Gentlewoman style at its finest: Fran Lebowitz
Photos; Netflix
We all need a laugh right now and the new Fran Lebowitz series Pretend It’s a City by Martin Scorsese, on Netflix, is a delight. The writer and raconteur is hilarious on what she loves and hates (but mostly the latter) about living in New York. From lawn chairs in Times Square to pedestrians coming down the street looking at their mobile phones and not where they’re going, ‘Basically, the only person looking where they’re going in this city is me,’ says the 70-year-old author in conversation with her old friend Marty, ‘Pretend it’s a City – where there are other people…’ And so this becomes the title of her manifesto on how to live in a metropolis. Filmed in 2019 before the pandemic, the series includes guest speaking events as well as other recorded interviews with Spike Lee, Alec Baldwin and Toni Morrison. I’d love to hear Lebowitz’s complaints about joggers barrelling down the pavement, panting all over everyone in lockdown…
Fran Lebowitz looking where she’s going
Each of the seven episodes has a theme: books, money, wellness, music – there’s a fantastic tale about going to see the jazz musician Charles Mingus. Lebowitz admits that the first thing she’d change about New York would be the subway system, ‘The L Train was closed because there was a foul odour – I mean how much worse could it smell? Who even noticed it?’
Photo: Vogue
As well as the gift of the gab, Lebowitz has a great line in uniform dressing. The signature rolled-up jeans (I think they’re Levi’s 501s) worn with cowboy boots and a Savile Row blazer. She shows off her gold swirly cufflinks designed by Alexander Calder in one episode – and I would’ve loved a segment on her style, Scorsese missed a trick. In an interview with the FT’s How To Spend It Lebowitz talks about her penchant for having Anderson & Sheppard jackets made on Savile Row, ‘They said they didn’t make clothes for women, and that they’ve only ever made clothes for one woman, and that was Marlene Dietrich. So that was kind of a conversation stopper. But a woman who gets discouraged by being turned down once is a woman you’ve never heard of.’
This is gentlewoman style at its finest.
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More on Fran Lebowitz’s style HERE.
Discussion (26 Comments)
Started the latest Call My Agent this week, Mrs Tonia – and yes watching it (and the crime drama Spiral) is giving me something to look forward to. A weekend in Paris, when we’re allowed to travel again…
Sara says:
Love, love, love Spiral. Have done from the beginning. Will have serious withdrawal symptoms when this series finishes, it is the last. Will have to rewatch from the beginning. Pining for Paris.
MaureenC says:
This looks great, I’ve been to the US several times but New York only once and I loved it. I love visiting cities and feed off the energy, topping up my levels with a city fix contributes so to being happy living in Devon. I’ve missed that a lot this last year and have found myself watching films set in my favourite cities getting my fix vicariously. By coincidence last night was New York with Desperately Seeking Susan back when I was pretty cool, though possibly not as cool as Madonna in DSS!
One of my brothers lives in New York and so I’ve visited the city quite a lot – though not recently – and I love seeing it in films. It’s funny though, Maureen – living in a city has the opposite effect. I’m obsessed with watching programmes like David Attenborough’s new series, Winter Watch and Gardener’s World to get my nature fix!
Kim Hunt says:
This series has restored my belief in individuality. Not only is Frans style superb so are her observations – her willingness to talk frankly without resorting to crudeness. Her intelligence permeates into her humour allowing it to impress us without shocking. Its the New York I want to remember and Love.
June says:
I love this. And love Fran Liebowitz. I don’t have Netflix (am I the only person in the world?), but may get it just for this!
Sarah Mowl says:
I have fallen in love with her style after seeing her in the film. Yes, they are 501’s. I would love love to get a pair of those type of jeans but it’s going to have to wait until ‘non-essential’. shops re-open & where you can actually try clothes on. The thought of buying jeans online, trying them on, returning them repeat repeat repeat leaves with dread. BUT it’s a great look.
Margaret Fiddes says:
Great article .
Men’s suits are so much more stylish than womens trouser suits .
I wear large mens white shirts and vintage cuff links work great as the sleeves are slightly long .Karen says:
Having watched the first three episodes, I’m disappointed to say that I agree with you.
It was probably unrealistic to expect ‘laugh out loud’ humour. I just expected her to be funny!
