Autumn has officially arrived in New York City, which means itâs time to indulge in your gazillionth rewatch of When Harry Met Sally and be reminded of just how good all of Billy Crystalâs clothes are in the movieâbut especially that one inescapable cream cable-knit sweater that will continue to pop up on internet moodboards every October from now until the end of time.
The sweater is an Aran-style fisherman pullover with a flatteringly loose drape and a cozy mock neck, and Harry demonstrates its versatility by deploying it in two separate scenes: once while lounging in an easy chair with a pair of (frankly slutty) gray sweatpants, and later with nice washed 501s and clean white Nikes as he decorates his apartment with Sally. Itâs become iconic both as a beloved bit of movie costuming as well as a marker of the ongoing decline in overall clothing quality: When comedian Ben Schwartz tried to pay homage to the look a couple of years back, onlookers were quick to point out that the fit and construction of his sweater could hardly compare to the original. Even Crystal himself canât accurately recreate the ensemble anymoreâa fun photo he posted on his 75th birthday last year was also hampered by an inferior knit.
Now, alarmingly, itâs come to light that the vaunted sweater might truly be lost to the sands of time. During an appearance on Today earlier this week, Crystal revealed that while he still has Miracle Maxâs hat from The Princess Bride and his chaps from City Slickers, heâs since lost track of Harryâs white jumper.
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âThe sweater, you know, itâs become important to people,â the actor told Todayâs Hoda Kotb. âAnd, uh, I canât find it. I realized about eight years ago I made a big contribution to the theater department at UCLA, and it was all these sweaters and clothes. I think it was in thatâ¦I think itâs at UCLA.
âUCLA, if youâre watching,â he continued, âplease check to see if thereâs this beautiful, big, iconic sweater.â
Weâre here simply to echo that request. Please, UCLA theater kids, hit pause on that overwrought production of True West youâre workshopping for a day or two and really give the premises a proper shakedown. This is a vital piece of cinema history weâre talking about here. And if you do happen upon it, maybe slide into my DMs and name your price before letting Mr. Crystal or anybody at the Academy Museum know about it. Thanks in advance.
