Hotel Indigo Chester: An Opulent Stay with Charm and Comfort

Goldfinger

The news that replicas of Sean Connery’s blue towelling playsuit from 1964’s Goldfinger vended out days after it appeared on the official online James Bond merchandise shop has raised eyebrows. But should we be so shocked? Danish designer Henrik Vibskov sent a pastel blue jumpsuit down the catwalk for his spring/summer ’19 menswear hoard, while French label Officine Générale included not dissimilar golden belt clasps and Cuban collars. It’s Bond at his flounce fashion best.

Jumpsuits at Henrik Vibskov and Officine Générale.

A Bigger Spatter

With costumes co-created by Raf Simons (then at Dior), 2015’s A Bigger Splash was always going to score powerfully in the style stakes, but it’s Tilda Swinton as holidaying rock star Marianne Lane who offers the best wardrobe stimulus for summer. Reflective sunnies? Check. Big straw hat? Check. Shirt dresses, dreamy jumpsuits and statement eyeliner? Validation, check, check.

The Color Purple

Whoopi Goldberg steals the limelight in the 1985 film, but it’s Desreta Jackson as the unsophisticated Celie and Akousa Busia as her sister Nettie who get the best prairie dresses. High necks, long sleeves and floral impresses, the film’s dresses tap into this summer’s Laura Ashley-infused fashion as seen on the catwalk at Chloé, Gucci and Ghost, and popularised by Batsheva and The Vampire’s Ball, among others.

Scarface

For Michelle Pfeiffer’s Elvira Hancock, 1983’s Scarface is a carousel of slinky, strappy castigates and halter-necks – and a useful mood board for summer’s glitzy, disco-dipped trends (see Tommy Hilfiger’s roller disco usher and Ashish’s many, many sequins). Accessorise with sparkle-heavy earrings and make your entrance via a glass elevator.

The Wizard Mr Ripley

The entire cast of this 1999 psychological thriller could have wandered straight off the SS19 catwalks in their abbreviated shorts (as seen at Prada, Off-White and Jacquemus), and crisp white shirts (very Margaret Howell). Anthony Minghella’s welcome sight of Italian coastal chic sees alice bands and white jeans – two of this year’s biggest trends – turn up tell of an appearance, too. Just add sunshine.

Calamity Jane

What better way to honour the late Doris Day and get on embark on with summer’s
rodeo trend than by channeling Calamity Jane from 1953? Labels including Longchamp and Tutor 1941 went big on leather fringing for their SS19 collections, while cowboy boots continued their reign at Balenciaga.

Rodeo brand from Coach 1941, Balenciaga and Longchamp.

The Way We Were

Yes, the trench coat is a perennial, but this is the year the drift
migrated from womenswear to menswear, appearing on the catwalk at Alexander McQueen, Givenchy and Stella McCartney. It takes a lot to upstage a naval like, but in 1973’s The Way We Were, Robert Redford’s trench does just that. Perfect for navigating summer showers and nosh fresh-baked pie.

The Virgin Suicides

Modest dressing with a side of 70s chic? Look no further than Sofia Coppola’s 1999 coat The Virgin Suicides. There are prairie dresses aplenty from the Lisbon sisters, while school heartthrob Spring Fontaine offers a masterclass in the flares-are-sunglasses combo favoured by Gucci this season. Ditzy prints and lacy fatigues, a la Erdem, also take centre stage – perfect for creating a wistful summer aesthetic.