La Piscine
For those looking to film for some summer fashion inspiration, may I offer up La Piscine ? I think it has what you are looking for if you want to dress like it’s the late 60s in the South of France… which I do! Swimsuits, mini skirts, big bug eye sunglasses and mod print maxi dresses— I think the wardrobe ( by iconic designer Andre Courreges) has a lot to do with why this movie has remained popular.
A couple, Jean Paul (Alain Delon) and Marianne (Romy Schneider) are staying at a home in St. Tropez, lounging blissfully in the sun, making love and swimming in a perfect pool. Impossibly good looking, in love, with little else to do… sounds like the ideal way to pass a summer. When two turns to four with the addition of ex-lover Harry and his adult daughter Penelope, we get the intrigue that was missing before. Things start to feel a little cloistered at this idyllic home. Four is a crowd in this limited setting (even with the pool), and the ease dissolves to make room for tension, jealousy, rivalry and rage. It is a thriller after all!
Courreges gave each of the 4 leads a distinctive style, increasing the contrast between the characters. The gamine style of Penelope (Jane Birkin) plays up her youth with gingham miniskirts, ballet flats and button ups, whereas Marianne appears sophisticated even in a less prim wardrobe of slinky dresses… she wears her confidence well.
This pair of swim trunks that Delon wears, instantly reminded me of this vintage sheet set I have, similar color scheme and mod-ish print. Sheets are always a great find to work with because it’s a large quantity of fabric, normally for pretty cheap! I use them for testing out the fit of a pattern before moving on to the intended final fabric, but sometimes they are cute enough to be the final. I do sincerely wish that it was a stretchy swim fabric though as I would certainly get my husband into this more streamlined look for men’s swimwear of the 60s ;)
Playing off the swimwear theme, but incorporating it into a dress, I was inspired by a piece I’d seen by Rebecca Taylor, where it looks as if a swim top is worn layered over a dress. I loved that detail, and thought it so summery.
I drafted a simple dress with a plunging neckline, and low slung armholes so that I would still get that peek of skin below the top layer. I then constructed the little bandeau top by adding a line of gathering down the center of a rectangle to shape it to my bust. I top stitched the bandeau in place at the top of dress, and finished it with a few hook and eye closures at the back… though a tie would have been nice too!
Oh how I wish I had a pool to center all my summer days around :) Trying to get in all the swimming I can. Though a lot of madness gets stirred up in the movies when there isn’t anything else to do in the heat, I don’t think I’d mind it a bit.
Love the lines from the peel-a-boo to the straps “underneath” the bandeau.