What would Gilmore Girls wear today?

October is not just synonymous with spookie season, foliage, and pumpkin spice lattes, but it officially marks the beginning of "Gilmore Girls fall". The series that accompanied the adolescence of many in the early 2000s has now become a true cult classic thanks to Gen Z, who rediscovered it and fell in love with the mother-daughter relationship of the protagonists, the quirky residents of Stars Hollow, the pop-culture-filled dialogue, and, above all, the iconic looks of Rory and Lorelai Gilmore. On TikTok, millions of posts are tagged with hashtags like #rorygilmoreoutfits or #lorelaigilmoreoutfits, where the wardrobes of the characters played by Alexis Bledel and Lauren Graham are closely analyzed, reinterpreted, and updated for today. Thus, the schoolgirl uniform, leather jackets, midi dresses, quirky statement tees, colorful scarves, and cozy sweaters have been declared this season's essentials, along with all the other fashion pieces and style details featured in the series created by Amy Sherman-Palladino over seven seasons and a sequel miniseries (Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life, 2016).

Rory Gilmore, Then and Now

Rory has always divided fans between those who love her and those who hate her. Not long ago, the latter group seemed to be winning, to the point that in 2016, the Washington Post published an article titled Rory Gilmore is a monster. The reasons for this hatred? Rory is seen as privileged, snobbish, ungrateful, impulsive, selfish, and arrogant, with a tendency to abandon people and situations at the first sign of difficulty. She sleeps with other people's boyfriends (from Dean to Logan), cannot learn from her mistakes, and hasn't managed to accomplish anything with her life despite many opportunities. A harsh judgment that turns positive, however, when discussing her style. Her wardrobe is a tribute to simplicity and discreet elegance. Her most recognizable outfit? The Chilton uniform, the private school she attends for many seasons. Her favorite accessory? A book, of course, to read anywhere and in any situation. Rory is a natural beauty, a typical student, almost ordinary in her everyday style: turtlenecks, bootcut jeans, sweaters (especially cable-knit and oversized ones), hoodies, some blouses and floral dresses for dinners with her grandparents, midi coats, flats, skinny scarves, and bags that are often too small and impractical (except for the pink Hermès Birkin gifted by the young Huntzberger).

Creativity and a hint of coolness emerge on special occasions. Some examples? The Grace Kelly-inspired ball gown for the jump from the scaffolding with Logan; Rory’s Gogo Yubari costume for Finn's Quentin Tarantino-themed birthday party; the blonde wig and red mini dress in a Swinging London style to bid farewell to Logan before he leaves for England. Rory is delightful in retro looks, such as when she transforms into a perfect 1950s housewife in an apricot-colored flared dress while preparing dinner for Dean, or when she chooses 1940s fashion for the Stars Hollow Dance Marathon or a World War II-themed party.

Lorelai Gilmore, Then and Now

The single mother played by Lauren Graham perfectly embodies the transitional period of the new millennium, balancing the grunge and underground heritage of the '90s with the sometimes kitschy excesses of Y2K fashion. Her wardrobe is a mix of high and low, vintage and contemporary, reflecting her eclectic, optimistic, rebellious, and ironic personality. Lorelai loves to mix, layer, and play with clothes and patterns. She has a passion for leather jackets, denim, and heeled boots. She has a collection of band t-shirts or ones decorated with slogans like "Yoga kills" or "Heavy metal rules." Lorelai alternates between shorts (she even wore them to take Rory to her first day at Chilton), jeans, and pencil skirts, wrap dresses (often by Diane von Furstenberg), form-fitting slip dresses, tailored pants and jackets, or feminine floral blouses when she's at work. There's always a touch of bohemian flair, such as knit hats in colder seasons and colorful bandanas during warmer months.

Preppy Outfits, Tartan, and Cozy Sweaters

One of the most iconic pieces from the series is undoubtedly Rory's Chilton uniform, which perfectly captures the preppy and academia aesthetic currently in vogue. The schoolgirl look remains a classic, reinterpreted and brought back to the runways for FW24 by Tommy Hilfiger, Anna Sui, Miu Miu, Coach e Sandy Liang: the navy blue cardigan with the school crest, the wool vest, the Oxford shirt, the pleated skirt (preferably tartan), knee-high socks, and Mary Jane shoes, swapped out for penny loafers or ballet flats. Rory would likely choose her looks from these collections today, falling in love with Miu Miu’s coats, Prada’s cardigans, and Altuzarra’s cable-knit sweaters, as well as those from Eric Bompard and Stella McCartney. She and her mother would shop at Burberry, Rabanne, and Maison Kitsuné, favoring plaid prints and shearling details.

Leather Jackets, Patterned Dresses, and Jeans

The items that mother and daughter would never give up even today? Jeans, the leather jacket and feminine dresses in warm colors or floral patterns. At Friday dinners at their grandparents', Rory and Lorelai would wear blouses and jeans by Chloé, sets by Elie Saab and Etro, and American bon ton by Carolina Herrera. And for outerwear? The choice would have fallen on Coach 's leather jackets (but also the brand's funny sweaters), Rabanne's cabans, coats by Prada, Chanel and Dries Van Noten.