Hedayat Reda 
Almost ritualistically, every year once summer ends, and I begin to feel a slight breeze in the air, you will find me on the mint couch in my room watching my favourite show: Gilmore Girls.
The lure– or lore– of Gilmore Girls is one that has risen exponentially in the past few years, in particular as a show that is synonymous with autumn and autumnal vibes. I don’t know if it’s the fact that Netflix acquired the streaming rights– today’s teenagers no longer have to wait for their family friend to come from abroad bringing them the latest box-set of the series–or if it’s some kind of nostalgia for cozy small town life and drama that is not “too hot”, not “too cold,” but “just right”, but somehow the show has had a revival, and with it, everyone’s desire to dress like the fast-talking, quippy, mother-daughter duo and their supporting characters.
I can’t say that growing up the first thing I noticed while watching the show was Lorelai and Rory’s smooth Y2K style, but the more I rewatch the show (consistently and often), the more my desire to own a feminine print-dress with a matching prim cardigan grows, and the more I become inspired to play around with texture, form, and colour.
With Egyptian fall weather ever-so-slightly creeping into our days and evenings, from me to you – here is your Gilmore Girls Style Guide:
- The Longline Coat
Whether you’re more of a Rory– preppy, demure, put-together– or a Lorelai– rock’n roll, daring, sleek– a long coat is a must for your fall wardrobe. Imagine yourself in a Barbie-pink number such as Lorelai’s here or something in a more whimsical maple. Bonus points for coats with vintage or eye-catching buttons.
- The Low-Rise Denim Pants
The horror of every Millenial girlie is unfortunately making a comeback, and nobody epitomizes the casual, cool of a perfectly-fitting pair of low-rise jeans better than the matriarch of the Gilmore Girls. Eschew her Season 1 cutoff shorts (this is Egypt, after all), for something slim and figure-hugging à la her jeans in Concert Interruptus. Pair with Converse if you’re a Rory, or a thick belt if you’re a Lorelai.
3. The Knit Sweater
S01E01- the pilot episode: Rory in a chunky, oversized, off-white fisherman sweater.
If there was ever a sweater I coveted it was this one. The perfect off-duty cute-but-comfy sweater to bring together your cold-weather outfits. You can imagine blanketing yourself and living in this cosy contraption. You can wear it browsing Zamalek galleries, you can wear it to a cosy girls’ dinner in Makino, or even to a popcorn-and-movie date night with your boyfriend/husband/man-crush.
4. The Shearling Jacket
There is an episode on the show where Rory and Jess are both wearing matching shearling-trimmed jackets and I can’t get that image out of my mind. While I’m more Team Logan myself, no one can deny that Jess is the ultimate bad-boy and thus a defining style influencer himself. Follow in his footsteps by borrowing your brother’s jacket, for that slightly oversized fit.
5. The Knee-high Boot
I feel like the past decade or so has been all about the ankle-boot, and yet the knee-high is probably the OG boot, it’s the one you always wanted to own as an adult going through your mom’s closet. Remember when Sherry shows up to Rory’s Chilton debate in those boots? Channel that energy. Or, if you’re not a Sherry fan, just draw your inspo from Lorelai any day of the week. DM us for recommendations 😉
6. The Classic Turtle-Neck
This is a sometimes-forgotten wardrobe staple that I believe has never gone out of style. Some may deem them itchy, I deem them elegant, a turtleneck can dress up many a boring outfit, making you look sophisticated and deep –whether or not you share Rory’s reading habits.
Stick to classic colours like black, grey, and maroon for the most amount of versatility.
7. Friday Night Dinner Dress (+matching cardigan)
Often knee-length, often floral, lace-trimmed and dainty, the mom-and-daughter dress-up game is on point in this show. As a person who largely lives in jeans and sweatpants, I have to remind myself to dust off my dress collection and take my dresses out for a spin every now and then. What I love most on Gilmore Girls is how colour-coded their outfits are turning solitary pieces–a cinched cardigan, a flowy blouse, a tight bolero– into a whole ensemble.
8. The Well-Tailored Suit
There would be no Gilmore Girls without the great Emily Gilmore and there would be no Emily Gilmore without a perfectly tailored suit. I don’t think anyone can count the number of truly amazing suits Rory’s grandmother wears on this show (if I had to guess it would be around one every other episode), but it’s enough to say that she has inspired a new generation to adopt the Chanel-aesthetic and step up their game at work (or at intimate family dinners). In contrast, Lorelai’s suits are more sexy, close-cut, and short, but equally as rewarding an aesthetic.
9. The Leather Jacket
Does this item really need to be on the list? Isn’t it a given that by now you should own a perfectly worn-in leather jacket? If you’re a Gilmore Girls girlie, yes it does, and yes–you should. Whether it’s the Gilmore Girls themselves or their various significant others, everyone on this show has a leather jacket moment: Dean when he moves to Stars Hollow, Christopher when he rides in on his motorbike, Lorelai at the parent-teacher conference with Max. Accessorize it with your perfect dark shades.
10. The Funky Accessory (often a beanie)
Lorelai is definitely the beanie queenie on this show. The Gilmore Girls excel at the art of accessorizing. If it can be simple, they will add an element to shock you (okay, mainly Lorelai): a skinny scarf, a colourful hat, or even…a bejeweled brooch. While I am not the world’s biggest fan, I can definitely say I have never forgotten the golfing hat Rory wears the first time she goes with Richard to the club. Dat colourscheme ‘do.
Optional Y2K Throwback: The Slogan Tee
“So, are you a B-52’s girl?” Max asks Lorelai at their first parent-teacher meeting, cementing the importance of the slogan tee in my mind forever. Hey, if it will get me a Max, I’m all for it!
Jokes aside, graphic and slogan tees are quintessential to Gilmore style and fun to top it off. I’m wearing my Van Morrison one under my leather jacket as we speak 😉
