On Style: Channeling Dickie Greenleaf

A summertime dressing primer

I recently wrapped ‘Ripley’ on Netflix. The show offered expertly anointed interiors, choice Italian settings, and great clothes, all beautifully rendered in black and white. I loved it.

The whole thing sent me back to Anthony Minghella’s acclaimed Ripley film, a core part of my high school years. One of my best friends Pearce was (and remains) a major cinephile, and his passions bled into our friend group. We spent weekends watching our favorite movies and comparing a growing library of Criterion Collection films.

The Talented Mr. Ripley was among our favorites - the rare mainstream film that impressed Pearce. He would typically shit on a movie that saw a major theatre release, eschewing them for a growing list of films that grew more esoteric each passing year. You need a friend like this: someone who challenges your assumptions about what is good, exposes you to challenging things, and elevates your taste in the process.

We were particularly fond of Jude Law’s character, the rakish Dickie Greenleaf. Draped in exquisite clothes, sporting the perfect tan, pulling fresh espresso on his veranda, jetting off to San Remo for the Jazz Fest — this was the kind of guy we wanted to be. At that point I’d never been outside the USA, and Italy may as well have been Mars. The movie transported us.

Years have passed and Pearce remains a close friend and trusted resource. He went to film school in Philadelphia and moved to NYC before decamping to Mexico City. I’ve grown up too. While I’m not living my expat Dickie Greenleaf fantasy yet, I’ve made travel a priority. That felt impossibile to my 15-year old self.

I’m heading back to Italy this summer and the jazziness of Italian coastal dressing is top of mind. We’re visiting Umbria, Campagna, and Puglia - regions I’ve not visited before. There will be, in Greenleaf fashion, plenty of long lazy lunches, dips in the sea, and tooting around in a Fiat (not vintage, sadly) between small Italian villages.

I wanted to share my favorite resources to achieve that same breezy cool, whether you’re Italian bound or just bopping around your hometown. Channeling a Med energy is always good; if you can’t make it to the sea this summer, you can always harness the energy of a good tan and a linen shirt to bring a bit of panache into your day.