One of the most iconic sitcoms of the ’90s, FRIENDS managed to spearhead several cultural moments that shaped the popular zeitgeist and fashion. From ‘Joey doesn’t share food’ to ‘We were on a break’ — young millennials grew up watching five friends spend hours sitting on an orange couch, gossip over cups of coffee, and navigate love, heartbreak, and adulting in the busy and bustling city of New York.
Whether you put on reruns while organising your closet, or let the comfort of familiar pre-recorded laughter in the background lull you to sleep on a particularly rough day, FRIENDS has held our hand through several momentous milestones in life.
And for fashion enthusiasts, the sitcom characters became a silent mood board that filled wardrobes. From Joey’s styled lock of hair falling flippantly on his forehead, to Phoebe’s kitsch Britney Spears-inspired top collection — we have picked up fashion elements here and there and made them a part of our personality. Here’s a look at 5 iconic moments across the 10 seasons that have stayed with us long after the show bid us farewell.
Rachel Green working at Ralph Lauren (Source: Instagram/@everyfriendsoutfit)
1. Rachel’s hair
Really, do we need to say more? Jenifer Aniston’s Rachel Green is the out-and-about diva who served looks throughout the show. And while her outfits made us green with envy (get it?), it was her hair that drove the internet insane. Rachel rocked a cute bob the first few seasons, which then grew into a chic, dirty blonde layered cut — a look spotted on college-going girls for years to come.
With a perfect blow-dry or rollers tucked in her hair, Rachel Green served coffee and guided clients at Ralph Lauren, looking like a bombshell.
Monica Geller in a turtleneck (Source: Instagram/@everyfriendsoutfit)
2. Monica’s red turtleneck
Courtney Cox with a bouffant looked amazing, but her turtlenecks and cardigans added depth and personality to her character, Monica Geller. Stuck between her obsessive nature whilst nursing an edgy streak, Monica’s wardrobe reflected careful experimentation. Her red turtleneck was a study in understated chic elegance.
S1/E1 (Source: Instagram/@everyfriendsoutfit)
3. Joey’s leather jacket (and hair)
We all remember boys queuing up at the salon and coming out with Joey’s hairstyle, but looking incredibly handsome in a black leather jacket paired with a white t-shirt and blue jeans was a feat few successfully carried out.
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Ross Geller rocks leather pants (Source: Instagram/@everyfriendsoutfit)
4. Ross’ leather pants
We admit, the episode took a different turn, but Ross Geller (David Schwimmer) did look killer in a pair of skin-tight leather pants. In fact, leather bottoms flew off the shelves and became a clubbing staple for youngsters in the 90s. The look was so iconic that supermodel Cindy Crawford brought back the memorable look at the reunion special that aired on HBO Max.
S3/E8 (Source: Instagram/@everyfriendsoutfit)
5. Janice’s leopard co-ord
Janice, Chandler Bing’s love interest, might have been nasally and annoying to the core, but her leopard co-ord moment was one for the books. Voluminous hair, chunky gold jewellery, and an outrageous floor-length red coat to tie it all together — it was a look that deserved a spot on FRIENDS’ fashion hall of fame.
