Jude Law as Halston?

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

Today, Fashionista reports on a rumor that Jude Law is set to play fashion designer Halston in a biopic being produced by the Weinstein Co. (As you may know, the company co-produces ‘Project Runway’ and has a sizable stake in the Halston label.)

Law makes for a great choice, as he is as soft and pretty as the socialites that Halston clothed. But his chiseled chin lends him some masculine gravitas -- much like Cary Grant.

I always assumed that Halston grew up on Park Avenue and spent precocious childhood afternoons zig-zagging around the Met. Nope. He was actually born Roy Frowick Halston in Des Moines, Iowa, in 1932 and grew up on soap box derbies and fishing. I love that. Like Ralph Lauren, he re-created himself by designing the clothes his alter-ego would wear.

Fave Halston quote? ‘You are only as good as the people you dress.’ If that’s true, then all of the designers who scramble to clothe celebs like Lindsay Lohan ain’t all that good. Halston wardrobed ladies like Liz Taylor and Jackie O.

Not so sure about the choice to have Shirley MacLaine play the older Coco Chanel in another fashion biopic for Lifetime. Katharine Hepburn once played the grand dame on Broadway and her severe features served her well. MacLaine feels too American and I suspect that we will see a forced haughtiness. Still, I may be shortchanging the actress, as ‘The Apartment’ is one of my favorite movies and in some weird Pavlovian impulse, I always see her in that role.

Other biopics being bandied around Hollywood? Marc Jacobs, Vivienne Westwood, and two other films devoted to the life of Chanel.

Photo credits: Halston, Weinstein Co.; Law, Getty Images