Every summer, I hit the same wall. I don’t want to think about getting dressed anymore! I only want to refer back to one seminal text - the 1986 film Stand by Me.
Adapted from Stephen King’s short story The Body (1982), Stand by Me follows four twelve year old friends in the summer of 1959, as they set out to find the body of a missing boy.
My first encounter with the story was via The Simpsons’ parody episode I watched when I was six, which scared me off the cartoon for the next three years (I’ll never forget the image of that animated maggot!)
I didn’t see Stand by Me until I was in high school, when I was heavy into my River Phoenix phase and was devouring every film of his I could get my grubby little internet pirate hands on. I was struck by the emotional depth each of the child actors brought to their roles, and over the decade or so since I first saw it, I’ve revisited the film often - not just for the standout performances or rockin’ soundtrack, but also for the simple, casual, all-American mode of dressing it imbues.
From River Phoenix and Corey Feldman’s perfect white t-shirts (to be discussed in a future newsletter), to the excellent light wash denim and striped tees of Wil Wheaton and Jerry O’Connell, the costume choices reflect a carefree vibe that I feel like I continue to lose sight of as I get older. Maybe summer is for dressing like you’re twelve again! (But in a way that doesn’t bring back anxious memories of wandering into the darkest chambers of your hometown mall, aka the Abercrombies and Hollisters).
So, come and go with me as I go on my own search for un-fussy summer basics that look like they could have come straight out of the summer of 1959 (no wading with leeches or standing up to your bully required).
My findings:
Starting off with a classic, the striped t-shirt. Etsy is a goldmine of faded ‘60s and ‘70s ringer tees, including the two pictured above. If neither of these fit the bill, check out this haul of deadstock boys’ shirts that features every possible combination across the colour wheel.
In terms of modern tees, The Great and Kule both have well-cut options. Their shirts are constructed out of 100% cotton, which will let summer breezes ripple across your skin so much better than a cotton/poly blend ever could (sorry ‘70s clothes).
Wandering over to the men’s department, channel your inner Ace Merrill with this Corridor camp shirt, rendered here in pastel stripes. There’s nothing better than wearing responsibly produced cotton while cruising down the highway on your way to terrorize a bunch of pre-teens.
Finally, finish off your look with a pair of light wash jeans that will get absolutely disgusting as you journey through the woods. If vintage sizing scares you, Nudie Jeans and B Sides both have nice light washes on their relaxed straight leg styles, making them a timeless addition to any outfit.
If built-in distressing is what you’re looking for, these vintage Levi’s 505s are, in my mind, superior to the much-touted 501 (which always leave me with a major waist gap), and they’ve already got a nice patina going.
For your consideration:
Explore Dr. Sonya Abrego’s Westernwear for a look into the impact of cowboy clothes on postwar American fashion.
Check out this sweater from Kartik Research, which I’m imagining cozying up in every time I sit down to work on this newsletter.
Join me in reading Long Island Compromise, Taffy Brodesser-Akner’s eagerly awaited follow-up to 2019’s Fleishman Is in Trouble.
That’s all for this week!
‘Til next time,
Julia