15 Once Upon A Time In Hollywood Crochet Top Outfit Ideas to Try
There’s something undeniably magnetic about the aesthetic of Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. Set in the golden haze of 1969 Los Angeles, the film is a love letter to a specific kind of California cool — sun-drenched streets, laid-back confidence, and fashion that felt effortless without ever trying too hard. At the center of that visual world sits the crochet top, a piece so perfectly of that era that it has never really left. And right now, it’s back in full force.
Whether you’re a longtime fan of vintage-inspired fashion or you’ve recently fallen down a rabbit hole of 1960s and 70s California style, the crochet top is one of those rare wardrobe investments that rewards you every single time you pull it out. It pairs with everything, it photographs beautifully, and it carries with it that particular kind of nostalgic warmth that the movie captures so well. If you’ve been wondering how to style yours, or if you’re building a collection and want some direction, these 15 outfit ideas are exactly what you need.
1. The Cliff Booth Sunset Look
The men of Once Upon a Time in Hollywood dressed with a relaxed masculinity that translated surprisingly well to modern fashion, and this look borrows from that energy. Pair a loosely knit, earth-tone crochet top in a warm terracotta or rust shade with high-waisted wide-leg trousers in cream or ivory. Add a pair of simple leather sandals, minimal jewelry — maybe a single gold chain — and you have something that feels like you stepped out of a Malibu evening in 1969. This is the kind of outfit that works at an outdoor dinner, a farmers market, or a casual gathering where you want to look put-together without seeming like you tried.
2. The Sharon Tate Daydream
Sharon Tate’s style in the film is airy, feminine, and completely effortless. Think soft colors, flowing fabrics, and a sense that every piece was chosen because it felt good to wear. Recreate this energy by pairing a white or cream crochet top with a midi-length floral skirt in muted pastels. Cream-colored strappy heels, round sunglasses, and a straw bag with floral embroidery complete the look. This is a daytime outfit made for strolling down Melrose Avenue or sitting in a sunny café. The whole thing reads like a daydream, which is exactly the point.
3. The Hippie Hill-Adjacent
One of the most visually striking elements of the film is its portrayal of the counterculture scene hovering at the edges of Tarantino’s Hollywood. Lean into that energy by layering a sheer, heavily patterned crochet top over a simple bandeau or bralette, pairing it with fringed suede flare pants in a warm tan or brown. Layer on beaded necklaces, a headband, and ankle-strap sandals. This is a full commitment to the bohemian aesthetic, and it works because every element reinforces the same visual language. Wear it to a music festival, a beach bonfire, or anywhere you want to feel a little untethered from the ordinary.
4. The Studio Backlot Casual
Rick Dalton’s world in the film is one of working Hollywood — trailers, afternoon drinks by the pool, the casual intersection of glamour and everyday life. Capture that spirit with a fitted crochet top in a deep gold or mustard color, tucked into straight-leg dark wash jeans with a slight flare at the hem. Add suede Chelsea boots in cognac brown and oversized tortoiseshell sunglasses. This is the outfit of someone who’s comfortable anywhere, equally at home on a film set and at a dive bar. It’s casual but considered, which is the very best kind of style.
5. The Malibu Beach House
California beach style in the late 1960s had a specific quality that’s hard to define but instantly recognizable. It was bronzed, relaxed, and completely at ease with showing skin. Embrace this by wearing a loose, open-weave crochet top in a natural white or bleached bone color over a simple bikini top. Pair it with high-waisted cut-off denim shorts, add a pair of wooden-soled sandals and a floppy wide-brim hat, and you’re done. This look transitions seamlessly from the beach to a beachside taco stand to a late afternoon drinks spot without a single change. The crochet top does all the heavy lifting.
6. The Sunset Strip After Dark
Not every look inspired by the film has to evoke afternoon sunshine. The Sunset Strip was alive at night with a different kind of energy — darker, louder, more electric. Lean into that with a black or deep burgundy crochet top worn over a matching dark cami or bodysuit, paired with high-waisted leather or faux-leather flared pants. Platform boots in black add height and drama. Layer on some silver rings and a long pendant necklace, and you have a nighttime look that’s rooted in 1960s rock-and-roll glamour but completely wearable today. This is the outfit you wear when you want to feel a little dangerous.
7. The Poolside Lounge
Rick Dalton’s pool features prominently in the film, and it represents something important about the era — the way leisure was elevated, the way even doing nothing had a certain stylishness to it. Channel that vibe with a knitted crochet cover-up in a bright pop of color, worn open over a high-cut vintage-style swimsuit. Gold hoop earrings, a stacked bracelet set, and a pair of oversized cat-eye sunglasses complete the picture. This isn’t just a beach look — it works for a resort, a rooftop pool party, or any occasion where you want to look simultaneously relaxed and completely pulled together.
8. The Casting Office Appointment
There’s a fascinating tension in the film between the glamour of the film industry and the grinding reality of it, and this outfit captures that in-between space. Take a structured crochet top in a neutral beige or soft nude and tuck it into a high-waisted midi skirt in a warm brown or camel. Add block-heeled mules and a simple structured bag. Keep your jewelry minimal — small gold earrings, a delicate ring or two. This is the kind of outfit that says you’re serious but you haven’t lost your sense of style, and it works for a lunch meeting, a creative office environment, or any daytime occasion where you want to make an impression without being overdressed.
