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Inspired by Gilmore Girls

Brooklyn

Veteran

In 2022/23 I watched the entire series of The Marvellous Mrs Maisel. I loved it. It turns out the creators of the show also wrote Gilmore Girls. I somehow missed Gilmore Girls entirely when it first screened in the early to mid 2000s. Anyhow, I started watching it this year and am now up to Season 6. I am enjoying it (although not quite as much as The Marvellous Mrs Maisel).

Gilmore Girls fashion is interesting. I can identify lots of trends that are very of the time (eg skinny scarves, empire necklines). But, overall, I think a lot of it could be worn today with a little remixing. It’s not as distinctive as 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s or 90s fashion. I’m not sure if this is because the era is closer to the modern era. Or if it’s because I was a young woman during the period in which the show was made and the fashion feels familiar to me.

Anyhow, the look that caught my eye is a look favoured by Lorelai: full length bootcut jeans with casual top (usually scoop or v neck) and short, semi fitted casual jacket.

I’ve been wearing my slouchy jeans and cargo pants so much lately that I forgot how much I like bootcut jeans, especially with jackets. It’s such an easy, flattering, smart casual look. Perfect for Spring (or Autumn).

So I’ve made a mental note to wear more of this look. Also to keep an eye out in thrift stores for early 2000s jackets. Lorelai wears some great ones.

Pics 3-6 show today’s Lorelai inspired outfit, worn for lunch with my mum.

My jeans are flares, not bootcuts, but they have a similar vibe. I went for lots of texture with beads and an open knit top. The top is olive green layered over teal, a favourite combination of mine. Also, crackled bronze platform boots which match the bronze buttons of my jacket. (The jacket originally had silver buttons, but I replaced them.)

How about you? Have you found any fashion inspiration (retro or otherwise) on TV lately?

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23 replies

Latest reply was from ChristelJ

Suntiger

I like your version much more than the OG! I got rid of my tv in the early 2000s, so never saw the show, but yay for flares + fitted jacket.
My last tv inspiration was my version of Morticia for last years Addams Family play

Brooklyn

Veteran

Thanks Suntiger. Morticia sounds like fun! I don’t know if you ever saw the 2021 movie Cruella? That was a lot of fun for the fashion too.

I want a jacket like Lorelai’s in no 2. She also wore one in brown that I absolutely adored. I could not find a photo of it on the net, but I reckon you would have loved it too

Star

Veteran

Your outfit is very cool. Love your front seamed jeans.

Dee

Veteran

Ouu..love your turquoise version, so luxe with the different textures and a fab colour palette. The early 2000s was one of my favourite fashion periods, although not as distinctive as other decades as you mentioned, it did have a blend of everything, casual but still somewhat dressier too, jeans with fitted blazers or motos were commonly worn and clothing was better quality back then too, it was right before fast fashion really took off.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

That outfit formula was a go-to for me back in the day too! I still find that silhouette very wearable and flattering to this day. I’d definitely do a version of this. Your take on it is perfect. Love those jeans!

Let’s see, these days I’m watching “Nobody Wants This” which I’m really enjoying but the character’s styles are not for me (wrong generation, wrong coast, LOL). And I’m rewatching “Homicide: Life on the Street” now that it’s been released streaming for the first time ever. Thirty years after it debuted, it’s fascinating to see how much has changed (no cell phones, all the smoking, everyone wearing ties!). It was groundbreaking for its character and story development (not your typical police procedural drama), the fact that it was filmed in a real (non NYC or LA) city, and the handheld camera style. I don’t see myself going back to the 90s style in the show — the female detective dresses very masculine, right down to frequently wearing a tie. But it’s fun to watch. (And a little sad since many of the original cast has passed away, including the phenomenal Andre Braugher.) Sorry for the tangent — big fan here! LOL

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Irina

Veteran

You wear this style very well and colors are beautiful on you.

I remember Gilmore Girls, I watched the first few seasons. I wore shrunken blazers and flared jeans, fitted tops at that time but it’s not my favorite silhouette.

JAileen

Veteran

I’ve never seen the show. I do like your outfit, of course. I always do. For me, it’s the way the colors work together, and your interesting details. Olive and turquoise are beautiful together.

Like lots of people we watched entire runs of shows that had been on for years. We watched mostly mysteries, though. Lately we’ve been watching Bad Monkey, based on Carl Hiaasen’s book, and Only Murders in the Building. Carl Hiaasen writes about Florida, politics, etc. I highly recommend him.

Jules

Veteran

Such fun inspo and a great look! It definitely suits you and feels true to your style. I watched some of the original series when it aired and rewatched it with my own girls around 8 years ago. I was struck by Lorelei's fashion and styling too, and it's been interesting to see some of it come back since then - my 18 year old daughter who mostly thrifts her clothes has some similar vibes coming through as well.

Non fashion note, it's been interesting to rewatch and relate to (or get frustrated with) the different generations (Rory/Lorelai/Emily) as I myself age

cat2

Veteran

Veronica Beard has been showing boot cuts with those Chanel inspired jackets for a couple of years now, and this season has them paired with classic fit jackets. I took my cue from them and dug out my 2017 bootcuts. It’s been a nice change from the wide legs that I had been wearing since 2018. I just hope we don’t circle back to skinnies in any meaningful way; those were the worst look!

Katerina

Veteran

I absolutely love your outfit. Especially the element of layered tops with the addition of beads - just beautiful. The pallet is also amazing. And the Gilmore Girls silhouette.
This is one of your best outfits and I love them all, you know!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

You wear bootcuts - or flares are some retailers are calling them today - with the best of them, Brooklyn! KILLER look, and please carry on

LOVE the matching teal bag with the jacket - twinset-ish!!! And you had me with the short jacket.....

