We’ve Never Stopped Thinking About The Unsexy But Cute Outfits From While You Were Sleeping. So We Found Them.
Oh so cozy.
Image: While You Were Sleeping | Hollywood Pictures
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by The Candidly Team
There are some movie wardrobes that linger in our minds like a favorite dessert we ate in New York that one time. Some are iconic. Some niche.
But there may be no wardrobe that feels more authentically us than the one worn by Miss Sandra Bullock in the 1995 winter rom-com While You Were Sleeping. And if the first word that enters your mind when hearing that is “huh???” allow us to explain.
As much as we like to look put together, the words that really best describe the clothes we reach for 87% of the time are things like cocooning, cashmere, and coziness. And what the WYWS costumer Betsy Cox managed to do was to also make all of these things classic, cool, and 90s chic.
Sandra’s clothes are not just enviable. They’re realistic. Wearable. And all it takes are some very simple (albeit special) things to recreate them. And here are all seven of them:
Image: Hollywood Pictures
1. The Thrillingly Coccooning Sweaters
Madewell Chunky-Knit Alpaca-Blend Turtleneck
A critical thing about her sweaters is that they are slouchy in the correct way. Certain funny little things like a drop-shoulder, over-scaled ribbing, and non-skinny arm-holes are what make a big, old turtleneck chic instead of schlumpy. Plus, the material has to look luxe, luxe, luxe. Like this one!
Price: $158
Aritzia
Heritage Knit Merino Wool Crew Sweater
Once again, the long, skimming fit is what makes this not just a good sweater you replace after a few years but a great sweater you keep for a lifetime.
Price: $138
& Other Stories Oversized Mohair-Blend Sweater
We know Sandra would have rocked this mohair over a crisp white button-down or a sliver of her softest white tee peeking out from the neckline. But more on that later.
Price: $89
Image: Hollywood Pictures
2. THE BLACK MAXI COAT
Marcella Elizabeth Wool Coat
The coat we rely on all winter has to have a layerable level of volume while still giving off a cool-girl, 90s relaxed-fit vibe. That’s a lot of words, but we feel like you know what we mean. This one from Marcella has long been a favorite of ours for ticking all these boxes, but it also happens to be massively on sale at this moment.
Price: $199
Image: Hollywood Pictures
3. THE 90S JEANS AND TURTLENECK
Quince Bella Stretch Relaxed Straight Jeans
Why are relaxed, straight leg jeans and a fitted turtleneck such a reliable uniform for chicness? Even with that messy top knot and girl next door makeup, Lucy looks like an on-screen starlet. These particular jeans have the most flattering fit that’s made them go viral, but they also have the kind of stretch we thoroughly require these days. So much so that if Bill Pullman fit into our pants, we would not kill ourselves. (Only the ones who rewatch this film yearly will get that.)
Price: $50
Quince Featherweight Cashmere Ribbed Mockneck Sweater
And here is that soft, snatching, cashmere turtleneck. We think chocolate brown makes it more interesting than black or the greiges.
Price: $80
Image: Hollywood Pictures
4. THE CLASSIC TEE AND CREWNECK COMBINATION
Z Supply Modern Slub Tee
This is one of those obvious but not so obvious things that turns clothes into looks. Just having that skinny line of a white tee tracing the neckline is so frickin’ sophisticated. Why!? We can’t explain. But we do copy it, and it never lets us down
Oh and we could throw a bunch of dumb words at you about t-shirts (we did here if you’re interested), but bottom line is this is the best crewneck tee we own. Not too long, not too short. Jussst right.
Price: $39
Quince Mongolian Cashmere Oversized Crewneck Sweater
We reach for Quince’s oversized cashmere crewneck (and the v-neck* to be fair). It’s doing what all those $400 and $500 sweaters do to make us look quiet luxury, but for a fraction of the cost.
Price: $120
Image: Hollywood Pictures
5. THE CARDI AND FLORAL MAXI SKIRT
Quince 100% Organic Cotton Fisherman Collared Cardigan
Sorry the photos are blurry, but please go back and watch the movie because the long skirt and cardi are so 1995. In the best, loveliest, grungiest way. And how nipping is this sweater? Perfect with any high-waist skirt … or jeans.
Price: $50
Favorite Daughter The Favorite Skirt
The famous favorite skirt from favorite daughter. It has sua very flattering, elongating cut. You could also pick a solid color, but the floral pattern is fun and something different for winter. We wear it with fleece-lined tights* and boots, and it’s one of our best silhouettes.
Also, it’s on sale AND we have a code.
Use the code THECANDIDLY15 for 15% off.
Price: $169
Image: Hollywood Pictures
6. THE IDEAL HOUSE CLOTHES
We The Free Camden Sweatshirt
This sweatshirt is famous amongst “cozy people” (aka us) - like a big, old hug that somehow makes you look cooler. Comes in every color under the sun.
Price: $78
Beyond Yoga Spacedye Midi Jogger
We firmly believe our lives have improved since we discovered Beyond Yoga’s spacedye. The fact that they’re now in joggers as well as leggings just feels like a gift from the gods of house clothes.
Price: $110
Image: Hollywood Pictures
7. THE HAT AND SCARF
Sézane Marianne Scarf and Paul Beanie
Every color this buttery soft, baby alpaca scarf and beanie come in is rich and captivating and distinct. Which is all you can ask for in your most visible winter accessories. Try a matching set or mix the mocha scarf with the mid heather gray cap or the navy cap with the olive green scarf. The effect is the stuff of snowy, cinematic magic.
Price: $105 for the scarf, $65 for the beanie
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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