It’s been 16 years since F.R.I.E.N.D.S has been off the air and it still remains one of the most iconic shows in TV history. Probably one of the most binge-worthy shows that never goes out of style and best used to calm one’s mind before bedtime. Why? Because the show is completely relatable, 6 friends and you’re bound to find little bits of yourself in all 0f them if not one of them. The show really captures the best of ’90s fashion that still seems relevant to fashion even today. When I watch the show today I still find myself ogling at the clothes, I even went to the extent of having one of Rachel‘s dresses tailored for a Christmas mass. Yes, I’m a good Christian girl ok who enjoys fashion.
Pretty sure that no matter the year, we’d be able to spot at least 10 outfits the F.R.I.E.N.D.S characters wore that we would wear today, amirite? If I’m being honest I’ve always had my eye on Rachel‘s and Phoebe‘s closet. Phoebe because her kooky and hippie loving soul totally appeals to the vagabond in me that surfaces from time to time. And, well Rachel, she’s got that sophisticated, classic taste that I aspire to emulate. In the spirit of Friendship Day, I thought we should try and decode our favourite on-screen F.R.I.E.N.D.S fashion choices.
Let’s take a deep dive into the Friends characters ’90s wardrobes that we’d all like to call dibs on:
1. Rachel Green as seen on F.R.I.E.N.D.S
Rachel, Rachel, Rachel is THE closet that I would like to steal from. Every single thing she wore was something I’d aspire to wear. The show starts off with Rachel trying to be independent so you don’t see her in lavish clothes off the bat. But, she did sport those tiny, cutesy mini-skirts and form-fitted tops. She also wore a lot of denim dungarees and shorts, to begin with. Her style, however, evolved as she experienced growth in her career. Apart from her sporting some of the most envious hairstyles of all time, her fashion was also off-the-charts.
Even when I find myself re-watching the show today I make mental notes of all her sartorial choices. I bet you all remember that Paris outfit and her mint green dress. Rachel pulled off all her looks with class and sass. She often used statement accessories as part of her well-rounded looks or was often seen sans any as well. Rachel was also on top of her fashion game because she was working as a fashion buyer with Bloomingdale‘s and then moved to Ralph Lauren. Tell me you don’t want to steal from this F.R.I.E.N.D.S’ closet, I dare you!
2. Monica Gellar as seen on F.R.I.E.N.D.S
Monica always seemed to have a more androgynous taste in the very beginning. Often sporting mom jeans and tight tops or oversized men shirts. It also helped that she had a pixie cut to support her androgynous taste. Monica clearly emulated the’90s trends with her everyday wear. You would clearly be able to identify her ’90s items from the rest of her closet. I also loved her in those slinky slip dresses and leather skirts with knee-high boots. Her style evolution was however not the greatest on the F.R.I.E.N.D.S TV show.
I didn’t care very much for her clothes towards the very end of the show. Monica also experimented the least with her hair and always accessorised with delicate jewellery and dainty earrings. She was the character I related to the most because of all her quirks and OCDish cleaning habits. I also really enjoyed her relationship with Chandler and found myself deeply invested in their romance.
3. Phoebe Buffay as seen on F.R.I.E.N.D.S
Phoebe is just that wonderful weirdo we all need in our lives. I feel like her style stayed the most consistent on the show. She was that fun-loving, hippie who always turned out well, put-together. She experimented with colour, over-sized winter coats, maxi-dresses, cardigans. You name it and Phoebe has worn that quirky outfit on the show. She accessorised her looks with many finger-rings, really fun hair clips, OMG these were my favourite and Teddy Boy shoes. In modern-day terms, Phoebe emulated the boho-chic vibe to the T.
Phoebe‘s style is definitely the one you learn to love and understand over time. You actually only realise how fashionable she really is much later on the show. I love how she also experimented with many hairstyles not just haircuts like Rachel or Monica. There was also something sexy about her unassuming style. She pulled off all her statement jewellery with much panache. You either love or hate how Phoebe was styled on F.R.I.E.N.D.S.
Which F.R.I.E.N.D.S character’s style is your favourite? Let me know in the comments below.
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