When Harry Met Sally

I’ll have what she’s having.

It’s New Years Eve. In film terms this means that it’s When Harry Met Sally time. I sat trying to think of another NYE affiliated film that comes close, but I was stumped. Do you know any?

Let’s be honest, no other rom com even comes close.

When Harry Met Sally is perfection. And screenwriter Nora Ephron is the ultimate goddess storyteller and master of dialogue, I’ll miss her forever. As stated here in Grantland, Ephron "isn’t interested in simply making Harry the player and Sally the goal; they share custody of their story." It has the New York backdrop, classic Jewish neuroses, finickity humour, an examination of friendships in the realest sense and it looks at men and women without shortchanging or elevating either.

It’s the kind of film you’ll be excited to show your daughter for the first time. How many other romcoms can you say that about?

I mean I’d lower the bar as far to say “is there any other rom com that doesn’t offend your entire being?”

That sweet, sweet summer of ’89 brought us both When Harry Met Sally and Do The Right Thing. And that’s why NYC is the place to be.

Also, style. Let’s do this.

We open on Meg Ryan as Sally aka Farrah Fawcett on full beam.

Except she's not. Because she's a sarcy lil twat. And it's brilliant.

She may swan around in those nice knit cardigans, well ironed pastel shirts and khaki shorts like a hoity toity camp leader but she's no waif. She's indignant and argumentative as hell. She's so much fun.

And this is how Sally and Harry first meet. Both graduating in Chicago and heading to New York, they're introduced via a mutual and share the drive. They also get on each others' last nerve.

Harry is young, cynical and boastful. He thinks he knows all there is to know. Sally is naive but strong minded, she's certain he doesn't really know all there is to know.

Spoiler alert: she's right.

So when they arrive in New York, Sally's Flippy Curl and Harry's Stained Hoodie say sayonara.
She's got a bumper sticker and a belt, and he's got a baseball bat and a laundry bag. They're just very different people.

Five years later and they bump into each other at the airport. This time Sally's look is more Secretarial Blowout. And she's found the only New Yorker whiter and blonder than her to go out with.

This photo below sums up 'Harry and Sally: The Early Years' pretty nicely. She's still in her journalistic daydream and he's like "oh hey girl want a lecture on sexual politics again"

We jump five years again and Sally has broken up with her Aryan Banker, but at least she's still into tweed and shoulder pads.

And she's discovered these magnificent glasses. And it's the start of the Meg Ryan In Turtleneck Golden Years. I know she's broken up with her boyfriend, but let's be real, she's winning. She's a legit  journalist and she's bezzies with Carrie Fisher.

She runs into Harry again. He's not a complete scruffbag now but he is getting divorced :(

This time they like each other. They're both starting fresh and need each others' perspectives and sense of humours. They also both wear great blazers now.

I miss this about film. We never get split screens of people in bed chatting on the landline any more, and we never will again.

I love this scene. It's the root of Woody Allen but filtered through shared experience. It's not one man's lone wankfest of his own problems, it's give and take. And it's pure Ephron.

*DRUMROLL FOR THE STYLE HIGHLIGHT*

It's this beauty. It was always going to be this beauty.

The hat, the blazer, the jumper, the trousers, the gloves, the boots. It's perfection. Add that to the autumnal trees and you've got yourself a movie promo poster.

Sally is Annie Hall, but she's Meg Ryan Annie Hall, if you know what I mean? I know what I mean.

I love Meg Ryan so much. When science people talk about when covalent bonds happen because two atoms of the same element form, I'm like "oh yeah, like when Nora Ephron and Meg Ryan met". Also known as perfection plus Sleepless in Seattle.

LOOK AT THIS JUMPER LIPSTICK COMBO

And now we've made it to the famous scene. Which don't get me wrong, is incredible, but that's the power of When Harry Met Sally; it's definitely not the funniest scene by a long way.

But it is hilarious. Billy Crystal's sad sack face in that check jumper is so good. And Meg Ryan committed 100%. And it's such a great contrast from one of the first scenes when Sally shouted about having had great sex in the road trip diner when she feels humiliated. No humiliation in sight now.

Also one of my favourite shirts in existence.

I love the double button and emblem.

So by now Harry and Sally are firm friends. They go to a New Years Eve party together.

And it's not awkward when the clock strikes midnight cuz they're just friends right?

Nah wait, it is awkward.

It's definitely awkward.

At least they both look like their best late 80's selves.

Why don't actresses ever get to wear huge winter coats anymore? That was a great time. Michelle Pfeiffer was also a pro at it.

