Holiday Gift Guide for Chic Cinephiles: Part 9 — Trinkets Inspired by True Romance‘s Alabama Whitman
“He’s so cool, he’s so cool, he’s so cool.” Those are the words that ran through Alabama Whitman’s head whenever she looked at her Elvis-obsessed, kung fu-loving, ultra-protective husband, Clarence Worley, in the Quentin Tarantino-written, Tony Scott-directed cult classic True Romance. Though she was a call girl who initially met her future husband after his employer paid for her services as a birthday gift, Alabama fell madly in love with Clarence during that first date, confessing her true profession and her romantic feelings later that evening. Luckily for her, Clarence reciprocated those feelings and vowed to take her away from her former life. The following day, the two were wed and their Bonnie & Clyde-esque adventures soon commenced. A badass in leopard print leggings, off-the-shoulder tops, and turquoise shades, Alabama Whitman’s style combined Western, 1950s rockabilly, and urban elements, while adding her very own kitschy twist to the fashion recipe. And whether she was doing cartwheels outside of her father-in-law’s home in Detroit, changing clothes inside a phone booth by the side of the road, riding next to Clarence in his pink Cadillac, or defending herself against violent drug dealers in search of their stolen cocaine, Alabama always showed a lot of heart — which is why she inspired the final installment of this year’s Holiday Gift Guide for Chic Cinephiles! Check out all the goodies inspired by the character Patricia Arquette brought to life, a lady that had viewers thinking, “She’s so cool.”
Ray-Ban Justin Sunglasses, $125. Available at Ray-Ban.com
When laying against the hood of Clarence’s car wearing nothing but a turquoise bra, a cow print mini skirt adorned with a wide turquoise belt, and embellished blue cowgirl boots, Alabama kept her look young and fresh through her matching sunnies, which closely resembled those shown here. These Ray-Ban Justin Sunglasses take the famous Wayfarer silhouette and modernize it by adding slightly larger rectangular lenses in exciting new colors and giving the vibrant frames a rubberized finish.
H&M Leopard Print Faux Fur Coat, $99. Available at H&M stores and HM.com
Even on her wedding day, Alabama wore her beloved faux fur leopard coat, throwing it over a pin-up girl-worthy red halter dress for a saucy and vampy look. Whether worn over a graphic tee or a little black dress, this faux fur jacket will add a femme fatale vibe to any ensemble.
Stop Staring! “Humbly Haute” Polka Dot Dress, $189.99. Available at ModCloth.com
What was Alabama wearing during the epic shoot-out at the Beverly Hills Ambassador Hotel that transpired when police interrupted an already-complicated drug deal involving a Hollywood director? Well, she was crawling under furniture, avoiding the bullets flying over her head in a red A-line dress with white polka dots and a turquoise hoodie. For a similarly cool, rockabilly-inspired, Betty Boop-esque look, gals can shimmy into this retro A-line dress by Stop-Staring!, which features sweet ruching along the sweetheart neckline and a built-in sash along the waistline with an oversized bow motif.
Lipstick Queen Liquid Assets Kit, $38. Available at LipstickQueen.com
Subtlety and timidity are foreign concepts to a girl as boisterous, vivacious, and adventurous as Alabama, and her lip color choices reflect her intrepid spirit. Thrill-seekers like Alabama, then, will love the Lipstick Queen Liquid Assets kit, which features three full-bodied liquid lipstick colors that are as richly pigmented as standard cream lipsticks but feature the vinyl-like sheen associated with lip glosses (sans the stickiness!). Formulated with jojoba seed oil and vitamin E to nourish, moisturize, soften and protect lips, these liquid lipsticks last for hours at a time without losing their intensity.
The three shades in this kit are: Vesuvian Red, a deep, mouth-watering, juicy cherry red; Vesuvian Blush, a fleshy peach shade with warm nude undertones and a hint of golden shimmer; and Vesuvian Fuchsia, a bright, blazing, girly magenta pink. Check out swatches of these vixen-worthy Vesuvian shades!
Lest we forget, Clarence insisted Alabama tasted like a peach (a claim his dad confirmed when he smooched his new daughter-in-law in one of the film’s weirder scenes). Given how much Clarence craved her kisses, Alabama made sure to keep her pout looking irresistible!
