There’s something about summer that makes me think of sleazy grindhouse slasher SLEEPAWAY CAMP and kooky Aunt Martha, whose outfit reminds me of a famous abstract painting.

In SLEEPAWAY CAMP, crop tops and short shorts dominate the fashion scene. However, I’m most interested in Aunt Martha’s style. She both fascinated and unnerved me with her off-the-wall personality and that wacky outfit she wears when she sends her son Billy and niece Angela off to summer camp. 

A couple of things to note about Aunt Martha (Desiree Gould): The first is that she seems to be out of her mind, which is alarming considering she is supposed to be a doctor; the second is that she’s dressed in an outfit that resembles a Mondrian painting.

Yes, Aunt Martha’s outfit echoes Dutch painter Piet Mondrian’s work, specifically the iconic “Composition with Red, Blue, and Yellow”. Black and white, as well as primary shades of red, blue, and yellow, make up her bright color palette. Like Mondrian, many of his famous works combine primary colors with black and white. Think Broadway Boogie Woogie, the tribute to Manhattan’s neon lights and jazz, Composition A, or his last unfinished piece, Victory Boogie Woogie.

Head-to-Toe Fit Check:

Aunt Martha’s look was created by Costume Designer Eileen Sieff Stroup (Nope, Creepshow 2, White Lotus).

That hat! – A floppy beret featuring dark blue and red stripes, made from blended felt. Compliments her sable hair.

The cardigan – One of those long, oversized V-necks common in the ’80s. Made of medium-weight butter-colored yarn.

The shirt – A pre-Gordon Gekko light blue and white pinstriped button-down with a contrast Peter Pan collar. A red bow sprouts from her collarbone.

The shorts – White Bermudas. So eighties. Paired with a skinny black-brown belt, semi-opaque white tights, and black flats.

An impeccably manicured pair of hands features scarlet red nails and a bright ruby ring set in gold. A strand of red yarn is tied in a bow around her right index finger as a “reminder”. It’s a useless act, since she forgets why she tied the string in the first place.

Aunt Martha’s attire gives her a childish and unhinged appearance, rather than the casual, preppy look I think she aims for. Yet, it’s cool that she’s created a fun although bizarre fashion moment that may or may not have been inspired by an early 20th-century art movement.

Is Aunt Martha’s colorful look truly inspired by De Stijl? It wouldn’t be the first time famous artwork has influenced fashion. In this case, connecting her outfit to Mondrian’s “Composition with Red, Blue, and Yellow” might be stretching it. Even so, I can’t help but think about this whenever I see her. Aunt Martha’s style choices, while capturing the essence of a famous painting through colors, show that fashion can be art, and that art can be fashion.

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