Wet Hot American Summer and Why Retro Summer Camp Movies Are Inspiring Our Style Inline
Photo: Everett Collection1/14Wet Hot American Summer
Decade: Early eighties
For a raunchy summer camp spoof, Wet Hot American Summer does make the early eighties look good. A striped baby tee and corduroy short-shorts—belted, of course—seem Coachella-ready, while Paul Rudd can rock denim cutoffs at any age. Just don’t forget the puka shells.
Photo: (Clockwise from top left) Courtesy of matchesfashion.com; Courtesy of ebay.com; Courtesy of shopcamp.com; Courtesy of revolvesclothing.com; Courtesy of farfetch.com; Courtesy of net-a-porter.com2/14Aurélie Bidermann fine jewelery Merco shell and gold necklace, $539; matchesfashion.com; 16-inch white puka shell necklace luau jewelry, $5; ebay.com; Camp Collection Susie stripe polo, $64; for information: shopcamp.com; Vans Classic sunflower slip-on, $60; revolvesclothing.com; Red Valentino pin-embellished denim shorts, $269; farfetch.com; Saint Laurent leather belt, $325; net-a-porter.com
Photo: Everett Collection3/14The Baby-Sitters Club
Decade: Mid-nineties
Not just an iconic children’s book series. The Baby Sitters Club movie took our seven favorite tweenage go-getters and had them open a day camp. Hijinks and pigeonholed outfits—tomboy Kristy in overalls, hippie Dawn in a peasant blouse, New Yorker Stacey in (what else?) basic black—ensued.
Photo: (Clockwise from top left) Courtesy of TKTKTK hat; Courtesy of Top Shop.com; Courtesy of mytheresa.com; Courtesy of Shinola; Courtesy of Free People; Courtesy of missimodutti.com; Courtesy of Opening Ceremony4/14Spencer Vladimir hat, $270; for information: justoneeye.com; Topshop Moto indigo long dungarees, $90; us.topshop.com; Miu Miu wool top, $414; mytheresa.com; Shinola The Runwell 41mm watch, $550; for information: shinola.com; Free People kantha festival flag, $58; freepeople.com; Massimo Dutti studded sandal, $70; massimodutti.com; Opening Ceremony Izzy fruit sticker backpack, $545; openingceremony.us
Photo: Courtesy of Indian Paintbrush5/14Moonrise Kingdom
Decade: Mid-sixties
This picturesque, Andersonian caper proves summertime style doesn’t have to mean jorts. In fact, twelve-year-old Suzy Bishop dances by an island cove, ably flees from her parents, and stabs a Khaki Scout with lefty scissors, while dressed in knee socks and saddle shoes, a straw basket in tow—so Jane Birkin.
Photo: (Clockwise from top left) Courtesy of poam.com; Courtesy of currentboutique.com; Courtesy of draperjames.com; Courtesy of Opening Ceremony; Courtesy of merci-merci-.com; Courtesy of nuji.com; Courtesy of Nixon; Courtesy of j-w-anderson.com6/14Paom pattern long-sleeved shirt, $68; paom.com; Lilly Pulitizer pink gingham cotton blend faux wrap skirt, $64; currentboutique.com; Draper James Overlook bag, $250; draperjames.com; Carel Kina patent-leather buckle heel, $280; openingceremony.us; Nixon mini blaster, $125; nixon.com; Falke seasons ankle sock, $7; nuji.com; Merci Liberty extra small Claire Aude liberty case, $43; merci-merci.com; J.W.Anderson Walt Disney’s America hardcover, $55; j-w-anderson.com
Photo: Courtesy of Outlaw Productions7/14Indian Summer
Decade: Seventies, by way of the nineties
Set in the early nineties, nine adults reunite at their old camp to celebrate their summers there in the seventies—two nostalgia-heavy decades, one stone. The cast, which includes Diane Lane and Bill Paxton, embraces it visually, with pink-and-white striped Breton tees and perms for all.