Blue Off-Shoulder Pleated Blouse, $18.17. Available at SheInside.com
Throughout the film, Alabama wore a series of navel-grazing, off-the-shoulder tops with ruffled overlays along the neckline: a white one with blue polka dots during her road trip to LA with Clarence and later a sheer blue one with Bohemian embroidery (which she famously paired with pink leopard print leggings). For a similar look, gals can try rocking this blue chiffon top, which features a ruffled collar and elasticized waist.
Fausto Puglisi Belt, $195. Available at Yoox.com
Aside from her turquoise shades, Alabama relied primarily on her wide turquoise belt to accessorize her playful, so tacky-they’re-cute ensembles. Sure, you may choose to side-step the cow print miniskirt, but don’t underestimate the styling power of a bold belt. Made of textile fibers, this 2.34″ tall belt will breathe some personality into any ensemble— whether it’s a belted cardigan look or an A-line dress with a cinched waist.
Tripp NYC Leopard Print Pants, $59. Available at Yoox.com
Not ready to rock a cropped, off-the-shoulder top with bright pink spandex leggings? Then opt for a slightly more modest twist on Alabama’s signature look by scooping up these cotton twill mid-rise pants, which feature the pink leopard print design of Alabama’s favorite bottoms.
OPI Wrapped Wild for the Holidays Duo, $16.95. Available at Drugstore.com and Sally Beauty Supply stores.
As an animal print lover, Alabama would swoon over these limited-edition nail lacquer duos, each of which comes with a cheetah-print infinity scarf that works perfectly with the queen-of-the-jungle motif. The OPI Wrapped Wild for the Holidays Duo shown above at left incorporates the Rollin’ in the Cashmere nail lacquer, a glamorous yellow gold that would perfectly match Clarence’s Elvis-inspired shades; and Love Is Hot & Coal, an earthy, muddy, brown with grayish undertones and subtle purple shimmer. This set could not be more perfect for the woman whose hotel of choice was the Safari Inn!
Gap 1969 Western Denim Shirt, $59.99. Available at Gap.com
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SOL Republic Punk, $69.99. Available at Best Buy, RadioShack, SolRepublic.com and other leading retailers.
Given how much Alabama and Clarence love Elvis, they’d need reliable sound equipment through which to jam to such hits as “Viva Las Vegas,” “Jailhouse Rock,” “Hound Dog,” and “Blue Suede Shoes.” With the ultra-portable Sol Republic Punk speaker, the caper-prone couple could listen to the tunes saved on their mobile phones (or any Bluetooth device, for that matter) whether driving around in Clarence’s pink Cadillac or playing with their son on a Cancún beach. Alabama could simply toss this lightweight but reliable speaker in her handbag and take it out when embarking on any adventure. Since the speaker is water, dirt, and shock resistant, it can withstand splashing from nearby pools or impromptu showers, mud flying during a bike ride, sand flung at the beach, and all the rough-and-tumble wear and tear of daily life. Not only does the wireless speaker have an impressive 60-foot range, but it belts out sound without any distortion, allowing users to enjoy both the volume level and clarity they desire. And, since it contains a line-in and line-out port, it can also be connected to non-Bluetooth devices like home sound systems and car stereos.
Harley-Davidson Lorely Boots, $136.99. Available at 6pm.com
While driving cross-country with Clarence, Alabama tapped into her inner cowgirl with some saucy blue Western boots. Emulate the look with the full grain leather Harley-Davidson Lorely boots, featuring intricate stitching along the 11 1/4″-tall shaft.
Jennifer Loiselle “Baby Be Mine” Acrylic Earrings, $89. Available at Boticca.com
Heart-shaped acrylic earrings abound in Alabama’s jewelry box. To achieve a similarly cheeky effect, funky femmes can try rocking these earrings, made of laser-cut black acrylic and layered with shiny pink mirror hearts which are, in turn, surrounded by sparkling Swarovski crystals.
