Ali MacGraw lauches a collaboration with Butter Shoes. All photos by Jenna Bascom.
Before rising to fame in her 1970's hit movie Love Story, Ali MacGraw worked in fashion at Harper's Bazaar and Vogue. You might say her career has come full circle, as she is back in fashion, launching a collaboration with footwear brand, Butter for spring/summer 2020. Last week, at FOOTWEAR @ COTERIE, MacGraw sat down with FN’s women’s editor Nikara Johns to talk shoes and style. Here are five things we learned from the starlet.
1) Everyone has to start somewhere.
MacGraw’s first job out of college was at Harper's Bazaar making $54 a week. “I’m sure you’ve all seen The Devil Wears Prada. Well, I was the Anne Hathaway part, but not dressed like that because we couldn’t borrow from the closet. And not driven around in black cars; we had to run to Bloomingdale's to get the stuff that we were looking for. And it was fabulous," she recalls.
2) Ballet flats never go out of style.
MacGraw’s been wearing silver ballet slippers for 50 years and swears that she can’t live without them. “The first time I noticed how cool they were was when I saw pictures of Audrey Hepburn when she did her first movie. And she had on skinny pants with real ballet slippers...We’re making a vegan pair [with Butter], and I can’t wait," she exclaims.
3) Age is only a number.
“I get really sad when I see someone my age who is totally freaked out by being 80. If you’re lucky to be a healthy 80-year-old, then you must go out there and live. And live the best you can,” she says.
4) It's cool to mix vintage with new.
“I love vintage clothing," shares MacGraw. "If you’re lucky, it’s brilliantly made of incredible fabric. But my favorite designers right now are The Row. I have a closet full of The Row.”
5) Embrace your personal style.
“Style is a big deal to me," she says. "Fashion isn’t. And there’s a really big difference...And I think we're lucky now, because for the first time since I can remember, there is no 'look.' I look all around and everybody is put together differently and I love it.”
