1990s Fashion: How Friends defined iconic Nineties looks and retro style
Step into 1990s fashion with Friends: iconic 90’s outfits, retro style clothes, preppy looks (and even bohemian chic trends) that defined the decade.
This article is part of our special editorial series celebrating the 90th anniversary of Istituto Marangoni. In this chapter, we explore 90s style by highlighting the most iconic outfits, accessories and styles showcased by the main characters of Friends, the cult TV series from that decade.
How you doin’? If you’re reading this in Joey’s distinctive Italian-American accent, you’re undoubtedly a Friends die-hard fan. So, this article is for you. If you’re unfamiliar with the show, this article is also for you—it will introduce you to the essentials of the landmark TV that best represented fashion in the Nineties.
The Nineties marked the rise of grunge and street style, a period when street style significantly diverged from the fashion collections of the time, let alone couture.
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The cast of Friends defined 90s style, one sarcastic smirk and soda can at a time
Friends’ costume designer Debra McGuire created character-specific outfits that enhanced the personality of each one. Aside from Phoebe, who was stuck in a 70s hippy flower-power style, the other four main characters embraced the fashion of their time, especially Rachel, who was the fashionista of the group. Let’s start with her!
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You can find plenty of 90s-inspired styles at @everyfriendsoutfit on Instagram
Rachel Green’s 1990s Fashion: Iconic Retro Outfits in Friends
TikTok and Pinterest are packed with inspiration for recreating Rachel’s outfits, with signature pieces that have sparked a major comeback of 90s trends.
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Rachel Green’s closet lives on—TikTok and Pinterest keep the 90s comeback going strong
Her style is the most influential from the show and the most curated, largely because her character is obsessed with shopping and has the best taste in fashion. At one point, she even cut up her credit card as a way to detox from her shopping addiction.
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Rachel Green: fashion-obsessed, tastefully curated, and (briefly) in credit card rehab
Rachel Green worked in marketing for Ralph Lauren for 5 out of 10 seasons of the show. In 2019, the brand celebrated the 25th anniversary of the series by releasing a collection dedicated to her character.
The ready-to-work collection was inspired by Rachel’s legendary turtlenecks, plaid miniskirts and leather knee-high boots. The capsule was prominently displayed in a corner at Bloomingdale’s, which is where Rachel also worked within the storyline, recreating the legendary Central Perk café where the five friends usually gathered.
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A 90s dream come full circle: Rachel-inspired looks showcased at her iconic Bloomingdale’s workplace
Rachel’s wardrobe featured simple pieces, such as denim overalls and plain white T-shirts, along with a few key items, including sheath dresses and blazers. Among her most memorable outfits was her “lucky” high-school uniform, and her signature “Rachel cut” hairstyle became a trend of that decade. Jennifer Aniston, who played Rachel, still wears it today.
Chandler Bing’s 1990s Vintage Looks and Relaxed Style
OMG! Quoting Janice, Chandler’s longtime girlfriend, his wardrobe could be described as a hot mess: featuring button-up shirts with retro patterns, cardigans, vests and loose-fitting trousers, and Terry socks.
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Chandler’s 90s style was peak chaos: vests, dad pants, and Terry socks included
Shake it all together, and you get the original Chandler Bing style, exuding a cool “I don’t care about fashion” vibe. Debra McGuire created custom garments for Chandler in a vintage colour palette, drawing inspiration from the 1940s for his “dad clothes”—a style that fans have come to love.
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From dadcore to full pink bunny, Chandler’s anti-fashion legacy was always fashion in disguise
One of Chandler’s most unintentional yet brilliant contributions to fashion is the bunny costume, an evergreen jumpsuit (thanks, Debra, for this gem!), which resonates with the Juicy Couture tracksuit collection that was trending in the early 2000s and was relaunched by Paris Hilton in 2022. LOL!
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Chandler’s iconic bunny suit and Paris Hilton’s velour tracksuit revival both reflect the early 2000s obsession with playful, statement loungewear
Monica Geller’s 1990s Style: Preppy Fashion Inspiration in Friends
Monica is obsessed with cleaning and doing things the right way—her way. She changes styles like a chameleon, adapting to different scenes and seasons. She transitions seamlessly from her white chef’s uniform while working at the upscale Italian restaurant, Alessandro’s, to a 1950s vintage pin-up pastel dress with oversized foam rubber breasts when working at the Moondance Diner.
