5 Summer Movies To Inspire Your Vacation Packing List

Whether you’re sailing the Mediterranean or staging a staycation in the city, summer offers endless opportunities to assemble outfits that are effortless and enduring—even in the hottest temps. But when your schedule is stacked with trips and social outings, it’s easy to reach for the quickest—and lightest—option, rather than experimenting with accessories, patterns, or proportion. To reinvigorate our approach to dressing this season, we’re turning to five summer films with iconic style—and curating key pieces to help you recreate their looks for today.

From woven bags to gauzy dresses, statement-making swimwear, chic hats and hair accessories, maritime stripes, and oversized button-downs that double as beach cover ups, the codes of the season all star in these quintessential films. Below, we summarize their sartorial high notes and round up everything you need to replicate them now.

Dress for the summer you want—that’s what we always say.

The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)

SHOP NOW: J.Crew Tortoise Headband; Dior Dioriviera Tied Cropped Blouse; SEA Celia Skirt; Castaner Carina Espadrille Wedges; Underwater Weaving Studio Bag.

We would be remiss to omit this film from any summer movie list centered on style. The screen adaptation of Patricia Highsmith’s canonical novel, The Talented Mr. Ripley has provided mood board-worthy inspiration for decades—especially Gwyneth Paltrow’s character, Marge Sherwood—and given the timeless appeal of its aesthetic, shows no signs of falling out of favor. Think crisp white tops tied around the waist with patterned A-frame skirts, espadrilles and classic canvas sneakers, high-rise bikinis, basket bags, and of course, a headband or scarf for an extra feminine touch. Easy, romantic, and undeniably chic, it’s no surprise this wardrobe earned an Oscar nomination. Bring a bit of Ischia wherever you’re headed with a tie-front shirt, embroidered linen skirt, classic espadrilles, a woven carryall, and a tortoiseshell headband.

The Virgin Suicides (1999)

SHOP NOW: Dôen Scarlett Nap Dress; Dôen Lucette Dress; Dôen Stanza Dress.

A personal favorite of mine, The Virgin Suicides exudes summer. Drenched in golden light, buzzing with the whir of cicadas, and orbiting around the listless isolation of the Lisbon sisters, the film—written and directed by Sofia Coppola, and based on Jeffrey Eugenides’s bestselling novel—is a fever dream of feeling. Set in the mid-70s, it explores the Lisbon sisters’ coming of age and longing for autonomy in a highly controlled home environment, which is echoed in the nondescript ensembles they don throughout: boxy, sexless school uniforms and demure prairie dresses that read more girly than grown-up. Though ultimately a tragedy, this film is a dreamy masterpiece of suburban melancholia—and twenty-five years later, its aesthetic is just as timeless as ever. Channel the film’s sweet 70s style with feminine dresses in airy fabrics finished with delicate florals.

Sex and the City: The Movie (2008)

SHOP NOW: Versace La Vacanza Dress; Christian Louboutin Tatooshka Sandals; Christian Louboutin Athina Sandals; Patbo Ruffle Silk Halter Dress.

Before And Just Like That…, there were the Sex and the City movies, and the series that started it all. Known for its iconic fashion styled by the one and only Patricia Field, Sex and the City is an endless trove of sartorial inspiration—and the first movie is no different. We will likely never forgive Big for leaving Carrie at the altar, but the looks the film features in New York and Mexico—where the four best friends attend Carrie’s honeymoon trip—soften the blow. Embracing bold color, sequins, and maximalist motifs, there’s a celebratory spirit to the outfits that feels right for a season of socializing. And with dozens of unexpected styling ideas, this movie will become your blueprint for your next night out—ideally with your girlfriends in tow. Pair a party dress with studded high-heel sandals à la Carrie Bradshaw.

A Bigger Splash (2015)

SHOP NOW: Norma Kamali Belted Jumpsuit; Loewe Anagram Sunglasses; Jil Sander Flat Sandals.

It’s possible that you’ve seen stills from A Bigger Splash on social media even if you haven’t watched the film in full, and for good reason: the wardrobe was created by Raf Simons while he was designing at Dior, in collaboration with first-time costumer Giulia Piersanti, who came from Fendi and Balenciaga. Layer in a star-studded cast that includes Tilda Swinton, Ralph Fiennes, and Dakota Johnson, plus Pantelleria as its backdrop, and this psychological thriller from Luca Guadagnino reimagines resort wear on a whole new level. Even without uttering a word, Swinton—who plays Marianne Lane, a rockstar recovering from throat surgery—steals the spotlight in ensembles that have lingered in my mind (and on countless Pinterest boards) for years. A plunging white crepe jumpsuit is paired with sculptural mirrored sunglasses; woven accessories and a wide black belt add structure to a drapey, backless top and diaphanous skirt. In short: your summer wardrobe is sorted. Take cues from one of Tilda Swinton’s most recognizable looks and opt for a sleek jumpsuit with metallic accessories.

Bonjour Tristesse (1958)

SHOP NOW: Hunza G Petra Swimsuit; J. Crew Chambray Shirt; Gucci Cat Eye Sunglasses.

Featuring American actress and New Wave icon Jean Seberg, Bonjour Tristesse has become a cult classic. While its plot culminates in a manipulative scheme with harrowing consequences, the movie is synonymous with its bold aesthetic choices: alternating between a present day shot in black-and-white and flashing back to the past, which is captured in full color on the Cote d’Azur. That juxtaposition mirrors the interiority of Cécile—played by Seberg—and her outfits follow suit. While luxuriating by the sea, Cécile lives in one-piece swimwear in bold primary hues, which she covers up with an oversized chambray shirt, at times worn open or tied at the waist. Stripes and gingham accent her additional daytime looks—summer’s perennial signatures. A vibrant red swimsuit will stand out on any coast—and a chambray shirt and classic cat-eye complete it perfectly. Pro tip: size up in the shirt for a relaxed fit.