Friends was the go-to television sitcom of the 1990s and the early 2000s; everyone fawned over Jennifer Aniston’s iconic style as character Rachel Green. From her enchanting love affair with Ross to her signature haircut, fans from all over the US were inspired to be more like Rachel. The novelty of the entire Friends cast is that they never really went out of style — if you follow our #WriterWednesday features on Instagram, you’ll find that it’s many of our writers’ favorite show!
With all of the 1990s trends coming back into style, I wanted to see just how much of Rachel’s signature style I could find in my own closet — the results were surprising! I chose three of Rachel’s looks, and I was able to recreate them from items I already owned! The only thing missing was her signature hairstyle.
Look number one:
I channeled the comfier side of living in the heart of NYC. Rachel was known for her plaid pajama looks, as seen in multiple episodes throughout the 10-season show. I didn’t own any plaid shorts, but I was able to find a similar style of comfortable, high-waisted pajama shorts to pair with one of my favorite oversized sweatshirts (from a favorite Wisconsin brewery). Credit to my dad for this vintage-inspired sweatshirt, circa 1997, right around the same time Rachel donned a similar style!
Look number two:
Rachel might be the only person who can make being a struggling 20-year-old look this good! This button up denim tank-top is not something featured in my day-to-day wardrobe. But, I did have the shirt, and I am into styling it with my favorite pleather skater skirt! Rach may have inspired a new Summer-to-Fall transition style!
Look number three:
My personal favorite! This is a typical Rachel date night look. Waiting for my favorite paleontologist to pick me up, I paired this sheer long-sleeved bodysuit with a black slip dress. I generally wear this bodysuit with a fancy black bralette and a pair of jeans (very basic, I know), but I never would have thought to wear it as an undershirt! This look was so totally 1990s but so totally on trend at the same time — the 1990s truly haven’t left.
Overall, my Rachel Green-inspired style taught me a few things. One, styles always come back around. I’ll make sure to hang on to my favorite pieces for my daughter someday— there’s nothing like a vintage clothing item from mom or dad! Two, even if you’re working at a coffee shop, struggling in your 20s — keep pushing. Ralph Lauren or something even better may be in your future. Three, true friends are hard to come by, but when you find them, you better hang on tight. Four, Rachel Green is and forever will be one of the top style icons in history. Thanks for the inspo, Rach!