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Monica Geller: from diner costumes to curve-hugging classics, her style evolves, but perfection is always the goal
After her “eye incident”, she went through a dark pirate phase with matching all-black outfits. She also went through a preppy girl phase when she dated Richard, a troubled and passionate May–November relationship that left fans reeling.
Most of her outfits feel a bit like stage costumes, and in fact, some of them are. For instance, her black leather jacket is a staple piece that she probably borrowed from Joey’s dressing room before it was stolen by Fun Bobby (as you can see here).
Monica effortlessly swings between feminine and masculine looks, and she looks amazing either way. She also popularised the use of hair clips, a trend that has made a huge comeback recently.
Phoebe Buffay’s Bohemian Chic: Eclectic 1990s Fashion in Friends
Disclaimer: We believe that Phoebe’s style was too eclectic to be fully appreciated at the time. However, in retrospect, we can identify some 90s fashion treasures that she showcased through her looks.
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Phoebe Buffay’s eclectic 90s bohemian style was ahead of its time: layered, handmade, and unapologetically original
Her whimsical attitude can be traced back to a Nineties boho mix-and-match style. She’s a huge fan of layering, often seen in vintage floral maxi dresses, long hippie skirts, vests, 70s-style fringe jackets, self-made jewellery, and chunky sweaters.
She’s a guilt-free maximalist. Today, her style has evolved into a boho-chic aesthetic with a touch of cottagecore. Her unique ability to combine styles made her a fashion influencer before it became mainstream. If you aim to dress like your mum, the Pheebs-core is the trend to worship!
Joey and Ross: Normcore 1990s Fashion and Casual Looks
To Joey and Ross: apologies for putting you in the same basket! These two characters epitomise normcore and serve as anti-trendsetters by design. Their wardrobes were intentionally crafted to be relatable, focusing on everyday appeal.
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Joey and Ross, normcore icons by design—low-key wardrobes, high relatability, and major couch energy
Joey is a good-looking but goofy character who is a struggling actor. His style is simple because he can’t afford fancy clothes, and he has an alpha vibe that gives him a rugged “New York cool” look. His key pieces include leather jackets (which he probably shares with Monica), V-necks and various plain T-shirts.
In contrast, Ross has a nerdy style that reflects his career as a palaeontologist and teacher (go, dinosaurs!). He loves tailored coats, turtlenecks, and corduroy jackets, which are staple pieces from the 90s. His aesthetic has aged quite well, with similar styles occasionally appearing in contemporary menswear.
1990s Grunge and Hip Hop Fashion: LA Street Style Highlights
Friends is set in New York, and primarily features white characters in their thirties, with the first Black character not appearing until much later in the series. For an authentic experience of 1990s hip-hop style, head to one of the poshest neighbourhoods in LA.
The TV series “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air”, starring Will Smith and featuring an all-Black cast, aired from 1990 to 1996. It is filled with iconic 1990s fashion gems that still shine more than 30 years later.
Feast your eyes on clashing patterns, basketball trainers, custom Air Jordans, tartan shirts, baggy jeans, plenty of oversized tees, and country-style vests (which Chandler would surely appreciate!).
1990s Fashion Bloopers: Funny Retro Looks and Unforgettable Friends Outfits
Enjoy this video collection to explore 90s fashion trends and the must-see Friends episodes for a good laugh at their fashion choices.
In “The One Where No One’s Ready” (Season 3, Episode 2), Rachel gets angry when she’s rushed to get dressed—a classic Rachel moment. In the same episode, Joey wears all of Chandler’s clothes, a scene that has become a viral meme. “Could I be wearing any more clothes?”
In “The One With All The Resolutions” (Season 5, Episode 11), Ross attempts to impress his date by wearing leather trousers but gets stuck in them, delivering one of the funniest wardrobe malfunctions in sitcom history.
In “The One with the Birth Mother” (Season 9, Episode 16), Ross unintentionally ends up wearing a lady’s shirt after swapping bags with his date, resulting in a hilarious wardrobe mishap.
In “The One After the Superbowl, Part 2” (Season 2, Episode 13), Chandler is pranked by an ex-classmate, played by Julia Roberts, who challenges him to wear pink lace panties.
Gaia Giordani
Editor, Generative AI Explorer and New Media Communication Expert