a film for summer: La Piscine

It was particularly warm in our apartment on Wednesday night, so when I settled into my bed (on top of the covers with the fan and AC on blast) I wanted to fall asleep to a movie that would transport me somewhere wonderful. I chose La Piscine, or The Swimming Pool, a fantastic French-Italian film from 1969.

The film takes place in the hills above St. Tropez, at an idyllic villa with a gorgeous swimming pool. A couple, Marianne (Romy Schneider) and Jean-Paul (Alain Delon), are vacationing there when the woman's former lover and his 18-year-old daughter (Jane Birkin) show up unexpectedly for a few days. Alcohol consumption and sexual tension reach a fever pitch, eventually leading to a murder.

There isn't necessarily a ton of action in this movie, but the visuals are stunning. The characters are all tan and handsome, and Marianne's character has this enviable, early 70's French prep thing going on that I'm totally obsessed with. Jane Birkin counters her sleek look with a younger, more bohemian and languid style. Everyone is pretty much just lazing around in swimsuits and cover-ups through the entire thing; it's fantastic and wildly sexy.

I highly recommend this one.

 The opening scene; Marianne and Jean-Paul by the pool.

Speaking of white swimsuits...

Jane Birkin as Penelope, and Jean Paul...

{inspired by} Marge Sherwood in the Talented Mr. Ripley...

I will just come out and say it right now: if it weren't for that crazy world called Tumblr, I would have totally forgotten about The Talented Mr. Ripley. It's one of the most stylish film ever, both in location and wardrobe, and rather perfectly suited for a summer movie night. After being reminded of it's merits by HTTTGAP and That Kind of Woman (among many, many others) I revisited it on a weeknight recently.

Then, last week while waiting for the Jitney in East Hampton, I was idly browsing Hamptons magazine (yes, that's a real thing) and sipping an Arnold Palmer. Amongst the crazy expensive monogrammed towels and Lilly Pulitzer advertisements, I spied these adorable Cynthia Rowley bikinis that immediately reminded me of Gweneth Paltrow's character in the film. Behold:

Try to overt your eyes from the wildly tanned and handsome Dickie Greenleaf (a very young Jude Law), and look at Gwen's high-waisted, printed suit.

I mean, right? These darling suits (available here, on the Cynthia Rowley site) are $225 each, and perfectly capture that holiday on the Italian Riviera circa 1958 vibe.