Kicking off Fall: The Top 5 Most Iconic Gilmore Girls Outfits

As October begins and there is a cooler breeze in the air, it’s prime time to pull out that autumn wardrobe, get a nice chai latte and turn on one of the most iconic fall-themed shows: Gilmore Girls. 

The show, which centers around a mother-daughter duo in a small Northeastern town, brings cozy vibes year-round, but especially when the leaves are changing and it is sweater weather. While Gilmore Girls is known for its quippy dialogue and dramatic romances, it is also full of fashionable looks that can give you inspiration on what to wear this fall, or just bring back some of that early 2000s nostalgia that's found in the show. So let’s jump into some of the most classic outfits throughout the seasons:

1. Rory’s Sweater in the Pilot Episode 

The pilot episode introduces the dynamic duo, their love of coffee and most importantly – Rory’s classic cream-colored sweater. The chunky knit sweater was the star of the episode, and pairing one with simple jewelry, black leggings and boots, as Rory did, will guarantee a comfortable outfit for the day.

Alexis Bledel as Rory Gilmore in Season 1 of 'Gilmore Girls'.

The WB; From People Magazine

2. The Pink Coat

Lorelai is one of the most fashionable characters in Stars Hollow, between her bold sweaters, mini skirts and fun graphic t-shirts, her style shines through the show’s seven seasons. Arguably one of the best pieces she wore was her knee-length bubblegum-pink coat accented with gold buttons. The bright pop of color brought a fresh feeling to a show which was often set to a more muted fall background, and the coat was so iconic that Lorelai wore a similar pink coat in the show’s revival over a decade later. 

NewAmericanJackets.com

3. The Red Sherpa Jacket

Lorelai rocks a richly-colored maroon sherpa-lined jacket several times in the first couple seasons of the show, but most notably in the episode “A-Tisket A-Tasket,” when she pairs it with a navy turtleneck, low-rise jeans and a matching red belt. A corduroy sherpa jacket provides both warm and a flattering style to any outfit, especially paired with dark wash jeans, where it can stand out. 

Bustle.com

4. Plaid, Plaid, Plaid

This may be considered more than just one outfit, but plaid is a classic print in Gilmore Girls, especially on Rory. While she is best known for her Chilton School uniform, she harkens back to her high school days by wearing a green plaid skirt with tights and a brown leather jacket when she attends Yale, later on in the show. The look is much more chic and elevated, and definitely could be defined as “dark academia.” However, the award for most plaid worn in the show would have to go to Luke Danes, who styled his flannels with a backward baseball cap in almost every episode of the show’s 7 seasons.

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1. Scott Patterson as Luke Danes in 'Gilmore Girls'. Photo: https://www.lukesflannel.com/

2. Alexis Bledel as Rory Gilmore in 'Gilmore Girls'. Photo: PictureLux/The Hollywood Archive/Alamy Stock Photo; Refinery29

3. Alexis Bledel as Rory Gilmore and in Season 5 of 'Gilmore Girls'.

The WB; People Magazine

5. The Blue Ball Gown

“In Omnia Paratus” is perhaps one of the most well-known lines from the show, and I would be remiss if I failed to mention one of the most well-known Gilmore Girls’ looks: Rory’s blue ballgown in “You Jump I Jump Jack” in season five. The baby blue, paired with the cerulean floral embellishments and matching scarf created an elegant, almost fairytale-esque look, that was not often seen on the show.

Everett Collection and Mike Ansell | Warner Bros; Pop Sugar

Even after being off the air for almost twenty years, Gilmore Girls is still one of the most notable shows of the early 2000s. Now that the weather is beginning to cool, and it’s time to pull out your sweater collection, it also might be a good time to put on arguably one of the best autumnal shows around and celebrate the changing of the leaves!