Manspiration Month: Billy Mack

Time for the big reveal! Many of you guessed it: Billy Mack (possibly the greatest Christmas character ever), the "bad granddad" of rock n' roll from "Love, Actually" (possibly the greatest Christmas movie ever).

Billy is a formerly-huge rock star who tries to jump start his career with a holiday version of one of his hit singles - only, because he's so very *Billy*, he does so in the most sarcastic, irreverent, way possible. He doesn't play the music industry's game. He knows his time as their golden boy has passed, and he can't win by the usual rules. But he comes out on top, anyway. Score one for having a sense of humor about yourself and blazing your own trails.

You don't know how hard it was for me to NOT run out and buy a cobalt Nexx blouse for my homage to Billy's paint-encrusted Christmas suit... but I held firm and pulled out this lighter blue shirt instead. Picture #2 shows me miming the scene in which Billy, with painful yet typical male awkwardness, sloughs off his cavalier shell for long enough to give a heartfelt thank you to his manager. It's almost as if poor Billy would rather *gesture* out his message, if only he could. As funny as Bill Nighy's poses may be on their own, they show us how difficult -- and how important -- his character's words really are.

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I feel it in my fingers: this post will have some wanting me to b***** off – but as dire chance and fateful c***-up would have it, the salty language is integral to the charm of today’s inspiration. I hope the outfit fits the bill enough that you can forgive me. I know that this white jacket will be getting lots of my love, actually, same as these British boots that continue to make my heart sing.

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41 Comments

  • Angie replied 11 years ago

    So fun! I love that jacket SO MUCH. It's perfect with the striped skirt!

    I am stuck as far as guessing the inspiration. Clearly, I don't watch enough tele :(

  • celia replied 11 years ago

    I am hopeless at guessing your hero of the day but *love* this outfit. The skirt and jacket combination are amazing.

  • Sara L. replied 11 years ago

    I love the bright top and the neutral striped bottom! It's so hot here that just looking at your jacket and boots makes me feel like melting. Enjoy your cool(er) weather!

  • RandomThoughts (Andrea) replied 11 years ago

    I don't want to give it away but I think I know! Oh hell, if you can't take the heat stay out of the kitchen. ;-)

    Skip if you don't want to see my answer....

    Gordon Ramsey

  • Transcona Shannon replied 11 years ago

    That jacket is soooooo perfect on you and love it paired with the striped skirt...of course I don't need to tell you how fab the boots are!

    As for today's man-spiration guess, I could be wrong but I'm going with the initials KR???

  • L'Abeille replied 11 years ago

    Love love that outfit.
    That is an air guitar in #2, right?
    Beyond that my guesses are too unformed so I'll wait.

  • rae replied 11 years ago

    Andrea, that's a great guess! I did not have GR in mind, but now that you say it, he does look a bit similar and fits some of the clues. :)

  • replied 11 years ago

    I have no idea, who it is, but I LOVE the outfit :) That jacket is amazing and so perfect paired with the striped skirt and boots!

  • Diana replied 11 years ago

    I have no idea who today's inspiration is, but I really like this outfit! White jacket is fantastic with the stripey skirt.

  • cheryle (Dianthus) replied 11 years ago

    I love the outfit.

    My thought when I read the first line was the character in Love Actually who is a washed up rock star who re-makes a song for a Xmas contest. The first line of the song is "I feel it in my fingers...".

    could be way off base on the guess. I'm really enjoying the Manspirations.

  • fern replied 11 years ago

    This is awesome. Do you feel like you are dressing more boldly for manspiration?

    You are a British rock star, for sure, but I might have a different one in mind than Dianthus.

  • Isis replied 11 years ago

    Rae, I have no idea. But I'm just loving your Manspirations! Every one is killer!

  • morethanbeige replied 11 years ago

    Love the outfit, love the game. YLF!

    Yes, I'm with dianthus....BN

  • Classically Casual replied 11 years ago

    MJ???

  • RandomThoughts (Andrea) replied 11 years ago

    I started to second guess myself with the rocker hints but... :)

  • catgirl replied 11 years ago

    I wish I could find those boots in my size in grey! You look fabulous and the white jacket is indeed perfect for you. Racking my brains on the inspiration...

  • ManidipaM replied 11 years ago

    I'm going with Billy Mack too, because of the song and the jacket! Fabulous outfit, too, Rae --- love the crisp brightness of the sky blue against that great jacket and the dynamite B&W skirt!

