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Geographically, we may all be scattered across the globe, but mentally: nearly everyone this summer is camped out at a breezy house in Cousins Beach awaiting the will-they-won’t-they wedding of a tangled love triangle between college students.
Based on the longtime popular young adult book series, The Summer I Turned Pretty follows Belly, who’s always loved the Fisher brothers. Season one saw her juggling her longtime crush for Conrad with other fledgling romantic interests at the beach—and becoming a debutante at the request of her mother’s best friend (and the beach house’s matriarch) Susannah. Season two saw her…end up with the other brother. In season three, she and Jeremiah surprise and even disappoint their families by announcing their sudden engagement; they plan to get married at the end of the summer.
Every Wednesday night, viewers camp out to watch the new episode drop on Amazon Prime, waiting to find out if we’re going to see more wedding dresses, ivories, and “something blue”s in the future—or whether Belly’s go-to outfits will look more like the usual The Summer I Turned Pretty fare: relaxed beach gear, all the better to dramatically cry on a dune when fleeing one (or both) of the brothers’ misplaced affections.
This season has it all: a ticking clock, a disapproving family, the surfer-chic visual signature of the return to Cousins, but also—millions of people waiting to find out whether Belly’s “something new” might even include a new groom to boot.
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“They’re Too Young”
The wardrobe says a lot throughout the show. One of its roles? Showing that Belly and Jeremiah are still firmly in their teenage years, no matter how grown-up they attempt to become by planning their own nuptials. This season of the show kicks off with the duo rocking a flurry of young adult styles: cut-off shorts, graphic tees and tanks, crop tops, polos, and other nods to campus living—a closet more at home at an adolescent beach hang than the threshold of a wedding venue.
Think friendly summer styles that you can throw on over a swimsuit, or perhaps throw into the washing machine to tackle grass and beer stains from lawn games. Classic stripes, rugby shirts, trendy butter yellow, oversized silhouettes, and sporty sneaks each have their place here.
Prime example: Taylor and Steven’s embrace of collegiate high-low styles (mixing sorority-ish athleisure and funky designer picks, respectively) model similar fashions, that duo’s styling comes across as confident and bold in contrast. Jeremiah and Belly’s outfits, meanwhile, feel more rooted in their (young) age and a habit of looking around at others for cues on what to do next.
Although we know Jeremiah and Belly are probably sweating over that joint bank account, these picks are evergreen enough to last them from their teenage years to…hopefully forever. Guess we’ll see if they make it down the aisle!
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Is Belly Just Playing Dress Up?
Viewers have our justified critiques of Belly, sure, but at least she — unlike Jeremiah — is stepping up and trying to execute this wedding properly, whether that includes picking up shifts to fund it, hunting down one very particular ice sculpture (her dream wedding detail, apparently), or continuing with her calendar of bachelorette parties and bridal showers. Just: nothing in Cabo, please.
Outfit details like muted colors and boat necks channel the sleek togetherness Belly’s trying to maintain while wedding planning, even if the viewer knows her girlish peasant tops and sundresses are more of a fit. Still, the debutante influence emerges in her more tailored ‘fits, making the viewer wonder whether maybe she can handle all that comes with a legally-codified relationship…or maybe her styling just captures the contrast between who she is and who she’s not ready to be yet. (In fairness, Belly’s always been a fan of the occasional academic nods like penny loafers or a vest detail. And we loved moments of inspiration like her bridal headband.)
And who would we be if we didn’t include her literal wedding dress on the list—a simple ivory slip?
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Back at the Beach Where It All Started
As Belly said way back when in season one, she measured her life in summers in Cousins. For the last several years, fans of the show have relished the coastal aesthetic of this summer setting, making the final season even more difficult to let go of: think linens, light blues, and effortless rattan details.
Beach-centric style serves a few purposes in the show. Ideally, anything (sundress, cutoffs, button-downs) should be worn and reworn repeatedly; think layers you can throw on over a bikini. Brands like Left on Friday, Paige, and Aerie excel in this space.
Even Solid & Striped has a dedicated The Summer I Turned Pretty collection capturing the frothy nostalgia of a summer in Cousins.
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For Late Night Confessions and Brooding Brothers
When around Conrad, Belly Conklin seems to be at her most natural—as evidenced by her shedding her Laurel-core business casual for pajamas suitable for late-night conversation. In episodes like “Last Christmas,” that looks like some heart-wrenching moments indicating that perhaps our dear Belly is making a mistake in planning nuptials with the brother. In childhood, that looked like her doing laps in the backyard pool and trying not to think about him. After everyone else has gone to bed, or the duo’s just at Cousins alone, the two seem to relax into a default state of honesty (and sometimes confession.)
In Season 3, Conrad’s subtle, simple wardrobe seems to show maturity his brother doesn’t have yet. Enduring pieces like his suede Frye boots are made to last, unlike his brother’s relationship. Each item says, “I grew up, and I can provide.”
As “Team Conrad” fans would point out, the eldest boy is in therapy, pursuing medical research at Stanford, and is still in a state of agonized yearning. Even Belly’s wardrobe in his company shows she’s (finally) not trying to be someone she’s not, making viewers wonder what the finale has in store.
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If you’re like us and glued to your television every Wednesday night, these picks give you a solid peek into the eternal-summer glory of a Cousins love triangle. But believe us when we say we’re all very invested in seeing whether Belly finds herself in need of something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue before the season (and series) finale of The Summer I Turned Pretty on September 17.
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