THIS. This is my favourite When Harry Met Sally scene. The karaoke scene. They're both just being silly and larking about with hats in a department store, having a grand old time.

They find this new thing called a singing machine. They decide to sing. Because they're not monsters.

But bummer city because Harry's ex wife shows up and ruins the fun. The way Meg Ryan just carries on singing is comedy gold tho.

And then they argue and she's wearing the most Mom Jeans I've ever seen.

Harry and Sally are moving on. They agree to leave their exes behind and put themselves out there. Not with each other though :(

This pink dress is s'cute. What a great colour to go with such big hair.

The hair gets bigger. This is it's biggest moment and coupled with insane sobbing = hilarity ensues.

This is the face that Harry just can't resist. This is the face that leads to Harry and Sally having sex. I know. Unsurprisingly things get uncomfortable shortly after. The BFF to lovers course never runs smoothly. Our protagonists aren't speaking to each other.

Sally is the picture of "ergh fuck him". She goes wedding dress shopping with her pal Carrie Fisher but is really just down for snacking and bitching.

A lady in a suit saying IDGAF is my favourite thing.

Harry and Sally have to hang out at the wedding.

They argue. How you could argue with Meg Ryan when her shoulders are that big and keep a straight face are testament to the skills of Billy Crystal.

He's sorry. He calls her. A lot. He leaves very funny messages. He's very charming, that Harry.

But she ain't having it. She put herself out there and he let her down.

And I'm over here still feeling wistful for landlines.

But we all have to move on because it's New Years Eve again! Sally hates Harry and Harry is still grovelling. He's mopping around the New York streets when he realises that he's an idiot and he loves her. Because, duh.

So he runs to the party she's at to tell her.

She's like "You're pathetic and lonely and go away" for all of five seconds and then they snog.

YAY

YAY!

And now they join the rest of the couples on the sofa sharing their origin story. And what a beautiful story it is.

Look at these bloody cuties.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE

This is the year you can do what you said you'd do in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014.

You can do it. I believe in you.

Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal believe in you too.

Halloween Specials: Teen Witch

So I have lived 24 years on this Earth without watching Teen Witch. Shame on me. SHAME ON ME. Have you seen it? No? Well then SHAME ON YOU. To celebrate October (the month I personally prefer to sing Andy Williams' "It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year" along to) I'm looking at the style behind some of my favourite annual bewitching classics. And as I was making up my list, Teen Witch popped up on my 'recommended for you' and well the rest as they say, is history.

First things first about Teen Witch: this is not the Halloween film for you if you prefer to be scared shitless. The title Teen Witch probably gave that away. But just as a disclaimer anyway: Teen Witch is definitely for people who like Grease 2 level cheesiness and John Hughes style costume choices.

Second thing about Teen Witch: Blake Lively has an older sister. She's called Robyn Lively, and she plays the lead character, Louise Miller. 

In true 80s high school film fashion, Louise is a nerd who dreams of being popular. In the opening scene she dances around with the Resident Hunk in a truly beautiful urban neon landscape.

She climbs up a tall clock (?!) and falls into his arms...

Except she then wakes up to her real life. Which is not so glamourous. And extremely pastel. Oh, brother.

Another thing to note about Robyn Lively; she doesn't look anything like Blake Lively. Because I'm convinced she's actually Kate Nash and she invented the time machine.

I mean... it's unnerving.

Anyway, Geeky Nerd Louise Miller has a Geekier Nerdier friend who wears great hats.

And geeks in the late 80's are basically what Cool Kids look like now. So that's amusing.

I love those cat eye glasses.

Louise's style is the greatest. Don't get me wrong, she's no Andie or Duckie, but she definitely brings it. She wears huge trench coats, long pleated skirts and buttoned up shirts. She could be a Doc Marten's spokesperson, for sure.

But she chooses to wear ugly trainers instead. I guess they go with her trackies at least. If I saw this look IRL I would hate it but on her I love it. I'm a fickle person.



Yeah I struggled to get a good picture of her trainers/white socks/striped trackies/trench coat combo. But trust me, it's pretty crazy.

Speaking of pretty crazy, Louise meets a strange clairvoyant lady called Serena who is actually her Witch Sister or something.

She dresses like this. And her house looks like this. Because, of course.

She tells Louise that when she turns sixteen strange and wonderful things are going to start happening to her. She's incredibly blasé and vague about it all. These mysterious plot cruxes always are aren't they? Especially ones whose outfits consist of 80% mesh.

So Louise has her Sweet Sixteen party! And her little brother wears an incredible outfit, completely upstaging her, frankly.

Yep he has a shirt with a bow tie printed on it and he's also wearing a bow tie. If that isn't the most 80's setting I've ever seen I don't know what is.