  • Kiwichik replied 11 years ago

    Great air guitar pose to go without equally great outfit. I'm completely hopeless at guessing anybof your manspiration idols so I won't embarass myself by trying.

  • nancylee replied 11 years ago

    This outfit is just too too cool, Rae. Rock on!

  • Transcona Shannon replied 11 years ago

    The suspense is killing me...

  • Sylvie replied 11 years ago

    Ok, guessing via song hints + wikipedia: Rod Stewart?

    He is wearing a white jacket in at least one online photo.

  • Vicki replied 11 years ago

    Oh, do I love your pose in #2 and I am a confirmed "Rae groupie." Nothing more needs to be said about the jacket, because I was there at the conception and as for those killer boots, OMG, these are so fab. Then, you totally blew me off stage and into the crowd with the aqua blouse and striped skirt. Luckily, I live around your parts and have a backstage pass! As for guessing anything, I'm like Angie and don't watch enough tele.

  • Sona replied 11 years ago

    I so love this. And I'm just now getting to pore over your manspiration outfits and posts! What a supercool idea and your clues are terrific. fab writing Rae!!

    ETA: for spelling typos!

  • rae replied 11 years ago

    Thanks, everyone - this outfit is so easy and comfy, yet I feel great in it.

    Vicki, remember what our admirer in PF Chang's said: we have to stay friends even after we all become famous. ;)

    For anyone who is still puzzling, the clues are:
    - "I feel it in my fingers"
    - "as dire chance and fateful c***-up would have it"
    - bill
    - love, actually
    - British
    - sing

  • RandomThoughts (Andrea) replied 11 years ago

    I cheated and know who it is, but for the life of me would NEVER EVER have guessed it. Nor can I find the inspiration photo!

    Total fan of the actor, never saw the flick.

  • rae replied 11 years ago

    I have *several* amazing inspiration photos to post tonight! The film is a classic, IMO. I watch it several times a year. Great dialogue and not sappy, though that's what I'd assumed before watching it.

  • christieanne replied 11 years ago

    My favorite Christmas movie!

  • cheryle (Dianthus) replied 11 years ago

    I hadn't even noticed that Love Actually was in your post. As soon as I read the first line, I thought of the character doing a radio interview. I am usually clueless about things like this and figured I was out to lunch. I hope I didn't spoil the fun.

  • Aida replied 11 years ago

    Great outfit! The French blue button-up shirt is rather unexpected here (in a good way) to me. Love seeing that sassy jacket!

  • replied 11 years ago

    I love the *mostly* neutrality of this outfit, (all K pieces for sure) but the aqua blouse and blue bag are sending me over the edge! Gorgeous!

  • RandomThoughts (Andrea) replied 11 years ago

    I just realized that I failed to say how ADORABLE this outfit is. I love the jacket and the skirt is just super cool.

  • Suz replied 11 years ago

    Still guessing, but I hope you will wear this outfit again! It's SO fab. Love the jacket with the skirt. And the colours are wonderful, too.

  • rae replied 11 years ago

    Reveal up top!

  • Ana replied 11 years ago

    Hahaha! I LOVE that movie! Great outfit, Rae! :D

  • Deborah replied 11 years ago

    Finally one that I did get!! Rae this is one of my fave movies:) And Bill Nighy is one of my fave actors. Have you seen him in anything else?

    Love the outfit. That jacket is clearly a really inspired purchase. You look so cool.

  • Meredith1953 replied 11 years ago

    Great homage to the amazing Bill Nighy as bad Billy Mack. Such an awesome actor!

  • rae replied 11 years ago

    Deborah, Bill Nighy seems to be in tons of random things I love to watch, and he's great in everything! My other favorite is Shaun of the Dead. :)

  • Kari replied 11 years ago

    I missed the pre-reveal but this post cracked me up!

    My favorite of his lines from the flick simply because of how Bill Nighy delivers the line: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wqF3lXGjZo

  • MsMary replied 11 years ago

    1. "Love, Actually" is my favoritest Christmas movie of all time!

    2. Rae, you and this outfit are just made of awesome! Love the new jacket!!

  • Kari replied 11 years ago

    P.S. Thanks to you I have had "Christmas Is All Around" stuck in my head all day. ALL DAY!

  • rae replied 11 years ago

    Kari, that line is the best! Hilarious, and it also pretty much sums up his character and approach to the music industry.

    And Mary, I definitely agree!!

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