Kat Von D Studded Kiss Lipstick Set, $39. Available at Sephora.com
Celebrity tattoo artist Kat Von D is serious about long-lasting lipstick, which is why the lipsticks she creates via her long-time collaboration with Sephora practically have the staying power of a tattoo. Her Studded Kiss Lipsticks, then, stay on lips for up to 10 hours, and they’re so richly pigmented that a single swipe will allow you to achieve full coverage. This holiday, fans of bold, statement-making pouts will hopefully find this audacious, totally rad lipstick set under their trees. The Kat Von D Studded Kiss Lipstick Set incorporates nine deluxe mini lipsticks, all in sleek black tubes covered with row after row of sinister-looking, rock ‘n’ roll chic, pyramid-shaped studs. Below, you’ll find swatches of all nine shades, which range from fiery reds to iridescent violets and playful pink nudes.
First, check out swatches of Motorhead, a blackened, Merlot-esque red; Lovecraft, a cool dusty rose shade with fleshy undertones; and Hexagram, a sanguine, vampiric red.
Next, behold another three shades: Bachelorette, which blurs the line between a deep flamingo pink and a cherry lollipop red; Wonderchilde, an out-of-this-world neon lilac with iridescent pearl particles for a galactic feel; and Sexer, an ’80s-flavored neon pink.
Already in love with the Studded Kiss set? Then behold the last three lipstick studs: Countess, a fiery vermillion red; Agatha, a creamy, peachy nude;a and Adora, a metallic candy apple red.
From the edginess of the colors to their long-lasting nature and outlaw-worthy packaging, Alabama types would feel like rock stars when in possession of these lipsticks.
Uniqlo Heattech Fleece Long Sleeve Zip Hoodie, $22.90. Available at Uniqlo.com
Surviving the brisk winter nights in Motor City can prove challenging for a gal from Tallahassee, Florida such as Alabama Whitman. Sure, she already has a comfy turquoise hoodie in her closet, but it’s nowhere near as warm as this zip-up sweater, which is made of a blend of fleece and Uniqlo’s trademark Heattech fabric, which converts perspiration into water vapor so as to increase overall warmth.
Converse Foil Polka Dot Chuck Taylor All-Star Sneakers, $70. Available at Converse.com
When visiting Clarence’s dad, Alabama kept her look casual and street cool with a pair of black Chucks. Take a cue from the blonde bombshell and try an off-duty look that incorporates these hi-top kicks, featuring silver foil polka dots.
H&M Lace Push-Up Bra, $14.95. Available at HM.com
Even Alabama’s undergarments were cheeky! While other women stick to nude, black, and white bras, Alabama flaunted a turquoise over-the-shoulder boulder holder — like this lacy push-up number from H&M —throughout the film.
Mark Cross Hadley Small Flap Bag, $2895. Available at MarkCross1845.com
She’s been carrying her bright pink, trunk-shaped, miniature box handbag for years now, so Alabama would probably appreciate the opportunity to switch things up. Made of Italian hair calf leather, this elegant satchel features the type of nostalgic silhouette Alabama favors along with a funky leopard print.
L’Oréal Professionnel Mythic Oil Souffle d’Or Shampoo and Conditioner, $28 each. Visit LPsalons.com to find a retailer near you.
To keep her golden tresses lustrous and silky soft, Alabama might rely on the L’Oréal Professionnel Mythic Oil Souffle D’Or Shampoo and Conditioner, which give hair a major radiance boost. Both the shampoo and conditioner are paraben-free and they’re formulated with hydrating and strengthening argan oil (a great source of Omega 3 fatty acids and vitamin E) and Omega 6-rich safflower oil, which helps to soothe and nourish the scalp, making hair stronger at the root. In addition to these nourishing botanicals (which also prevent hair color from fading thanks to their vitamin E content, which neutralizes UV rays), the Mythic Oil Souffle d’Or products contain gold micro-particles that, like special fairy dust for tresses, reflect oncoming light and make strands look hypnotically glamorous.
Moncler Charmes Coat, $1795. Available at the Moncler New York Boutique (90 Prince Street, New York NY 10012). Call 646.350.3620 for info.
Should Alabama ever wind up back in Detroit in the winter time, she can stay cozy in this hip-length Moncler down jacket, featuring snap closures along the front and high funnel neck. The snow leopard print makes for a fun wintry twist on Alabama’s go-to feline motif, and the ombré effect along the hemline adds an artistic, contemporary feel to the design.
