Mariella Gattini

Ewan McGregor made me care about Halston last night. I have a weakness for artists in general (some famous, and some not-so-famous whom I’m constantly discovering in public art exhibitions, writers’ conferences, and art fairs), but even with that inclination in my heart, Ewan McGregor surprised me, pushed me to forget about him, and made me focus on one of the best American fashion designers of all time, through the power of his talent.

I had forgotten that Halston had helped me survive the 70’s in style somehow, although in those days I was too young to wear his pieces. Besides the fact that my family didn’t have access to that kind of money. But his ideas of simpler and chic lines, colors, and textures spoke to me, and were mimicked in outfits I could afford, some of which came directly from Italy through family members.

The entire production of Halston, now on Netflix, and its look and feel, reminded me of who I was at the time: A bright mind full of energy and dreams that seemed to never end. Nothing else mattered because I had my entire life in front of me to make them true. And Halston was for me at that moment, when he was still alive, one of the sources of my inspiration to build something out of nothing.

Today, almost all my dreams have become true and I have to thank Ewan McGregor for reminding me of exactly that.

Halston, as it happened to Nureyev, lived in the fast lane of the rich and famous being gay—something people still today have trouble understanding and accepting as a natural way of being. His use of hard drugs stemmed from his need to withstand the demands of his own creativity and nature, and the rejection he must have felt from the very same people he was trying to impress.

He was a troubled and difficult man, but today we can look back at him with compassion and a mix of admiration and awe.

The fact that he was, and still is, famous doesn’t impress me in the least. What inspires me still this minute is the ability he had to reinvent himself and create a world that only he could create. What people think of him doesn’t matter to me either, I only care about my direct contact with his pieces and his genius, which now is inspiring me to create my own new world based on new and more recent dreams.

I would have probably hated to work with him, and I would have put him in his place just like Elsa Peretti did at one point or another. Nevertheless, his value as an artist and as a human being remained intact, despite his outbursts of rage caused by his desperate need for affirmation and acceptance.

Halston was one of the few who had access to the international jet-set, in times of the Concorde, and also was one of the few invited to Studio 54^*, a night club that actually lasted only about eighteen months, but still managed to make history in New York City and in the world.

Liza Minelli, one of Halston’s best friends, is portrayed by Krysta Rodriguez, an extraordinary actress, singer, and dancer. She especially is able to convey Liza’s sweetness, naïveté, and warmth.

The overall production and cast of Halston deserves attention and profound respect, since there is serious work in it, coming from writers, directors, producers, and actors. A work of serious, talented artists that can only yield opportunities for empathy, understanding, and connection.

UPDATE (July 16, 2022): Here I'm referring to the original Studio 54 night club created and owned by Steve Rubell and Ian Schrager.