We talk singing and style with Zooey Deschanel
It's hard to know if Zooey Deschanel should be referred to as an actress and a singer or as a singer first and actress second. Her IMDb résumé is certainly long and includes her delightful turn as Summer Finn in "(500) Days of Summer," Sarah Jessica Parker's roommate in "Failure to Launch," and Will Ferrell's lady love in "Elf." But for a certain crowd, the folksy, retro songs she sings with collaborator M.Ward (She & Him is their band's name) are far more important. Since she married Death Cab for Cutie frontman Ben Gibbard almost two years ago, the two have become a bit of an indie rock power couple.
We spoke with Zooey about her latest projects which utilize both of her talents. She's recorded songs for Disney's "Winnie the Pooh" and she's also gearing up for a starring roll in "The New Girl," a comedy slated for primetime on Fox in the fall. Of course, we couldn't resist asking her about her fabulous vintage-inspired style. See what she had to say about her favorite red carpet look and the one item she can't stop herself from buying over and over.
We think of you as the indie girl. Not that animation can't be edgy, but how did your Disney gig come about?
It was very organic. I met Tom who does music for all the Disney movies. They showed me a clip of rough animation and they'd actually used a song from my second record called "Gonna Get Along Without You Now" as temp music. It was originally recorded by Skeeter Davis. It has a sweetness and a softness to it, as well as being a little bit driving. They liked the feel of it. So, essentially, they wanted that sound. We recorded the classic Sherman Brothers' "Winnie the Pooh" song at the beginning of the movie with that feeling in mind. They really liked it, so they asked me to also write the song for the end credits.
Who is your favorite Winnie the Pooh character?
I always have a lot of energy and I feel like the guy bouncing off the walls. When I was little I remember being like, "Tigger- I get him!"
And for a totally different audience, your new show "The New Girl" will be part of Fox's Fall lineup. You play Jessica Day, a slightly goofy teacher who moves in with three single guys after her boyfriend dumps her. Tell me a little bit about Jessica's style.
She's a colorful person and maybe somebody who hides a little bit behind what she wears. She's so completely herself, and that's her magic weapon in a weird way even though that's the thing that makes her kind of dorky and out of place.
How is her look different from yours?
I'm probably a little bit more put together. But I'm not all that interested in trends. I don't care in the slightest. I'm interested in conveying that fashion is something that's fun. It shouldn't be serious. I feel like I approach fashion in a light-hearted way with a sense of humor.
What's something you wore recently that you loved.
The Andrew Gn dress I wore to the Critics Choice Television Awards. It was cute and had rickrack. I mean, who doesn't love rickrack? It was cut really well and it's rare that you find a knit dress that's cut that well. I'm picky about that sort of thing. Just because I feel like if you're designing clothes for real women who aren't models, that's much harder than designing clothes for models. If someone is able to design for a three dimensional figure, which most women are, that's the real test. Not, can you make a six-foot tall 90-pound person look good?
So you love Andrew Gn. Who else do you like to wear?
Band of Outsiders. I'm really into Rachel Antonoff, she's this young new up-and-comer. I always love Marc Jacobs and Chloe. And Ferragamo shoes.
Where do you shop?
I shop online, girl! It's where you shop if you don't have time to go out and shop. It's fun to look for sales. If you like a designer you can almost always find sales online. I've got a whole system down. If I go out shopping it's for vintage clothes.
What was your most recent purchase?
I have like 8 million APC striped shirts, and I just keep buying more because they're the best. It's as if they're making them just for me. I know they're not, but it feels like it.
