During my school years, I would spend the last few weeks of the summer holidays planning new back to school outfits based off my characters from my favourite films and TV shows.
Unfortunately, I went to school in the UK, so I never got the opportunity to debut any of them on the first day of term. Having spent the last two months on my summer break from uni, I’ve been watching a lot of films to pass the time. For old times take, here’s a few ideas for back to school outfits inspired by some of the movies I’ve been watching.
In Booksmart, aka the “high school movie smart girls have always wanted”, Molly and Amy achieved something I never could when I was at school. On many occasions I tried, in vain, to persuade my best friends to coordinate with me on non-uniform days or school trips. Their noncompliance was founded on the basis that it would effectively, ‘invite people to bully us.’
However, after Booksmart’s Molly and Amy flawlessly pulled off matching navy blue boiler suits, I smugly forwarded the clip to my friends, along with the link to this Topshop boiler suit. Roll on high school reunion.
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Having re-watched them both this summer, it was established that Lady Bird topped Call Me By Your Name to become my favourite film of 2017. The deciding factor? The costume design in Lady Bird.
Through the medium of fashion, April Napier’s costume design mirrored the character development as written by Greta Gerwig. Lady Bird’s outfits reminded me of just about every character from any of the American teen dramas I based my expectations of high school upon, only to be wildly disappointed when I learnt the harsh reality that being a teenager in England is a far throw from being one in America. Despite the fact I am neither American, nor in school anymore, I will certainly be taking inspiration from Lady Bird’s style for my back to school outfits.
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Would any back to school outfit guide be complete without featuring the quintessential high school film that is Clueless?
Now, most of the iconic Clueless-inspired back to school outfits are based off Cher’s amazing wardrobe, but I think her equally stylish friend Dionne deserves a bit of recognition. Besides, she predicted the neon trend two decades ago, and if that’s not proof that she’s the ultimate fashionista, then I don’t know what is.
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When I watched it back in school, I considered Allie’s dress sense a little too granny for my tastes. However, as a refined, mature university student, I can appreciate the timeless appeal of The Notebook’s protagonist’s wardrobe.
Allie’s many dresses are just as romantic as the movie itself, and I’ll certainly be taking style notes from more than one of her looks. My favourite, however? Forget pretty in pink, I’m going to be all about beautiful in blue when the spring term rolls around, and I’ll certainly be channelling those classic Allie Calhoun vibes in my back to school outfits.
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Ok, Ok, I’ll make an exception on Wednesdays.
Pink on Wednesdays, track pants on Fridays… Mean Girls provides enough inspiration for a whole year’s worth of stylish back to school outfits to make you a mean fashion queen. Been there, watched the film, bought the t-shirt. Seriously, you can’t get any fetch-er than wearing a t-shirt plastered with the Plastics.
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Whilst Assassination Nation’s attempt to address some sensitive if not highly relevant topics like toxic masculinity and transphobia fell somewhat short, its costume design certainly didn’t.
A modern retelling of the historic Salem witch trials, Lily, Bex, Em and Sarah have all the style and edge of Emma Roberts et al. in the AHS: Coven. The film’s heroines’ coordinated choice of clothing – specifically their red vinyl coats – in the climax scene is both fashionable and functional… not to give too much away.
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If Assassination Nation is too dark to inspire your back to school outfits, then turn to young Donna in Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again. If ever you needed an injection of positive energy to carry you through the first term back to school, Donna’s happy hippy outfits will certainly provide you with that.
Autumn is the perfect time of year to experiment with Mamma Mia!-esque boho fashion. Think denim-on-denim, floaty peasant blouses and mustard and red colour palates. Young Donna is everything I want to be – apart from the pregnant bit!
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Intelligent, resilient and stylish? Sorry Donna, but Elle is everything I want to be.
If Clueless’ Dionne predicted the neon trend, Elle Woods invented millennial pink. Elle is truly an inspiration to us all, both in her work ethic and her wardrobe. Before Scarlett Curtis penned it down, Elle destroyed that the notion that feminists don’t wear pink on the silver screen, and, thanks to her, I’ll be proudly pushing the boundaries of office-wear in a pink power suit.
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I’m not usually one for a soppy Netflix teen romance, but sometimes an easy-to-watch rom-com is all you need on a lazy Sunday afternoon. Whilst To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before certainly wasn’t anything profound, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t take anything from the film… even if it was just inspiration from Lara’s penchant for striped jumpers and button-down denim.
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Not to ruin it with any spoilers, but Battle of the Sexes is definitely an inspiring must-watch before you return to the relentless sexism that permeates all mixed-gender high schools. Whether you consider yourself an athlete or not, this film will certainly leave you feeling motivated just in time for the new term.
Whilst, upon giving it a go this summer, I’ve decided playing tennis isn’t for everyone, Billie Jean King’s on-court clothing of choice is certainly something to incorporate into your back to school outfit plans. With tennis-inspired athleisure, tennis balls won’t be the only thing you’ll be serving this term.
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