Matt Dillon as Sam Lombardo in Wild Things (1998)

Vitals

Matt Dillon as Sam Lombardo, shady high school guidance counselor

South Florida, Spring 1999

Film: Wild Things
Release Date: March 20, 1998
Director: John McNaughton
Costume Designer: Kimberly A. Tillman

WARNING! Spoilers ahead!

Background

Wild Things is one of those movies I remember being disregarded as a sleazefest, mostly due to Matt Dillon’s illicit ménage à trois with Neve Campbell and Denise Richards (which, of course, made eight-year-old me all the more interested in seeing it). But time has been kinder to John McNaughton’s twisty erotic thriller, which has grown a cult following in the 28 years since its release this week in March 1998. Even at the time, critics like Roger Ebert, Janet Maslin, and Gene Siskel were able to praise elements of it, albeit not without feeling compelled to note that it was—in Ebert’s words—”lurid trash.”

The story is set in the fictional Blue Bay outside Miami in south Florida, swirling through the sexual intrigue and triple-crossing scams among high school guidance counselor Sam Lombardo (Dillon), his two students Suzie (Campbell) and Kelly (Richards), and local detective Ray Duquette (Kevin Bacon).

What’d He Wear?

When not on the clock at Blue Bay High, Sam maintains a wardrobe designed for casual comfort while boating—from simple sailing to motorboating—elevated by designer accessories like his Persol sunglasses and Rolex watch. One early scene begins with Sam tutoring another student, Jimmy (Cory Pendergast), on his boat when the flirty, privileged cheerleader Kelly asks for a ride home in the same Jeep she had earlier offered to wash for him. To Kelly’s evident dismay, he also extends a ride to Suzie, who is struggling with her VW.

Sam wears a polo shirt in a slate-blue cotton piqué that looks appropriately weathered and sun-faded after hours under the sun at sea. The short-sleeved shirt has a two-button top with off-white plastic buttons that he wears fully open.

Sam’s usual flat-front shorts on his boat are made from an ivory pinwale corduroy cotton (also described as “needlecord”). Cut with a short inseam, patch-style front pockets that have slanted entries, and a squared patch pocket over the back-right seat, these recall styles popularized by surf lifestyle brands like Katin since the 1970s. His sandals are more for function than form, featuring a system of dark-brown leather straps attached to cushioned foam foot-beds.

Shop the shorts:

Corduroy shorts are a longtime surf culture staple that have recently become a favorite of mine for durable comfort during warmer months. While the maker of Matt Dillon's screen-worn shorts from Wild Things is lost to historical record, several outfitters still offer well-made corded shorts with a similar short inseam and patch-pocket design for every price point.

Hammies Men's Short in white stretch corduroy (Hammies, $65.50)

Katin Trails Corduroy 7.5" Short in "silver birch" 21-wale polyester corduroy (Man Outfitters, $39)

Ventura 7" Short in "natural" cotton corduroy (Quaker Marine Supply Co., $118)

Price and availability current as of Mar. 19, 2026.

Even though a classic dive watch is appropriate for a regular boater, Sam’s stainless steel Rolex Submariner Date still feels like a pretty expensive watch for a high school guidance counselor—which should be some indication that there’s more to him than meets the eye.

Sam likely wears the newer ref. 16610, which was the contemporary Submariner Date model produced continually since 1988, featuring the standard 40mm case, a matching steel three-piece Oyster-style bracelet, and glossy black Tritium dial with a date window at 3 o’clock. The black aluminum bezel inlay has faded to a patina that collectors call “ghost fading”.

Sam protects his eyes from the sun with silver-framed aviator-style sunglasses, identified by Persol‘s signature silver arrows over the temples. Based on the late ’90s timeframe and straight double-bridged, tapered-arm shape, these are probably the Persol 2027 model, rigged with brown gradient-tinted lenses.

How to Get the Look

Matt Dillon and Denise Richards in Wild Things (1998)

Looking ahead to warmer weather in the following seasons, Sam Lombardo illustrates how to elevate a simple look of a polo shirt and corduroy shorts with upscale sunglasses and a sports watch.

• Slate-blue faded cotton piqué short-sleeved polo shirt with two-button top
• Ivory pinwale corduroy cotton short-inseam flat-front shorts with slanted-entry patch front pockets and patch back-right pocket
• Dark-brown leather strap sandals on cushioned foam beds
• Slver-framed aviator sunglasses with brown gradient-tinted lenses
  • Persol 2027
• Stainless steel dive watch with round black dial (with 3:00 date window) and black bezel insert on steel Oyster-style three-piece link bracelet
  • Rolex Submariner Date ref. 16610

Do Yourself a Favor and…

Check out the movie.