The Chicest Fall Outfit Template In History Comes From This TV Show
Hint: Jen and Reese … nope, not The Morning Show.
Image: The Morning Show | Apple TV
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by The Candidly Team
Don’t worry. We’re not gonna make you scroll through 22 ads and an intro that starts with the history of the sitcom.
The show is Friends. And the outfit (of course) belonged to the one and only Rachel Green.
It wasn’t the pleated mini skirt or the green dress (both which we found modern-day dupes for HERE, because clearly we have a problem). In fact, it wasn’t even one single outfit she wore in one single episode, but an outfit template that seemed to be a go-to for the Barney’s-loving, Ralph Lauren rep.
The outfit was made up of three simple pieces, but together, it was perfection. Chic, flattering, and so classic that we’ve tried to recreate it every autumn since 2002.
And while we were nice about telling you the show it was from, what fun would it be if we didn’t at least make you guess the template?
Here’s a visual clue.
Image: NBC
And another:
Image: NBC
And another:
Image: NBC
And a few more for good measure:
Images: NBC
Oh and wait, didn’t her fashionable sisters also use the template?
Image: NBC
Image: NBC
Image: NBC
You ready for us to just spill it already? Well here it is:
A fitted turtleneck: Be it a divine cashmere sweater or a buttery, ribbed tee, the turtleneck will never lose its command. And sure, you could just wear a form-fitting long-sleeve but you lose loads of sophistication points by not choosing a turtle.
A long column skirt: The elongating fit is not only the most cold-weather friendly, it’s also the cut that makes us all look like models.
The tall boots: They make everything look 87x more put together, no? So imagine what they can do for this template.
Now, because the template is so simple, the pieces we choose reeeeeally matter. Each one needs to fit flawlessly and look expensive, even if it’s not. Here is exactly what to wear if you want to recreate the outfit version of the “Rachel haircut.”
1. The Fitted Turtleneck
The Cashmere Turtle
WHAT: Naadam Basic Cashmere Turtleneck Sweater*
Why we love it: It’s weirdly hard to find an extremely well-fitting cashmere turtleneck that isn’t either shapeless or bulky. This one starts us off with the perfect, proportions that fit to our natural shape, while feeling like a cloud. It’s a staple you can turn to 100 times over in the fall/winter, and the price is great, so we strongly recommend getting in at least 2 of the 6 perfect, neutral colors it comes in.
Price: $88
The Ribbed-Tee Turtle
WHAT: Everlane The Luxe Rib Turtleneck*
Why We Love It: Alternately you could opt for a ribbed tee. This one is the softest, the stretchiest, and the fine ribbing sort of holds you all in, so the effect is very smooth and chic. It’s currently on sale and sells out often so now’s the time to load up on colors.
Price: $58
2. THE MAXI COLUMN SKIRT
The Classic Crepe
WHAT: Kasper York Skirt, Iconic Stretch Crepe*
Why We Love It: We start with the classic, stretchy crepe version that’s sleek and minimalist and irons out all our lumps and bumps to make us look long and lithe. Black is staple, but we also love it in white with a black turtleneck on top, which is maybe the chicest color combination and a look Rachel polished off with a pink fur coat (not recommended).
Price: $69 (and possibly on sale for less as we speak)
The Cargo
WHAT: Levi’s Surplus Skirt*
Why We Love It: Jennifer Aniston taught us the quiet perfection of a well-worn cargo pant. They just have an air of classic, zero-effort coolness - comfy as PJs, fit great on curves. They also sort of youthify (should be a word) an outfit, yet in a classic way. So naturally we are deeply in love with this singular Levi’s cargo skirt. With a black cashmere turleneck and boots, it’s a spectacular blend of high and low, casj and elevated, and you’ll somehow never look better.
Price: $79.50
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The Corduroy
WHAT: The Colette Corduroy Maxi Skirt by Maeve*
Why We Love It: The fit of this skirt is unreal. The color selection is the kind you imagine when you fantasize about strolling into Central Park or Central Perk, looking like the understated fall fashion queen you’ve always been inside.
But be quick - many colors and sizes keep selling out. Sigh.
Price: $148
The Leather
WHAT: All The Ways Kayla Faux Leather Skirt*
Why We Love It: Is anything in the world more quiet luxury than an all-black ensemble, featuring this faux leather skirt, a tall boot, and turtle ? It’s one of our favorite looks of all time from Rachel (and her sister Jill), and it’s worlds more flattering than a leather pant, like say the one from Ross.
Price: $98
The Wool
WHAT: Sézane Clarine Skirt*
Why We Love It: If you want those long, clean lines but a little more room, this skirt from Sézane is a dream. There are four gorgeous colors to choose from. Every single one has the button detail. Oof, we die.
Price: $175
The Silk
WHAT: Quince 100% Washable Silk Maxi Skirt*
Why We Love It: Don’t let the 5’11” model fool you, this skirt is a proper maxi that makes your legs look inches longer and is the perfect staple for dressing up all holiday season. It’s pure silk but also machine washable.
Price: $80
The print
WHAT: Farm Rio Striped Winter Tapestry Knit Skirt*
Why We Love It: Don’t sleep on a stunning print. With a solid top and boots, it comes off utterly sophisticated … but 5x more exciting.
Price: $180
3. THE TALL BOOTS
The Increddddddible Splurge
WHAT: Beek Crow Leather Boot*
Why We Love It: Quite frankly, these are the boots we’ve been dreaming of owning our entire adult lives. The ones we plan to wear for the remainder of our adult lives. They come in black* and tan*. The leather is so smooth and buttery and slouched just slightly so it fits over any size calf. The footbed is molded so we can walk for days without foot pain. Beek is masterful at this, creating the most lustworthy, stunning, quality boots that are so comfortable we want to weep. Sorry to get carried away, but as the episode “The One With Monica’s Boots” taught us, beautiful boots are one item in our closet that’s worth the investment but only when we find one this blissful to wear.
Use the code CANDIDLY10 to get 10% off.
Price: $475
The Sleek Black Boots
WHAT: Dolce Vita Gyra Boots*
Why We Love It: This is our go-to, pointed-toe, skinny heeled boot, because again, the comfort is on point (pun stupidly intended). It also comes in brown suede, which matches 82% of what we wear in fall.
Price: $250
BONUS: The EXTRAS
The Gold Hoops
WHAT: Jenny Bird Staple Hoop Earrings*
Why We Love It: It’s classic minimalism but with jussssst a little bit of ooomph due to the chunk.
Price: $108
The Black Headband
WHAT: Amariver Black Headband*
Why We Love It: Why do we forget these exist? Some of our favorite fashion icons adored them (in addition to Jill Green of course): Charlotte York, Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, Brigitte Bardot. We’re ready to join the ranks.
Price: $8
The Leather Jacket
WHAT: Sézane Zig Jacket*
Why We Love It: If you want to elevate even further in an instant, add this exact leather jacket. The slightly cropped length is so unbelievably flattering, we’re screaming from the rooftops that we found THE leather jacket of our dreams.
Price: $500
At The Candidly, we try a lot of stuff so you don’t have to. We only recommend things we truly love, and that we think you’ll love, too. All products are chosen independently by our creative team, and all details reflect the price and availability of products at the time of publication. If you buy something we link to, The Candidly may earn a commission.
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