Okay so here’s what went down with that Rachel Green look I tried copying. Always loved her vibe on friends but actually doing it myself? That took way more trial and error than I expected.
Started With the Messy Hair
Grabbed my curling iron thinking big curls would be easy. First attempt was a total disaster – ended up looking more like a poodle than Rachel from season 3. Way too tight. Washed it out immediately, felt annoyed.
Second try, gave up on heat. Went with messy buns and half-up styles like she does early on. Used a ton of texturizing spray, kept it loose. Actually worked okay, but man, keeping those pieces of hair falling perfectly messy? Took way too much fussing. Guess it’s supposed to look effortless but ain’t.
Found the Key Pieces (Thrift Haul)
Went hunting through my local thrift store yesterday. Goal was:
- Oversized everything: Button-downs, chunky sweaters. Found this massive men’s white shirt that’s perfect.
- Plaid skirts: Got lucky with a kinda short, kinda A-line one. Felt a bit silly trying it on at first.
- Band tees: Had to dig, but scored a faded black one with some old graphic. Classic.
Got some weird looks mixing patterns, but hey, Rachel did it.
Putting It All Together (And Failing)
First combo: That plaid skirt with a tight, dark turtleneck. Total mistake. Felt super stiff, looked all wrong. More like Monica trying too hard, not Rachel’s effortless cool. Felt frustrated.
Then remembered: Layers! Oversize! Switched the turtleneck for that giant white button-down shirt, left it open over the band tee. Way better. Added the plaid skirt, felt messy but better. Still missing something.
The Final Touch – Shoes & Accessories
Forgot the damn shoes! Scrolled pics. Rachel practically lived in:
- White sneakers (dug out my old Keds lookalikes)
- Chunky loafers (only had dark brown, but close enough)
Threw on the sneakers. Instantly made the whole outfit look more casual, less like I was trying. Tried a tiny gold chain necklace too, but kept it super simple. Didn’t want fussy.
How It Actually Looked (And Felt)
So final look was:
Messy bun + half-up hair (lots of spray), band tee + giant open button-down, plaid mini skirt, and those beat-up sneakers.
Didn’t look exactly like the show, obviously. But it definitely had that 90s, kinda thrown-together, cozy vibe she had sometimes. Felt surprisingly comfy too! Way more comfortable than trying to look polished. That oversized shirt was a game-changer. Might keep this combo handy.