Photo: (Clockwise from top left) Courtesy of choies.com ; Courtesy of luisaviaroma.com; Courtesy of etrececile.com; Swedish Hasbeens; Courtesy of tracksmith.com8/14Choies blue stripe cropped tank blouse, $17; choies.com; Kreisi Couture oversized polka-dot cotton bow headband, $306; luisaviaroma.com; Être Cécile Its All Our Turf fit sweatshirt, $69; etrececile.com; Swedish Hasbeens slip-in classic, $249; swedishhasbeens.com; Tracksmith Van Cortlandt short, $60; tracksmith.com
Photo: Everett Collection9/14Camp
Decade: Early aughts
An offbeat indie movie about a performing arts summer camp, which memorably stars a young Anna Kendrick. Picture the theater kids from your high school or college days. Now picture them in their natural habitat, where fringe and flowers flow freely, and embroidered denim reigns. You get it.
Photo: (Clockwise from top left) Courtesy of mytheresa.com; Courtesy of Courtesy of YSL; Courtesy of tiny-om.com; Courtesy of shopredone.com; Courtesy of Nordstrom; Courtesy of giantrobot.com; Courtesy of matchesfashion.com10/14Miu Miu embroidered cotton shirt, $537; mytheresa.com; Saint Laurent baby tee in black seventies floral printed cotton, $349; ysl.com; Tiny Om Chakra Pendant, $100 each; tiny-om.com; Re/Done The Hawaiian short, $184; shopredone.com; Jane Tran sunset polka-dot hair clips (set of 6), price upon request; shop.nordstrom.com; Takashi Murakamsi rubber strap pink flower, $12; giantrobot.com; Castañer Ann wraparound woven espadrille, $125; matchesfashion.com
Photo: Courtesy of Cinema Vehicle Services11/14The Parent Trap
Decade: Nineties
Tomboy Californian Lindsay Lohan and posh Brit Lindsay Lohan make peace over peanut butter and Oreos at sleepaway camp, as one does. Whether it’s a matching heather gray sweatsuit or a hoodie and classic plaid flannel bottoms, we can all agree on the importance of loungewear—this is how wars are won.
Photo: (Clockwise from top left) Courtesy of joefresh.com; Courtesy of edengourmet.com; Courtesy of oreo.com; Courtesy of styleofsport.com; Courtesy of hanes.com; Courtesy of neimanmarcus.com; Courtesy of luisaviaroma.com; Courtesy of sleepyjones.com; Courtesy of shopbop.com; Courtesy of harrods.com12/14Joe Fresh lace up active hoodie, $34; joefresh.com; American Classic organic peanut butter, $9; edengourmet.com; Oreo thins 10.1oz. package, $13; amazon.com; Jaques London Edenbridge croquet set, $799; styleofsport.com; Hanes girls’ ComfortBlend EcoSmart cinched bottom sweatpants, $7; hanes.com; Tory Burch Aberdeen fur-lined slipper, $195; neimanmarcus.com; SE patchwork lapin fur slipper, $156; luisaviaroma.com; Sleepy Jones Marina pajama pant, $72; sleepyjones.com; Salvatore Ferragamo Passate Vara headband, $160; shopbop.com; Eberjey Heather slouchy tee, $67; eberjey.com
Photo: Everett Collection13/14It Takes Two
Decade: Mid-nineties
The Olsen twins’ take on a Prince and the Pauper–style camp caper. Mary-Kate plays the tomboy orphan, who rocks a backwards cap and oversized tee with ease; Ashley, of course, is the little princess and piano prodigy, who wears white tulle and just loves “Choppin.’ ” Either way, you can’t go wrong.
Photo: (Clockwise from top left) Courtesy of 1stdibs.com; Courtesy of forwardforward.com; Courtesy of Saint James; Courtesy of rocket.co.uk; Courtesy of matchesfashion.com; Courtesy of Dr. Martins; Courtesy of Lane Crawford; Courtesy of farfetch.com; Courtesy of shop2020ave.com14/14Denise Francelle sixties new embroidered gloves, $285; 1stdibs.com; Maison Michel Betty headband, $1,039; forwardforward.com; Saint James Étrille top; saintjamesboutique.com; Rokit recycled denim turn up shorts, $23; rokit.co.uk; Missoni multi-stripe cotton-blend socks, $37; matchesfashion.com; Dr. Martens Alexandra boot, $98; drmartens.com; René Caovilla x Blitz suede Mary Jane pump, $304; lanecrawford.com; Oscar de la Renta strapless flared dress, $5,422; farfetch.com; Simple baseball cap, $9; shop.2020ave.com
