The 1990’s and Autumn:A fashion love affair.

As the temperature starts to drop and the leaves begin to fall, the fashion of the 90’s thrives. From

turtlenecks and Vivienne Westwood mini-skirts to leather jackets and boots; the wardrobe of the

1990’s compliments Autumn’s contrasting cozy and spooky atmospheres. In this article I have

gathered together iconic 90’s style-icons and TV show characters to demonstrate how the fashion of

the 90’s perfectly encapsulates Autumn.

What better place to start with iconic Autumn fashion than the main three girls of the hit sitcom

Friends: Monica Geller, Rachel Green and Phoebe Buffay. Throughout the show, the ‘hippie friend’

Phoebe wears a vast collection of vintage suede jackets, most with fur lining, that are reminiscent of

Autumnal jackets from the 1970s. Phoebe pairs her coats with various jewel-toned skinny scarves and

calf-length suede boots which not only remind us of the darker trees seen in Autumn but also reminds

us that one can be warm and fashionable with a bit of layering and complimentary colours.

Additionally, Monica’s long black trench coats and red lipstick achieve an effortless ‘spooky season’

look, and Rachel’s chic turtleneck - mini skirt combination reflects the back to school season from the

beginning of September. Despite the year-round events that happen in Friends, the chic autumn

outfits stand out the most from the main female trio as icons of different Autumn styles.

The most seasonal show to come out from the 90’s is Gilmore Girls, with Lorelai Gilmore’s outfits

setting the bar high for Autumn fashion. Over a third of the show’s episodes are placed in Autumn, so

whether she’s on her way to Luke’s for a coffee, or preparing for a tense dinner with her parents, you

can bet that Lorelai Gilmore lives and breathes Autumn style. Her wardrobe is mostly jewel-toned v-

neck tops or black turtlenecks and low rise jeans, with stylish fur lined jackets that exude cozy style.

Corduroy is one of the fabrics most worn by Lorelai throughout the show as its durable and thick

structure is the perfect material to keep warm as the weather starts turning. Lorelai’s collection of

chunky knits and leather boots are essential for warm fashion in the colder months. Thus, Gilmore

Girls is the perfect Autumn look-book that combines 90’s trends and timeless warm style.

Quite like how the love of horror films and spooky things heavily contrast the need for coziness in

Autumn, 90’s makeup is a direct antithesis of the 90’s wardrobe. This was a decade in which grunge

thrived to lash out against 1980’s conservatism, and the makeup perfectly represented this. In 1992,

Drew Barrymore’s extra thin eyebrows and burgundy red lips echoed the dark tones of Autumn

berries, showcasing the grungier side of the changing seasons. The star of Edward Scissorhands,

Winona Ryder, was never seen without a black leather jacket and blue mom jeans. The cooler tones of

these two fashion icons represents the scarier side to Autumn, encouraging fashion fans to take

inspiration from the halloween films they’ll be watching this season.

Ron Galella, Ltd. Getty Images

Both the warm, cozy colours of 90’s sitcoms and the harsh blacks of horror film actresses equally

encaspulate Autumn style, demonstrating that a season full of warmth and excitement can also be a

season where horror and grunge can be fully appreciated in film and fashion.