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 NYC-based senior fashion editor who has been a member of the Who What Wear team for over seven years, having begun her career in L.A. at brands like Michael Kors and A.L.C. As an editor, she has earned a reputation for her coverage of breaking trends, emerging brands, luxury shopping curations, fashion features, and more. Anna has penned a number Who What Wear cover interviews, including Megan Fox, Julia Garner, and Lilly Collins. She also leads the site’s emerging travel vertical that highlights all things travel and lifestyle through a fashion-person lens.
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