Hi Alyson,
I loved Pretend It’s a City and Fran. I am walking the streets of New York City everyday although my perimeter is limited. I walk over 2 miles a day. Many scenes are set at the Queens Museum where she is standing in a scale-model of the city. Normally you would view the model from a walkway above it. I would love to have a jacket and pant made by a Saville Row tailor as a go-to outfit. I am think a dark navy-blue or pinstripe. So chic. Best to you, Alyson.Hi Alyson, Yes I believe Fran is wearing vintage Levis 501s with the red stitched selvedge edge. I wore them most days between 1985 and 1990. Have always loved wearing tailored jackets with jeans, especially Vivienne Westwood jackets that I used to hunt down on the cheap. By the way, I have mentioned your blog/podcast/instagram to an over 50s community that I have started called Revolution 50. It’s for people who are looking to the future and not dwelling on the past. I love what you are doing. We have a closed LinkedIn group and an Instagram (that celebrates all sorts of people over the age of 50), so it’s not particularly fashion forward but shows what people are really like in my demographic and the diverse range of different jobs and interests that they have. So of you know anyone over 50 who would like to be posted on our community instagram they are very welcome. Any way, love your outlook. Julie
Ana says:
I have finished watching it last week. “Think before you speak, read before you think” is one of the best phrases I have ever heard
Mrs Tonia says:
Thanks so much Alyson for your recommendation of Pretend It’s a City. I knew the name Fran Leibowitz and of her books but not her wit. This has really cheered me up. The model of New York , her chats with Martin Scorsese about the old New York of their youth versus the pre Covid Twenty First century version. Very enjoyable. Worth listening to and watching.
Katherine C. James says:
Have loved both Fran Lebowitz and Martin Scorsese for years, and I look forward to watching this. It surprises me to read Scorsese didn’t address Lebowitz’s style, since it’s such a central part of how she indicates who she is. Since Scorsese missed that trick, maybe you could step in. I’d love to read a conversation between the two of you on her style.
Saw it recently, she is absolutely delightful. As someone who almost always wears pants, especially like the way she dresses.
Monique says:
She floors me with her particular brand of “common sense” (which we know, ain’t so common). The series is funny, nostalgic and bristling with directness. It’s apparent immediately why Scorsese wanted to do this.
I love her.
maudie says:
How brilliant to have something new and a bit different to watch on tv – really look forward to hunkering down and watching these episodes. Fran Lebowitz must surely be an honorary gentlewoman with immense style and chutzpah! Like Diana Vreeland, Ms Lebowitz has that magnificent beauty that the French call ‘jolie laide’, which I personally find so much more attractive and interesting than ‘regular’ and predictable faces. I know what I am watching tonight!
Longdenlife says:
On my list of things to watch!
My favourite ever pair of 501’s were a pair I ‘stole’ from a builder in the 90s – they were newish to him and had just the right amount of wear in them. I worked as a PA in a building company and asked him every so nicely if I could buy them off him and he agreed. He bought them in the following week all washed and ironed! Oh the audacity of a 21 year old! I wore them pulled right in with a plain black leather belt and a burgundy coloured velvet jacket (courtesy of Oxfam) with a pair of converse type boots and a buzz cut. Wore them until they sadly fell apart years later. Now reminiscing!
That outfit sounds The Business!! Can’t believe the builder did the decent thing -what a star.
I have just binge-watched this fabulous programme – one episode was not enough! I sat and knitted (my new Lockdown beginner’s activity) and watched the whole lot! Thanks so much for recommending this – one of the best things I have seen on the dreaded box for ages.
I love her to the moon and back, what a human being, one to be celebrated and treasured! I am watching this series slowly it is to be cherished in bite sized pieces.
Thanks for highlighting!Ashley
fran 
Susan 
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Since you recommend it Alyson I shall give it a look.
I’ve watched Bridgerton in full. Certainly distracting and handsome to look at. And there’s to be a second series and maybe even more since there are eight novels in total.
Given that Season 4 of Call My Agent ( Dix pour Cent) has returned to Netflix I’ve gone back to the start of the series choosing guest actors I like. For example Nathalie Baye and her real life daughter with Johnny Halliday Laura Smets playing competitive mother daughter actors. Series one. Perfect for now and s reminder of Paris and the French language and style at a time all of these borders are locked.
Good midwinter viewing to all.