9. The Laurel Canyon Folk Singer
Laurel Canyon in the late 1960s was ground zero for a specific kind of California dreaminess — coffeehouse performances, afternoon jam sessions, the intersection of music and lifestyle. Dress like you’ve just wandered down from the canyon with a cream or off-white crochet top worn with a long, tiered cotton maxi skirt in an earthy print. Bare feet or simple leather sandals, a guitar-strap bag, and delicate layered necklaces in gold finish the look. This is the most bohemian of all the outfits on this list, and it’s also one of the most wearable. It suits tall and petite frames equally, and the skirt and top combination gives you a silhouette that’s both relaxed and elegant.
10. The On-Set Style Icon
The female supporting characters in the film dressed with a casual intentionality that feels very modern. Short hemlines, bold colors, and an easy confidence defined their look. Recreate it with a vibrant colored crochet top — think orange, yellow, or a warm coral — worn with a high-waisted mini skirt in a complementary solid or subtle pattern. White go-go boots or chunky white sneakers add a period-appropriate touch without tipping into costume territory. Wear your hair down or in a low ponytail, keep your makeup light, and let the color do the talking.
11. The Late Summer Drive
There’s a scene-setting quality to the film’s road sequences — the feeling of cruising through Los Angeles on a warm evening, windows down, the city glittering in the background. Dress for that kind of freedom with a lightweight crochet top in a warm yellow or apricot, worn over a fitted turtleneck bodysuit for an unexpected layered look. Add straight-leg cream trousers and simple white sneakers. This is a practical, cool-weather-adaptable outfit that captures the spirit of the era while being completely easy to wear in real life. The layering trick also extends the crochet top into cooler months, which is a genuinely useful styling move.
12. The Groovy Dinner Date
If you want to dress for a date night with a clear vintage inspiration, this is the outfit. A crochet top with a slightly more elevated design — perhaps one with intricate patterns or scalloped edges — worn with wide-leg silk or satin trousers in a deep jewel tone. Strappy heeled sandals, gold jewelry including a statement earring, and a simple satin clutch create a look that’s romantic and slightly retro without being theatrical. This works for a dinner reservation, a cocktail party, or an evening event where the dress code is smart casual and you want something that feels special.
13. The Road Trip Bohemian
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is fundamentally a film about wandering — through a city, through a time, through possibilities. Dress for that sense of open-road freedom with a loose, earthy-toned crochet top layered over a graphic tee for a relaxed, undone look. Pair it with high-waisted straight-leg jeans, white canvas sneakers, and a crossbody suede fringe bag. Roll the sleeves of a denim jacket in a light wash and tie it around your waist for when the temperature drops. This is the kind of outfit you can wear for hours without thinking about it, which is perhaps the highest compliment you can pay to any piece of clothing.
14. The Film Premiere Revisited
Not all the outfits inspired by the film have to be daytime casual. The world of Hollywood premieres and industry events that runs through the story calls for something with more intentional glamour. Wear a finely knit, beaded, or metallic crochet top as the statement piece of an evening look, paired with high-waisted wide-leg trousers in a deep black or navy. Strappy heeled sandals, a simple satin or leather clutch, and delicate gold jewelry let the top be the focal point. This combination reads as sophisticated and fashion-forward in a way that separates it from a more casual crochet look while honoring the same bohemian-adjacent aesthetic.
15. The Timeless California Girl
The most enduring lesson of Once Upon a Time in Hollywood‘s fashion is that true California style isn’t really about a specific decade — it’s about ease, warmth, and an absence of self-consciousness. The final look on this list embodies that perfectly. A simple white crochet top, tucked loosely into high-waisted Levi’s or a similar straight-leg jean in a medium or dark wash, with brown leather sandals and a brown leather tote. Small gold hoops, a light tan, and that particular expression of being exactly where you want to be. No era, no occasion, no specific moment — just the universal California outfit that works every single time, in every single year.
How to Build Your Crochet Top Wardrobe
If you’re starting from scratch or building on what you already have, there are a few things worth keeping in mind as you develop your crochet top collection. First, invest in at least one neutral — white, cream, or a warm natural tone — because it will work with more of your existing wardrobe than any other color. Second, pay attention to weave density. A tighter knit is more versatile and can be worn without layering; a more open, sheer weave is beautiful but needs something underneath. Third, fit matters enormously with crochet. A top that pulls or bunches at the wrong place loses all of its effortless quality. Look for a fit that drapes naturally and gives you room to move.
From there, the colors and styles are entirely up to you. The warm earth tones of the late 1960s — rust, terracotta, mustard, camel — are deeply flattering on a wide range of skin tones and pair beautifully with denim, leather, and natural fabrics. Bright pops like orange, coral, and golden yellow feel energetic and summery. Deeper tones like burgundy, forest green, and navy bring the crochet aesthetic into more sophisticated territory.
The beauty of the crochet top as a piece is that it carries its own history with it. Every time you wear one, you’re participating in a tradition of effortless California style that stretches back more than fifty years. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood reminded a whole new generation of that tradition, and these fifteen looks are your invitation to make it your own.
