By Liv Barry
Lifestyle Editor
Fall is here, which means that it is finally seasonally appropriate to brew a mug of coffee and re-watch “Gilmore Girls” in celebration.
“Gilmore Girls’’ is an early aughts sitcom that follows the lives of Lorelai and Rory Gilmore, a mother-daughter duo living in Stars Hollow, Connecticut, a small town similar to Chestertown.
As the show hops between Stars Hollow’s fall fairs and the studious halls of Rory’s prestigious high school, Chilton Academy, it feels like the characters are living in a never ending autumn.
Lorelai and Rory’s cozy wardrobes heighten the feeling; the two characters wear a constant rotation of chunky sweaters, jackets, and blue jeans. Their clothes are the fashion equivalent of comfort food, serving up nostalgia and coziness with every outfit.
While Chestertown’s early-fall weather might be too warm for the heavy jackets and knitwear of “Gilmore Girls,” here are a few ways you can replicate the show’s iconic fall fashion.
Jean jackets
Denim jackets are the bread and butter of Lorelai’s style.
In fact, this style is so fundamental to her character that Lorelai wears a jean jacket in the show’s promotional photography. While the Canadian tuxedo she sports in these pictures should be left in the aughts, there are plenty of ways to refresh Lorelai’s staple look for 2022.
In “Gilmore Girls,” denim jackets are often paired with a pair of blue jeans and a plain t-shirt, but to create an updated look, you can pair a denim jacket with virtually any clothing piece you feel comfortable in.
For those warm, early days of fall, a jean jacket pairs great with a lightweight sundress or midi skirt. (Bonus points if the dress has an empire waistline, a style seen frequently on Lorelai and Rory.)
Once the weather cools down, denim jackets with fur trim are a closet staple that harken back to Lorelai and Rory’s autumn wardrobes. These can be layered over button-up shirts or turtlenecks depending on the temperature.
Plaid skirts and tights
While the blazer and saddle shoes of Rory’s school uniform feel a little stuffy, her plaid skirt and tights are a staple look that can easily be translated to today’s fashion.
Many subcultures that emerged out of TikTok, like dark academia and coquette, use these items as a base to build outfits around.
Depending on your personal style, you can pair a plaid skirt and tights with a multitude of tops to find what you feel best in. T-shirts, turtlenecks, and blouses all pair well with the combination.
To give your outfit some “Gilmore Girls” flair, try pairing the look with a loose blouse and structured jacket to evoke Rory’s school days.
If you are not a fan of plaid, a simple pleated skirt is a great alternative to give a similar preppy feel to an outfit.
Given their popularity, this style of skirt can be found anywhere from Goodwill to online stores like Cider.
Sweaters
Lorelai and Rory cycle through nearly every style of sweater throughout the show’s seven seasons; cable knit, turtleneck, cardigan, and oversized sweaters are seen on either one of both of the girls at all times.
While the outfits in “Gilmore Girls” are undeniably stylish, comfort is paramount to Lorelai and Rory’s look. The characters spend the majority of their time running between their home in Stars Hollow, Luke’s diner, and Lorelai’s parent’s home in Hartford, and sweaters are the perfect choice for a life on the run.
This style also allows for the most creativity. No matter how you style your outfit, as long as you wear a comfy sweater, chances are you look like you walked straight out of Stars Hollow.
….Anything in your closet, really
One of the best things about “Gilmore Girls” fashion is that it is built on closet staples. Lorelai and Rory frequently wear “basic” clothing items, like blue jeans and Converse sneakers.
While these fashion decisions seem plain on paper, the show’s adherence to staple clothing items ensures that the show does not look as dated as its 2000s contemporaries.
With just a few basic clothing items, you can style your own “Gilmore Girls” outfit while sticking to your own personal style.
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Photo caption: Spanning seven seasons, the WB’s “Gilmore Girls” is a cult classic for millennial and Gen Z audiences alike. Its Netflix sequel, “Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life” garnered over 6 million viewers within the initial week of its 2016 release.