Graphic by Haley Smith
Released on Amazon Prime Video from July 16 to Sept. 17, season three of “The Summer I Turned Pretty” stars Lola Tung as Belly Conklin. Belly is now a 22-year-old college student navigating love, loss and everything in between. She makes plenty of questionable decisions throughout the show when it comes to relationships, but also when it comes to her outfits. Today, we’re taking a deep dive into Belly’s best and worst looks of season three.
Starting off on a good note, in episode one, Belly wears a blue and white floral mini dress with a satin layering detail at the neckline. The dress is from the brand Reformation and is called the “Analise dress.” The drop waist silhouette is very flattering and trendy. She pairs it with espadrilles and a soft cat eye look that completes the look effortlessly. She wears this outfit to dinner with Steven and then to Jeremiah’s fraternity party later in the night. Belly’s look was chic and definitely outshone Lacie Barone’s basic black top.
Earlier in the episode, while walking to class, Belly wears an ill-fitting green vest layered over a white baby tee. The vest is reminiscent of a men’s suit vest. She then pairs it with some light-wash jeans that are borderline skinny jeans and a dark brown belt that totally clashes with her light brown backpack and loafers. I’m sorry, but this whole outfit is giving grandpa chic in the worst way possible.
In episode two, after her breakup with Jeremiah, Belly wears an oversized red satin bomber jacket — 2016 called and it wants its bomber jacket back. She pairs it with gray sweatpants. I know that Belly is going through something here, but this outfit screams Spirit Halloween version of Emma Roberts in Nerve.
On a lighter note, in episode three, Belly wears a light blue Zimmerman dress to Susannah’s memorial. The dress has beautiful corset detailing and is paired with simple white heels, gold jewelry and a white and gold Coach crossbody bag called the “Tabby Chain Clutch.” Belly’s vintage beehive-inspired hairstyle ties this look together seamlessly.
Unfortunately, this almost perfect look is paired with a tiny engagement ring from Catbird Jewelry.
In episode four, Belly, Taylor and Taylor’s mom go wedding dress shopping. While they’re browsing, Belly tries on a Victoria Beckham piece that is absolutely stunning. The dress is sleek, flattering, and has a beautiful low-back detail. Of course, this dress ends up being Belly’s wedding dress. Even though I love this dress, it is a bit too understated for my taste. In my opinion, this dress would be better suited for a rehearsal dinner. However, since Belly’s wedding is very simple, I think this is the perfect dress for her.
In episode six, Belly wears two chic Reformation looks. While wedding planning at the country club, Belly wears a red two-piece set called the “Grace Linen Two Piece.” This set is so classic and looks great paired with her gold and white Coach bag. The red brings out the red tones in her hair and flatters her so well. Later in the episode, Belly wears the “Zenni Satin Dress” to her bridal shower. This blue satin dress is timeless and looks beautiful paired with her pearl jewelry and headband. This look is the perfect “something blue” for the bridal season.
Fast forwarding to episode nine, Belly wears maybe her worst look of the season… and she wears it all episode. Now I understand that this is a very hard time for Belly, but this outfit is all over the place. She is wearing those borderline skinny jeans once again, paired with a cropped white baby tee. I apologize, but people who wear jeans on an international flight are a different breed. She pairs this look with black Salomon XT‑6 sneakers. Personally, I would have paired this outfit with white sneakers, especially since she is wearing a white top.
After Belly has settled into Paris, we start to see some of her best looks. In a “The Devil Wears Prada” style montage in episode ten, we see Belly wearing a lot of chic pea coats that she pairs with oversized sweaters similar to the very popular J.Crew 2025 Rollneck Sweater. She also wears a lot of sheer black tights, baggier jeans, and the perfect pair of black leather boots. She wears many of these outfits with a brown leather bucket bag that she probably bought at Galeries Lafayette, the most iconic Parisian department store. At the end of this montage, she wears the most perfect Christmas Eve red cardigan from Sezane, called the “Ysaline cardigan.” All of these looks are so classy and timeless. Belly’s Paris style is top tier!
Belly’s New Year’s Eve top in episode 10 is exactly the kind of piece that everyone tries to find for the occasion. It is the “Paper Rock Top” from Manurí. While I am obsessed with the top, I wish she had paired it with a black skirt, instead of black flare pants, to dress it up more. Later in the same episode, Belly wears a white and tan striped Max Mara top and Max Mara tan oversized shorts. She wears this look while she gets a haircut and goes sightseeing with Conrad. While I love the haircut, I think that the shorts are unflattering, and the look feels a bit too aged for Belly.
In episode 11, Belly wears a Jacquemus dress titled the “La Robe Maille Croissant Mini Dress.” She pairs it with black strappy heels, a Parisian red lip, subtle cat-eye eyeliner and of course, her new haircut. This dress is the perfect birthday dinner look and even more perfect for when “Dress” by Taylor Swift plays. Belly’s season three lookbook ends with a yellow midi dress from Simkhai. In Belly fashion, this dress is beautiful and fits perfectly with the scene, particularly when paired with Conrad in Cousins, but could use a little accessorizing.
Overall, Belly’s style tends to reflect her life. When she is struggling, so are her outfits. When she’s in Paris, her style becomes more high-fashion and experimental. And of course, when she is in Cousins, she wears bright, beachy colors. Belly’s style is classy but, in my opinion, a bit too simple. I hope to see Belly accessorize and experiment with her style more in the upcoming movie, “The Summer I Turned Pretty: The Movie.”