When Netflix announced last week that it was giving us the whole of Friends as a (very late) Christmas gift, we were torn. Floopy, even. Nobody knew how to feel.
On the one hand, the sitcom is indelibly stamped on our memories forever. Anyone who grew up post-90s was probably raised on a diet of E4 and Comedy Central repeats, with the lyrics to Smelly Cat and those giant coffee cups and that weirdly emphatic punctuation slipping in via a kind of cultural osmosis (could we BE any more brainwashed?). Friends is comfort telly, the telly you reach for when you’re ill or hungover or sad on a Friday night. It’s white noise of the best kind.
But it’s also white noise of the most disappointing kind. With a 2018 filter on, the show’s early series throw up more problematic question marks than a lunch with your Brexit uncle. Where are the people of colour? Why all the homophobic jokes? Will you stop with the stripper jokes and casual objectification already? How did we never notice what a grade A douchebag Ross was?
However, one aspect of the show’s early years remains pure and that’s the style. We're Gunthering all over it. It’s a surprise, sure – Friends was never meant to be a fashion show, and even ‘Rachel: the Ralph Lauren years’ gave us only lukewarm Pinterest urges at best – but somehow those mid-90s looks are striking exactly the right note in our late-10s hearts. Mmm, Monica’s stonewash mom jeans. Phwooar, Rachel’s library of waitressing polonecks. Look at the tennis shoes! The scrunchies! The dungarees! Check out Phoebe’s pre-ceramic straightener hair, all thick and lustrous and golden! Want, want, want.
So here are the best looks from those early days, to inspire your binge re-watch. Because 90s ethics might not be ok now, but the wardrobes most definitely are.
Coffee house chic
I swear, I have dreams about this blue velvet turtleneck. So good it almost makes us want a lacy apron to match.
Phoebe Pouffay
YES to this early Phoebe hair – like if Elsa from Frozen went to party with the kids from Footloose. The leather thong Coachella-lite jewellery is just icing on the cake.
Monochrome Geller
Stripes on stripes, black on white, that slouchy drawstring waist and exacting two inches of 90s midriff – Monica's perfectionism has never looked so good as this ensemble.
Fine Italian wool
How you doin', hipster poet Joey? From the beatnik rollneck to the herringbone tweed to the classy scarf slung just-so, this is a Tribbiani look sadly not seen since '95. Estelle, have a word.
Collared Green
Rachel's retro rugby shirt vibes score an 'excellent try', and there's a bonus point for that other pre-Millennial staple – the vest top – peeking through.
Urban cowgirl
Tasselled suede, oversized denim, button-down jersey, chandelier earrings... there is a lot going on here, and we would wear the hell out of all of it. Plus, is it time hair bunches had a revival? Just something to think about.
Time for tees
Where do we start? Monica's classy brown suede with matching brown tights (trying this), Rachel's 'volunteering for the red cross but looking hip while I do it' masterclass in Saturday casj, Phoebe's mermaid hair goals... or Chandler's slouchy sweater vest? Don't tell us you're not tempted.
And, ps.? Lap up that sweet mid-90s style while you can. Because from season three onwards there's nothing but a whole load of bootcut jeans and pastel v-neck tops. Early noughties casual, we're still on a break.
