I'm Stealing Summer Outfit Ideas From 14-Year-Old Katherine Heigl
While there are some concerning plot points in the ’90s film My Father the Hero, the outfits are the one thing the movie got right. A 14-year-old Katherine Heigl starred in the film for her first lead role and played the daughter of French actor Gerard Depardieu. And when he took her on a vacation to the Bahamas, she stepped on the beach in some seriously stylish outfits.
Recently, the looks that Heigl wore resurfaced in my mind because they feel so right for 2018. They really distilled the best of casual-cool ’90s summer outfits. From a smocked blue dress that instantly made me think of current designs from Brock to a streamlined spaghetti strap one-piece swimsuit in a bright coral shade, these pieces are just as relevant now as they were 20 years ago. Now I’ll be the first to admit that I have a soft spot for the ease of ’90s fashion, so this will probably come as no surprise, but I want every single look from the movie in my closet for the summer months ahead.
One of this season's biggest trends
I’m seeing smocked pieces everywhere right now, and this blue dress is a nod to the trend.
A fresh take on denim
I’ve always got my eye out for new denim trends, and the tan version Heigl is wearing here seems fresh and cool. There’s a return to clean and neutral palettes like this, so expect to see them popping up.
Unexpected florals
While dresses and skirts might be the standard way to mix florals into an outfit, the ’90s was big on adding it in other ways—like these shorts.
Tuck it in and belt it
Tucked-in tops were big in the ’90s, and we’re seeing a return to this styling trick in the outfits of fashion girls. Add a woven belt to finish the look.
Swap out your bikini for a sleek one-piece
Simple, clean silhouettes like this one-piece swimsuit were a signature in the ’90s.
There’s lots more on ’90s fashion trends in case you’re as big of a fan as I am.
Kristen Nichols is the Associate Director, Special Projects at Who What Wear with over a decade of experience in fashion, editorial, and publishing. She oversees luxury content and wedding features, and covers fashion within the luxury market, runway reporting, shopping features, trends, and interviews with leading industry experts. She also contributes to podcast recordings, social media, and branded content initiatives. Kristen has worked with brands including Prada, Chanel, MyTheresa, and Luisa Via Roma, and rising designers such as Refine and Tove, and her style has been featured in publications including Vogue.com, Vogue France, WWD, and the CFDA. Before Who What Wear, Kristen began her career at Rodarte, where she worked on assistant styling, photo shoots, and runway shows, and at Allure, where she moved into print and digital editorial. She graduated from the University of Southern California, where she studied art history and business, and currently lives in New York.
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