I have a pair of red bootcut pants, and bootcut trouser jeans that I also find flattering. A classic! Like cigarette pants - which I wear too, and which will be having a fashion moment (soon).

It's fab how we can identify an era by the way people are dressed. Very identifiable! What we wear is a powerful message in many ways

slim cat

Veteran

Gorgeous outfit - love the feast of blue/teal combination! Your play on style and layering is amazing - better than inspo pics !

Lisa

Veteran

I have always enjoyed a bootcut jeans and blazer/jacket look and have worn this formula for years. It's a classic look to my eye.

The colors you have here are beautiful! Teal and olive, that's so pretty paired together. But bronze boots? That is so fabulous! It ties everything together in this outfit and is so much more fun and expected than say a black pair of boots. I love how footwear can really elevate an outfit. You look lovely in this!

I'm not a big tv person so no inspiration from there, but I do get inspiration from anything and have an outfit combination I plan to try and post sometime soon, based on a pillow.

Sal

Veteran

How fabulous! Love the outfit and I agree it was a fun time although I was pregnant for quite and or breastfeeding so had some limitations! Before the skinny Jean or leggings and tunics time!!

Wonderful colours.

I haven’t seen the show- not quite sure why?

Brooklyn

Veteran

Thanks Sal. I think I skipped it because I was under the impression that GG was a drama/situation comedy, somewhat like Friends. But it’s actually more of a fast talking screwball comedy/drama. In the style of 30s and 40s comedies like His Girl Friday. It took me a while to get into it. Aspects of the show feel a little too sweet and contrived, but I am enjoying it now. It’s a big undertaking: 7 seasons and each season is 21 or 22 episodes about 45 minutes long.

Thanks Lisa. Take inspiration where you find it, I say! The bronze boots are a little wild but I love bronze and it’s such a hard colour to find.

Thanks slim cat.

Thanks Angie. I’ve never really understood the difference between flares and bootcuts. I think of flares as a more exaggerated bootcut. They are a good style for me.

Thanks Katerina.

Cat2, GG seems to be pre-skinnies. Also pre ankle boots with skirts. I hope we don’t circle back to skinnies soon. Even Angie talking about cigarette pants coming back makes me nervous. Those styles really, really don’t work for me. But I find I wear my jeans out within a few years so I can’t keep them in reserve for drought periods. Even the flares I’m wearing here are already frayed some at the hems.

Jules, thanks. I think GG is possibly the most interesting portrayal of a mother daughter relationship I’ve seen on TV (the Emily/Lorelai relationship). I relate to it a lot!

Thanks JAileen. I’ve read some Carl Hiaasen, and do plan to watch Only Murders in the Building eventually.

Brooklyn

Veteran

Thanks Irina.

Thanks Janet. I will keep an eye out for both those shows. I don’t mind a police procedural drama. I quite like Bosch. But there’s no fashion interest there!

Thanks Dee. A while ago I thrifted a pinstripe jacket which I think is from that era. You are right, the quality is great. It looks like it was easier to find natural fibres back then too. Most of Lorelai’s jackets appear to be cotton. It’s so hard to find a cotton jacket now that is not denim or denim (trucker/western) styling.

Thanks Star.

Runcarla

Veteran

You do such a beautiful job with colours!

Isn’t it fun to get inspiration from something other than influencers? I suppose the styles in older shows were influenced by the trends at the time - or set them. We dumped our cable and decided to go with subscription. DH got BritBox for me, and I’ve been watching Vera. Now I want a mac like Brenda Blethyn’s!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Brooklyn, I use the word "flared" generically for anything that isn't straight or tapered, IYKWIM. The industry seems to be using the word "flares" for what we know as bootcuts. At least, here in the US!

As long as we know what we like and want to wear - it's all good

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Flares or bootcuts were my first favorite style of jeans and I am delighted to see them more and more lately. This pair looks smashing on you! I was never much of a Gilmore Girls watcher, but funnily enough my daughters love it and have watched the entire series. I am always getting inspiration from somewhere but I can't think of a television show right now.

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

This outfit is gorgeous. I like the tonal mix of colors, which make me think of the sea; I think the crochet top even adds to the theme with a fishnet effect, and the bronze elements are of a piece, too, like bits of rust. The silhouette and textures are fab. Even though I am not familiar with the show, the style is recognizable and I agree with others that you wear it well!

Bijou

Veteran

I've been watching Fisk, but I won't be taking style tips from her! I love the tonal teal combination, just gorgeous on you and perfect for transitional weather.

Brooklyn

Veteran

Thanks Bijou. I love Fisk! Kitty Flanagan is so talented.

Thanks FC. I love that imagery. The beads could be Neptune’s necklace

Thanks Jaime. I’m surprised how few people have seen the show. I thought it was very popular. In the beginning my DH thought it was a “girl’s show”, but he is into it too now.

Thanks for clarifying Angie.

Thanks RC. I like to think I’m not influenced by influencers at all, but of course it’s impossible to ascertain the provenance of all the trends out there. Makes me think of that famous scene about cerulean blue in The Devil Wears Prada.

ChristelJ

Veteran

You have brought back one of my favorite combinations ever, flares and short fitted jacket. And you take it to the next level with these gorgeous textures and colors. Beautiful.

I just started watching GG last year for the first time, but only got a couple seasons in. I may resume and enjoy the new context you've provided.

I enjoy Mabel's style on Only Murders in the Building. Not that I could emulate it, but it seems unexpected and interesting. Sort of polished funky. Bijou, Fisk, ha ha! That tan suit...