I won’t pretend to have influenced Greta Gerwig. If Greta Gerwig is aware of my existence, it’s likely because I’ve written about her record-breaking blockbuster Barbie, or about the Hollywood ecosystem that made Barbie such an outlier. I never expected us to have the same penchants for clothing as we do cinema. And yet it’s true that, in 2021, I picked up a bubblegum-pink Pistola Denim jumpsuit and realized I wanted to wear it every day. It’s comfortable! Versatile! Eye-catching! Only months later did I spot a shot of Gerwig on the Barbie set, squint, zoom in, and ask myself, “Wait…is that my jumpsuit?”
It wasn’t my jumpsuit, per se. But it was indeed the Pistola Denim Grover Short Sleeve Field Suit in shade “flamingo,” a.k.a. bubblegum, which might as well double as Barbie pink. Gerwig, fond of jumpsuits on the job, had similarly stumbled upon what might be one of the all-time jumpsuit greats.
I had initially selected my own Grover suit thanks to its color—I was in dire need of a springtime color refresh—but quickly found it was the structure of the piece itself that made it a staple in my closet. There are five criteria by which I judge a jumpsuit: 1. Is it comfortable? 2. Is it well-made? 3. Is it size-inclusive? 4. Does it stand on its own? and 5. Can I avoid breaking into a sweat whilst removing it? The Grover passes each test with aplomb.
For categories 1 and 2, the Grover presents its 100-percent cotton makeup, which allows for a sturdy but lightweight, buttery soft feel that survives washing and rewashing. The material itself doesn’t have a ton of elasticity, but it’s also not nearly as starchy and constrictive as other jumpsuits I’ve tried. I can run around, sit, stand, bend, and (probably?) operate heavy machinery—or maybe even a movie set—without feeling the need to penguin-waddle.
Per category 3, Pistola offers one of the more unique designs I’ve come across: The button straps at the waist allow the individual wearer to select a cinched or boxier design. The same goes for the button-front closure: You decide how open you’d like your Grover to rest. And with a size range between XXS and XXL, the suit happily eschews the dreaded one-size-fits-all jumpsuit curse.
What initially drew me to the Grover was its answer to category 4. Simply put, it’s a good-looking suit. It doesn’t need to be dressed up with accessories in order to appear polished (though you can easily elevate it!), but neither is it too sophisticated for running errands. The color options themselves make the garment a statement piece: Apart from that enticing flamingo shade, the look also comes in classic denim washes, cerulean, merlot, pine, “aqua snow,” and an eggplant purple, among others. (And if you’d prefer a long-sleeve version, look no further than the Tanner jumpsuit.)
Finally, we come to category 5, which might be rephrased as, “Can I go to the bathroom in this thing without emerging from the stall like I’ve run a marathon?” With the suit’s handy button-front closure that extends well past the waist, the response is an easy yes.
I loved the Grover long before I was aware of its association with Gerwig or Barbie. But after I wore the suit for an early screening of the film last summer, it earned an additional, special connotation in my mind: of mid-summer celebration; of densely packed movie theaters (where I was still comfortable, thanks to that aforementioned cotton!); of versatile femininity and creative ingenuity. I couldn’t care less if Barbiecore is proclaimed passé. When the weather warms again this spring, you know exactly what I’ll be wearing.
