Eric Rohmer's "A Summer's Tale" Costumes and Colours

If I had to choose one movie that epitomizes summer, it would always be "A Summer's Tale." This film doesn't merely list the elements of summer; it encapsulates everything about the season—the sea, the beach, the wind carrying sunlight, the hot and humid summer nights, and men and women in various colorful swimsuits of different lengths. Much like how Botticelli didn't fill the entirety of "Spring" with blooming flowers, Rohmer captures the essence of summer in a profoundly moving way: the fingers of a young man strumming a guitar, the shoulder straps that are tied and then loosened again, the mispronounced syllables sung by a girl at the bow of a boat, footprints left behind on soft sand, or even just a simple kiss. One person's love for another may scatter in the wind, be swept into the sea by waves, or be worn away during games of chase on the beach. Lovers may part ways, but "summer" remains eternal.

Here is my summer fashion guide inspired by Rohmer's works:

July 17th

The male lead Gaspard's wardrobe changes are limited. The colours of his clothes are mostly black, white, and gray, just like himself, who is always wandering between three girls. I chose the Muji Lab, which has better fit and comfort compared to the basic line. Thin sweaters are perfect for wearing in late spring and early summer.

July 18th

On the following day, the main characters wore a cement blue shirt. Though it had a greenish tint, the overall tone remained grey, and they subtly blended into the brighter yellow tones of their environment while hiding behind the green (plants) on their backs. The brightest green represents "the green light," a symbol from another movie by Rohmer. Margot made her entrance wearing a Lemaire V-neck shirt, as I chose it for its unique V-neck design. Compared to other V-necks, it is less constrained in terms of button placement and collar shape.

July 19th

How does Rohmer arrange colors? The coarse blue and white striped tent contrasts with Margot's washed red bikini bottom on the sandy ground. The sparseness and density of the stripes leave the rest empty, allowing the sand and sunlight to fill in, creating a memorable sense of harmony. This also highlights Margot's straightforwardness and honesty compared to Gaspard's hesitation, as they both wear white shirts and linen shirts combined with black pants and shorts with black-and-white prints.

July 21st

Gaspard’s outfit is in shades of gray, and Margot’s overall look is darker too. The halter top is no longer bright red like a swimsuit but more purple-red, and the skirt is also a purplish shade of turquoise.

July 22nd

Margot wore a red strapless dress to the ball, which marked her last appearance in red, symbolizing a turning point in her relationship with Gaspard and the plot (the introduction of a new girl). Here, Hou Ma divides Margot between light and shadow. As she spins, not only do light and shadow interchange, but Gaspard and Solene also "merge" around her. The dress I chose was from Topshop in a 1990s Vogue, mirroring its lustre and colour to Margot's.

July 24th

Margot's clothing begins to shift from red tones to blue. Despite showing her emotions on her face, Gaspard remains unresponsive. For the jacket and pants, I chose MMM over Levis due to its more evident vintage look and playful nature. MMM is always the most interesting attire. The strapless dress is definitely from Calvin Klein, as CK was the king of strapless dresses during the 1990s. It's like saying, "if you want it, Calvin Klein has it." A hint of sexiness never compromises comfort; every piece is a moving urban sculpture. For the sweater, I selected Lemaire, surpassing Muji Lab.

July 26th

Margot appears calm throughout this scene, wearing a light grey shirt with a grey and white newsboy cap, seemingly blending into the background.

July 27th

Margot had made a decision about how her relationship with Gaspard would develop, and in this scene she wore a purple cotton dress. It took me a long time to find a similar style of dress that could be tied at the waist. I finally found one at Uniqlo.

July 28th

During the hillside scene, the background was lush and green. Margot kept the purple top from before and wore a white skirt with floral patterns underneath. She stood out easily against the green background, and the distance between her and Gaspard became apparent. This was also the final transition in their relationship.

July 29th

Finally, I want to share a picture of Solene's dress. I've always liked the dense buttons in French movies, but I couldn't find a wide shoulder strap, so I chose a dress with dense buttons and a thin strap.