Dress For The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999) Summer of Your Dreams

Layer on the linen and pathological lying, I guess

Escapism as outfit inspiration works. You can be elbows deep in email follow ups. Or desperately trying to explain to your friends the importance of not ranking Cuomo. You can be dog sitting a neighbor’s exasperating goldendoodle. On hold with the IRS. But in your mind, or at least in your closet, you can be a dazzling Hollywood darling in the incredible film, The Talented Mr. Ripley.

If you liked The Secret History or even the recent revival Ripley, I highly suggest making this film a summer movie night priority. And while you’re at it, go all the way to the source and read the novel written by Patricia Highsmith by the same name. It’s a five-part series, so if you don’t have the time, maybe stick to the sartorial side.

Channel your own Mongibello, a fictional seaside town, but filmed in Atrani on the Amalfi Coast, even if you’re stateside this summer. The key: intentional patterns, statement sunglasses as a signature, and lots of buttons undone.

Linen Button-Down Shirts

This is baseline. And this summer, when you’re stumped on what to wear, let the linen button down be the answer. It’s ok if it’s wrinkled! I also think bigger is better here. White is great, but navy is my real favorite. Pair with denim shorts or a swimsuit, I always feel a little more pulled together. Which can be helpful when you’re impersonating someone in the case of Dickie Greenleaf, er, Tom Ripley, or just trying to get through the day.

Vintage Eddie Bauer for $25!

I’m actually wearing this with my swim trunks (coming up) while writing this letter. I think Frank + Eileen makes the best button ups for women who are looking for feminine details. I’m not always, but I have to admit, they style themselves.

100% navy linen with a CREST? For $25? I think so.

The great part about Gap is that you can get a Tall! Or Petite. I like the linen stripes they offer.

Silk Scarves/Headband

Embrace a hair accessory! I speak for a lot of us when I say you probably have a bunch of these sitting around. The key is to make use of them, just the way you would jewelry. I actually rotate in headbands and scarves into my jewelry box for this exact purpose. It has to be front of mind for me to make an effort.

If a scarf in the hair feels too Marge for you, try knotting yours as a clutch or tying it onto a basket bag.

France Luxe makes the best headbands in my opinion. This is $32 and I have a huge head and it doesn’t make me want to scream.

This vintage scarf could change an entire outfit…

Another headband from Etsy that feels very wearable.

Short-Sleeved Button Down

There’s always an iteration of this shirt that feels on-trend for summer, but it’s one of my favorite classic top options. I’d stick with something 100% cotton and lean heavily on the secondhand ocean of them available. If you’re keen on thrifting, you’re pretty much guaranteed to find one there.

Love the silhouette and ready to take it up a level? Try it in silk for the summer. It also makes tucking into a skirt even breezier.

Worth noting that you can interpret this as a classic menswear button down or take a girlier approach, like this Lands’ End top.

Pale yellow stripes are major this summer. Make it happen with this vintage L.L. Bean option.

Secondhand Bode alert! It’s $460.

You can get more of a modern feel with this COS option for under $90.

Swim Shorts

I’m wearing a pair as I type this. And it’s another secondhand home run. You can cut out the liner if it bothers you very easily. The length feels cool and the material is…literally cooling. I love wearing mine with a blouse for some balance.

Think of this as the shorts version of the wrong shoe theory.

Not into wearing swim trunks in public? I’ll try to relate! Quilted is almost as fun.

These are a perfect butter yellow and $25. I feel like I might win you guys over on this one…

Preppy, delightful, and $15.

I have a pair of Speedo ones I adore. This pair is $15.

Patterned Midi Skirt

I’m not talking about long white skirts, which we’ve covered. I’m talking old school midi-length with some COLOR! I love one of these with a plain white tee and wet hair from the beach.

The best part is that if you find a color story that’s not too bright, you can repurpose all the way into the winter with tall boots and all black.

Batsheva skirt from TRR for $100.

TOAST makes great skirts! I like the teal in the gingham here.

Very elegant vintage Ralph Lauren silk midi for $63.

Bold Black Sunglasses

Speaking of, I’m really bullish on simple, black sunglasses for summer. It’s very chic to wear one pair of sunglasses for an entire season. I like picking one from my collection and trying to reach for them as often as possible.

Vintage sunglasses can be a risk worth taking, but by and large, I prefer to buy nice ones new and keep them for a long time.

I’ll always love a classic pair of Ray Bans and they do come out with great new shapes every season.

These are only $20.

Leather or Canvas Footwear

First of all, these materials make better investments than alternatives. And while they might not the hottest trend, it’s a sure bet you’re buying something to last longer than one season. I happen to think a summer loafer is quite becoming. And Dickie Greenleaf would certainly be on my side.

If you couldn’t get into boat shoes, these are impossible to resist. And use code LRLOVESEV20 for 20% for the next 9 days.

Buying secondhand Gucci horsebit loafers under $250 is possible!

Or channel the best of both by combining leather and a more casual shape.

Really into these $80 canvas sneakers, too.

Honorable Mentions

Getting off one stop early to get more steps in.

Thank you for reading Long Live. It means so much to me. You can preorder my romance novel, Exit Lane, on Bookshop or Amazon. You can shop my favs here, follow along on Instagram + Tiktok, and shop my Notion template. You can book my Office Hours to talk shop here. Get matched at EV Salon. And if you want to partner on a future Long Live, email evan@communite.co x