Unfortunately no one turns up. BFF has to be the one to break it to Louise on the blower that some popular girl is having a party so the whole school decided to go to that instead.

Woe is Louise. It seems even some subtle Coca Cola product placement can't even cheer our protagonist up.

Fun fact about Teen Witch: All the denim in the world was used during production of the film.

Louise's knits seem to get bigger and her skirts longer the more depressed she is. We've all been there.

Her mum buys her an awful sweater vest and she's all "god mom!" but she wears it to the dance anyway cuz she's nice and respects her parental figures.

And actually, she says it's awful but I actually quite like it. There's something really mismatched about the colours, which I'm drawn to. Wouldn't wear it to a dance though, obvs.

Again, geeks in the eighties are so high fashion these days. Couldn't this guy be the 'snarky gay best friend' in a terrible sitcom about life, laughs and love... or something equally gagsome?

This film loves bow ties. And I love that about it.

Louise is like "nah, fuck this outfit mom" and gets changed in the toilets. Into a kind of Cyndi Lauper video extra type outfit. A lot of eye makeup happens.

Her hair gets exponentially bigger and a brightly coloured tutu is introduced over the top of another skirt. Layers and layers. This girl's an onion.

But knits are back (thank god) in her everyday life.

And this leaf patterned long dress which seemed a bit out of place but you know, what else are you going to wear when you sit on an abandoned carousel and learn magic spells?

This necklace is a magic locket. It's gives Louise a key to all of her powers. How does she use it? To try and turn all the popular girls against each other as a way of sabotage and self gain of course. Tina Fey has seen this movie.

I sincerely hope that leotards like that NEVER come back. No one thinks that high waisted leotards are a good idea unless they're high and wasted.

In main plot news its really seems like the popular guy is liking Louise. I mean, finally. I honestly can't remember what this guy's name is. I went to just say "oh let's just call him Brad" but now I think his name might legitimately be Brad.

BFF is back with yet another great hat. I want to play tennis dressed like this.

It's all a plastic pastel dream swirl.

Louise goes to see her Witch Sister Serena to cast a spell over the entire school to make her popular.

Why is she so beige? I don't know. Maybe she's on her way to riding club or something. She looks odd.

Oh it's because there needs to be a huge contrast because...

The spell works!! and catapults Louise into popularity!! And crazy clothes! What time is it? It's montage time!

Which means the best of denim is flashing before our eyes in 3,2,1

holy moly

Also, shoulder pads

But what does being popular even mean you might say. Well in Teen Witch this means that...

Girls dance enthusiastically behind you whenever you're walking anywhere...

Boys with lots of numbers written on them want to escort you everywhere...

And boys wearing blazers rap at you while you're walking home...

"Hey Leo! Romeo, Romeo where for art thou Romeo?" would be my personal catcall of choice.

And that's about the extent of "being popular." Oh also, popular girls also get to play around in sunflowers and be lead up to abandoned old houses by good looking guys. How could I miss that bit out

This jacket is my style highlight. I can't get enough of it. There's just so much going on.

Regular denim, acid wash denim, pastel pink, hot pink, turquoise and stripes, all on one jacket. It's mind blowing.

"Brad", or Brad, leads Louise on some sort of slow jazz 'cat and mouse' trip through this old house. Spoiler alert: he wants to get off with her. Nicholas Sparks has definitely seen this movie.

Yeah if you think that scene in The Notebook is cheesy YOU HAVE NO IDEA. This includes a soft lens and some randomly placed face sweat. That's all I'm gonna say.

Louise is back at school and everyone is dressing exactly like her. Also there are banners everywhere with her name written on them. Things have gone too far, to say the least.

Those jeans though.

She's even a cheerleader at this point. It's getting pretty gross.

Crowds of admirers gather outside her house and she has to sneak out the back to meet Brad.

I take it back about the Sweet Sixteen party scene before. THIS is definitely the most eighties thing I've ever seen:

As if her second crazily patterned denim jacket wasn't enough it's paired with his high-vis Adidas. Oh, and they're rowing. Even the sun is somehow incredibly eighties.

But does Brad really like her for her, or is he just under the popularity spell like everyone else? It's becoming problematic. Even Serena doesn't even know what to think.

I say who cares about Brad, you have all these new amazing clothes, that's what's important.

Those socks> Brad

But apparently "being genuine" and "being yourself" wins out and they reverse the spell.

It's time for another dance. How many dances do they need!

Louise gets her shoulder pads and her man so it's a happy ending.

It's such a shame the eighties ever had to end.