It’s Time to Reunite with The Guys From ‘Friends’ Fashion of the 90s

Bing! Points Scored for Chandler’s Sweater Vests
Chandler’s sweater vests have, of course, become one of the more recognisable stylistic hallmarks of Friends. Looking a little bit like your high school history teacher, Chandler’s ultra-cosy, dad-core style reinforced his dry, sarcastic sense of humour. Pairing the look with everything from a suit and tie to denim button-ups, it’s still the huge New York overcoat that reigns supreme. 

A prescient visage of 21st century hipsterdom, the sweater vest now occupies the fashionable edges of men’s fashion, with Ryan Gosling, Donald Glover, and Tyler, The Creator all lovingly adopting the look in recent times. 

The One Where They Wear Sweatpants
Long before the likes of Kim Kardashian and Kanye West formalised the humble sweatpants, Friends provided us with plenty of sartorial how-tos. Combining sweatpants with vintage sportswear like grey New York Knicks sweatshirts, college tees, and baseball caps, the Friends leisurewear was locked-in. For major inspiration, make sure to revisit the episode ‘The One with the Football’, where Monica Geller dons a clean navy New York Giants sweatshirt. 

Oversized Everything
With Chandler’s billowing bowling shirts, Joey’s huge leather coats, gigantic blazers on multiple characters, and the ubiquitous Levi’s 501, it’s a surprise that the Friends wardrobe actually fit into the frame. Yes, the oversized aesthetic has returned to empower the style zeitgeist in 2021 (particularly among high-fashion’s vanguard), so make sure to ditch the skinny jeans – we’re well and truly ensconced in the 1990s! 

Neon Love
The fashion industry continues its love affair with a high-vis aesthetic, and the fringe characters of Friends provide plenty of inspiration – particularly inside ‘Central Perk’. 

Nothing quite says neon like Gunther. Enough to irrevocably compromise your eyesight, Gunther’s psychedelic floral prints, citrus button-ups, and pop-art ties are some of the most gaudy looks in the series. But while his sartorial sensibilities might be a little lurid for most of us, Gunther’s sandy bleach blonde hair is a definite vibe in 2021. 

Could I HAVE any more Sneakers? 
The Friends sneaker rotation is downright nasty. The Nike Terra Humara, Air Tech Challenge II, Air Max 96, and Converse Jack Purcell are all laced throughout the series. In fact, Nike even made a limited-edition colourway of the underground Air Edge to celebrate the show’s second season – complete with ‘Friends’ branding on the heel and ‘2nd Season’ stamped on the tongue. Now, that’s a serious collector’s item!