The Perfect Vacation Wardrobe Is From This 90s Movie Only Some Of You Will Know
Hint: Spasm!
Image: 20th Century Studios
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by The Candidly Team
For some of you, this whole thing is gonna sound like one of those very specific and very obsessive articles where we’ve gone off the deep end. Sort of like we did HERE and HERE … and maybe HERE.
But for a few of you, the ones who have a keen appreciation for classic, minimalist fashion and who also have core memories around the 90s rom-com, this might just be a kindred spirit moment.
Or at the very least, we hope it delights you.
So now, for the movie our title alludes to, we won’t keep you waiting.
It’s French Kiss.
Perhaps you know it right away or perhaps you have no clue what we’re talking about. Or maybe you’re having one of those faint, fragmented memories of “oooooh yeah, is that the one where the ever-adorable Meg Ryan flies to France to win back her fiancé who left her for some enchanting French woman? The one where Kevin Kline has long hair and a French accent and helps her on her quirky quest?”
And mayyyyybe you’re even starting to remember that the airline loses her suitcase, leaving her with like 6 things to wear, while trotting around the glammest parts of France?”
At first, this might sound like an unlikely choice of a cinematic wardrobe to lust after. But we think it might not only be one of the most charming, surprising, and clever moments in costume design, but one of the most effortless, understated vacation wardrobes for every single shape and size of woman.
And because we are unhinged and one of our editors was taking a trip to Europe this summer, we decided to test drive this wardrobe out in the real world on a real person.
And here’s how it turned out. Photos galore. Mustached Kevin Kline not included.
Ok, who’s coming with us?
Image: 20th Century Studios
1. The Marinière
This is something Meg’s character, Kate, would probably have quickly purchased in the first shop she passed, because every single clothing store in France would sell a classic marinière. And that is because every single French woman would own a classic marinière (and still does). A marinière is a striped boatneck tee made iconic by Coco Chanel herself. This tee with any pants or jeans in the world, therefore, equates to instant chicness.
WHAT TO BUY: J.Crew Factory Striped Boatneck Tee*
WHY: We don’t need to spend $150 on a t-shirt. This classic one is just as good.
We do also love this slightly cropped version from J.Crew, which is what our vacationing managing editor is wearing in the next photo. Sadly though, it does tend to sell out. But if they have your size, pounce!
Hits riiiiight at the top of your pants
Price: $24.50
2. The Wide-Leg Pants
Meg was wildly ahead of her time with her feminine tomboy style, and she already understood the quiet powers of a wide-leg trouser. They make your waist look smaller, your legs look longer, and they complement curves to no end (because let’s face it, most of us have more curves than the pixie that is Meg Ryan).
WHAT TO BUY: Gap 365 High Rise Brushed Twill Pleated Trousers*
WHY: The shape is incredible on curves, and they size up to 20.
Price: $90
WHAT TO BUY: The Avery Linen Pleated Wide-Leg Trousers by Maeve
WHY: We obsess over these pants in every form they come in, because they’re unbelievably flattering on all our lumps and bumps. We feel taller when we wear them as everything from their high-waist down drapes to perfection. We even wrote a whole article about them HERE, but the linen is our go-to for summer, which is why even though they’re not the exact color as Meg’s, we felt compelled to include them. (We also happen to own them in every color they come in.)
Case in point:
Price: $104
3. The Ribbed, White Tank
WHAT TO BUY: AYR The Sexy Flexy
WHY: Meg’s tank was probably just a base. layer she wore on her flight under her crisp, white, button-down, but it became a legendary little piece of her wardrobe. And that’s because when you own the single most flattering tank, you can balance out all your looser, flowier bottoms, giving you your finest silhouette. And this tank from AYR is the most flattering tank in existence. We’ve tried stocking up on $20 tanks and we have found really good ones HERE and HERE, but if you’re very serious about a flattering fit that holds you in with its ribbing and you’ll keep forever, AYR is the best.
The closest this stringy brown hair can get to Meg’s tousled look.
Price: $78
4. The Leather Backpack
This was the piece that had a chokehold on our Editor-in-Chief for 20-something years and that she finally found and that probably inspired this entire article. A leather backpack represents that sweet spot between soft and edgy, masc and fem, casj and chic that we’re always trying to hit. It’s also ideal for traveling, which is probably why it was the literal focal point of the movie poster.
Our EIC found hers at Madewell where it’s no longer sold though can be found at Poshmark.* She was kind enough to lend hers to our nomadic editor for this article:
It’s honestly been such a perfect piece to travel with, we had to find another gorgeous replica, which we did, and here it is:
WHAT TO BUY: Aimee Kestenberg Saddle-Up Backpack
WHY: The shape is a thing of beauty. The pockets cater to the psychotic hoarder level of crap we carry on a plane.
Price: $298
5. The White Button-Down
Do we even need to tell you a white button-down is the epitome of elegance - the laziest hack for looking chic? You can wear it tucked or half-tucked, or tied at the waist or tied around your waist and oops, you’re effortless and sophisticated and French and whatever adjective you personally equate with style. Naturally, the costumers of French Kiss put Meg in a button-down on the plane so they could explore this versatility as she trotted round France and always have her looking good.
WHAT: AYR The Deep End
WHY: This is the crisp, cotton, perfect-fitting one every woman should own.
Price: $145
WHAT: Z Supply Campo Button Up Gauze Top
WHY: And this is the airy, gauzy version that isn’t too long, so it’s deeply flattering that we pack on hotter vacations where we need something lighter but still want to layer and look lovely.
* Gifted product
Price: $74
6. The Vest
Again with the feminine tomboy magic. A vest can get overlooked as a packable item, but it is such an easy and efficient way to elevate an outfit. In an instant, we look puIled together and tailored, and we can wear it as a going-out top.
WHAT: Rag & Bone Mariana Wool Vest
WHY: Granted, we’d only personally wear this vest as a standalone top unless it was fall or winter, but it is one of the finest pieces we’ve added to our closet this year because it makes everything else we wear (from $50 jeans to $30 trousers) instantly look more luxury and expensive.
* Gifted product
It does tend to sell out, so if you don’t see your size, it’s also available HERE.*
Price: $112
7. The Little Blue Dress
Obviously, this was one purchase made in some stunning boutique on the coast of France, but we all need a commanding dress-up moment on vacation. And we think a little blue dress (not black, not white) is the right way to do it. The key is for it to fit unbelievably, and we found two that do.
WHAT TO BUY: Reformation Stormi Dress
WHY: The way this material smoooooths and is fitted without being tight is the stuff of sorcery. We implore you to buy it before it sells out of every size.
Price: $278
WHAT TO BUY: DOËN Lorraine Dress
WHY: Ugh, you can’t tell from the photo but this dress fits like an absolute dream, curving at the waist, skimming your hips and butt. It’s the kind of fit we’re always, always looking for and almost never find. The sort of dress you can just slip on and slip out the door and feel phenomenal.
We’ll show it to you on our EIC, so you can see its magic in broad daylight and so you can also see the (possibly unhinged) mind that assigned this article.
… we kid … we love it.
And we only hope you do, too.
À bientôt.
Price: $398
Images: 20th Century Studios
At The Candidly, we try a lot of stuff so you don’t have to. We only recommend things we truly love, and that we think you’ll love, too. All products are chosen independently by our creative team, and all details reflect the price and availability of products at the time of publication. If you buy something we link to, The Candidly may earn a commission.
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