Pssst! I have a major secret! Though still talked about 17 years later, Rachel (Karen!) Green’s wardrobe is not the most fashion-forward of the Friend’s cast. By day, Rachel Green was seen in leather boots, mini plaid pleated skirts, and black turtlenecks. And by night, lingerie-style cocktail dresses, a large claw clip, and some sort of barely-there heels were the uniform. Every fashion site in the world has at one point compiled a “Top 10 Most Iconic Rachel Green Looks” listicle debating which looks are best based solely on personal taste. And it makes sense because these are easy looks for everyone to wear in any time period, but they lack creativity.
If you were alive from 1994-2004 (the years Friends ran) you can attest Rachel wore the same outfits that everyone else did at the time - just the more upscale version! What’s so iconic about dressing like everyone else in New York? Phoebe on the other hand? No one else can throw together something totally lackluster, two things that should not go and rock it.
If you haven’t realized it yet, outerwear will be the top ingredient for outfit making in 2021. In a typical Jan. and Feb. you probably weren’t outside half as much as you are this year. So, make it fun by investing in a (vegan) leather overcoat made famous by the eccentric Phoebe Buffay.
You’re in the market for a fashion coat, yes? You: Well, no but now I am! Here are the attributes Phoebe would look for. When rocking a vintage piece, silhouette is most important. In the mid 90s and early 00s, the clothing was simple while the accessories (hair clips, belt bags, sunglasses) were wilder. A knee-length collared coat with a completely straight inseam is the 90s look. In the 00s the same flat, boyish shape still reigned queen however, hemlines shrunk to just below the waist and a dyed-to-match belt for cinching the leather was added. This is a more casual option.
The fun buttons should be lined directly up the center. A demi shoulder pad though, never necessary can add boss-like confidence. And the full coat should feel kind of, well, stiff. But, wait, isn’t Phoebe the fun one? That’s where color comes in.
To an untrained eye, color is what is picked up on first. Stand out while running errands, dining on the sidewalk, heck, even on your walk in the woods in a wild color like scarlet, plum, and emerald. Like her rings, Phoebe is a lover of shiny things. Leather picks up the trending-every-winter bright silver and glitzy bronze well.
Wider lapels were pretty much made for a turtleneck to nest underneath. A velvet vest layered over with the buttons just high enough to be seen in the coat is what Friends costume designer Debra McGuire would choose. As someone who predicts 2021 to be a more well-dressed year, I’ll be matching my skirts to my coats from here on out, thanks. Doubling down with a skirt in the same fabric and same color as the coat is an inventive way to DIY suit separates - an otherwise diminishing concept. Coats that can remain partially unbuttoned allow your creative mind to roam free! When spending the full day outside, plan your outfit around your coat and not what’s underneath. You’ll thank me later.
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