray socks appropriately continue the trouser line into his shoes.
Joined by Bill Watson, Stuart Ullman feels confidence that he’s making the right choice with Jack Torrance.
The next time we see Jack, he’s bringing his family to the Overlook in their cramped yellow Volkswagen. He wears another tweed sport jacket, though he’s swapped out his tie for a sweater and wears jeans.
How to Get the Look
Jack Nicholson as Jack Torrance in The Shining (1980)
In an increasingly informal culture, Jack’s interview garb makes the argument for dressing up more casual shirts with textured Ivy staples like tweed sports coats and knit ties.
- Gray-and-black broken twill tweed single-breasted 2-button sport jacket with notch lapels, welted breast pocket, straight flapped hip pockets, 1-button cuffs, and long single vent
- Teal graph-checked cotton sports shirt with spread collar, two squared-flap chest pockets, and button cuffs
- Bottle-green knitted tie with flat bottom
- Dark gray wool double reverse-pleated trousers with belt loops, side pockets, and plain-hemmed bottoms
- Brown leather belt with squared brass-finished single-prong buckle
- Burgundy leather moc-toe penny loafers
- Gray socks
I find a green knitted tie is a great statement piece that belongs in every man’s wardrobe. I prefer the look of knitted silk, though wool knit ties also offer a rugged coarseness; polyester knits are less ideal but may be preferred for budget-minded gents looking to see if the look is right for them.
Based on construction and quality, you can find green knitted ties for any budget such as:
- Gianni Feraud Knitted Tie in “khaki” (but it’s actually green) polyester (
$73$16, ASOS) - Marks & Spencer Skinny Square End Knitted Tie in dark green polyester ($22, M&S)
- Polo Ralph Lauren Knit Silk Tie in green silk ($95, Ralph Lauren)
- Ted Baker Sold Knit Linen & Silk Skinny Tie in green linen/silk blend ($95, Nordstrom)
- The Tie Bar Knitted Tie in hunter green silk ($25, The Tie Bar)
- WANDM Men’s Knit Tie in green polyester ($13.99, Amazon)
All prices and availability above updated as of October 17, 2021.
Do Yourself a Favor and…
Check out the movie and read Stephen King’s novel.
The Quote
I’m lookin’ for a change…
The post The Shining — Jack’s Gray Tweed Interview Sport Jacket appeared first on BAMF Style.