How to Have a Belly Summer: The Summer I turned Pretty
Written By : Hannah Corbett
What if summer wasn’t just a season, but a state of mind? What if we could bottle up the feeling of salt-drenched hair, late-night bonfires, and that one Taylor Swift song that instantly transports you to a sun-soaked memory? Welcome to Belly Summer—a season of nostalgia, effortless beauty, and just a little bit of main character energy. Here’s how to live like Belly from The Summer I turned Pretty, and maybe even get your own Conrad.
Dress the Part: Like You Just Threw It On (But Perfectly)
Some people spend summer chasing the perfect tan. Others, like us, chase the perfect effortlessly-thrown-together outfit that looks like you didn’t try, but actually, you absolutely did.
A white linen sundress that moves in the wind.
Ribbed baby tanks, my favorite are from Brandy Melville, and low-rise linen pants.
Worn-in denim shorts paired with an oversized button-down that may or may not belong to a summer fling.
A string bikini underneath it all, because you never know when the ocean will call.
Sun Kissed Makeup, the best blush & a glowy bronzer.—because in a Belly Summer, the real glow comes from staying out past sunset.
Live Like You’re in a Beach Town, Even If You’re Not
Not all of us have a beach house waiting in the wings, but we can certainly pretend. The secret? Romanticizing the small things:
Morning iced coffee runs in an old hoodie and flip-flops.
Playlists dripping in nostalgia—Lana, The 1975, and every song that reminds you of your first heartbreak, but also sounds like summertime.
A paperback novel permanently tucked into your beach bag. Dog-eared, sun-faded, possibly filled with sand and salt air.
Watching the sunset with your best friends.
A Summer Romance—Even If It’s Just With Yourself
Maybe this summer comes with stolen glances and a moonlight kiss. Or maybe, the greatest romance of all is the one you have with yourself.
Keep a journal like you’re the protagonist of a YA novel aka Belly
Borrow his hoodie—or better yet, thrift one and tell yourself it belonged to a mysterious boy from Cousins Beach.
Take spontaneous night drives with the windows down, with music blasting.
Dance barefoot in the kitchen
So this summer, while we wait until Season 3 comes out of TSITP, we can lavish in our own TV show. Be the girl who always smells like sunscreen, who says yes, who lets herself fall in love with the season, with a stranger, or simply with the way the light hits the ocean at golden hour.
After all, isn’t that what Belly Summer is all about?