Now and Then Quietly Has the Best Summer Style From the '70s
PSA: Now and Then is coming to a Netflix queue near you. If you're anything like me and hold a deeply nostalgic place in your heart for this classic coming-of-age flick, then you probably jumped for joy at the thought of getting to rewatch all the summertime shenanigans that these four middle schoolers get into. Between scenes of idyllic bike rides, stolen kisses, and secret swimming holes, the girls deal with all the angst and drama that goes along with being a 12-year-old, but beyond the plotline, the movie's perfect '70s-era wardrobe should be the reason you hit play.
Each girl has her own distinct personality and style in the movie, and each time I watch it, I find myself identifying with a different character. Am I Samantha, the brooding tomboy with a wardrobe of oversize shirts; Chrissy, the innocent girly-girl who always wears pink; Roberta, the science nerd with "chill" style; or Teeny, the precocious leader of the pack who favors a more revealing silhouette? Regardless of which character I chose, I revel in the perfect summer outfits they wear throughout the movie—and TBH, I'd copy any of them today, too.
Scroll down to see my favorite style moments from Now and Then, peruse my shopping picks for each look, and be sure to queue up the movie for your next Netflix sesh.
Striped tops and denim shorts are the unofficial uniforms of the movie. As the girls prove above, there's no shortage of ways to make the easy summer outfit embody your style archetype.
Shop Samantha's outfit:
Shop Chrissy's outfit:
The movie is also filled with summer's prettiest trends, like smocked tanks and delicate lace-trimmed pieces.
Shop smocked tanks:
Shop lace-trimmed pieces:
Next, the five simple summer outfits I always fall back on when there's nothing to wear.
Anna is an editor on the fashion team at Who What Wear and has been at the company for over five years, having begun her career in the Los Angeles office before relocating to New York, where she's currently based. Having always been passionate about pursuing a career in fashion, she built up her experience interning at the likes of Michael Kors, A.L.C., and College Fashionista before joining the team as a post-graduate assistant editor. Anna has penned a number of interviews with Who What Wear's cover stars over the years, including A-listers Megan Fox, Issa Rae, and Emma Chamberlain. She's earned a reputation for scouting new and emerging brands from across the globe and championing them to our audience of millions. While fashion is her main wheelhouse, Anna led the launch of WWW Travels last year, a new lifestyle vertical that highlights all things travel through a fashion-person lens. She is passionate about shopping vintage, whether it be at a favorite local outpost or an on-the-road discovery, and has amassed a wardrobe full of unique finds. When she's not writing, you can find her shooting street imagery on her film camera, attempting to learn a fourth or fifth language, or planning her next trip across the globe.
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