In a recent interview with Vogue India, Debra McGuire shares what makes Jennifer Aniston’s character in Friends an enduring style icon.
We have been hearing about a possible reboot of cult TV show, Friends, lately but nothing concrete has been done yet. However, in a recent interview with Vogue India, Debra McGuire, costume designer of the original series that ran from 1994 to 2004, reflected on how fashion is cyclical and that she wouldn’t make many changes even if there is a reboot happening and she is a part of it.
“It’s a funny thought, but even after all these years, it would be the same! I’d probably do something very close to what she originally wore on the show even if it were happening today,” McGuire noted about dressing Rachel Green, one of the six key characters on the show, portrayed by Jennifer Aniston.
Green went on to become the decade’s most defining celluloid style icon; her wardrobe of boyfriend jeans, denim vests, snug minis, slip dresses, LBDs and power suits (not to forget the haircuts) won her an instant fan following back then, and she continues to top inspirational ‘moodboards’ 25 years later too.
“Fashion is cyclical. It’s all about common sense and what the eye gets tired of seeing, be it colours, shapes or silhouettes. I don’t think Rachel’s fan base ever waned. Kids today discover the show when they hit their teenage years, and connect with it like it has gone on air now. Millennials are pretty conscious about wastefulness, and would rather wear a great vintage piece; high-waisted jeans are vintage, so are crop tops and oversized jackets. ’90s pieces fly out of second-hand stores. Young people are seeing these looks for the first time and they still look new,” the designer added, revealing that she still receives close to five emails every week about Green’s wardrobe.
Interestingly, McGuire’s creations for the show, which has become a benchmark for ‘90s dressing, weren’t even close to what people used to wear back then. The designer explained that though oversized unstructured silhouettes were trending back then, they were too unflattering for television.
“I did not want the characters to only be in jeans all the time. New York was changing and I wanted them to reflect that,” she furthered, informing that she went on to create a body-conscious wardrobe for her female characters, even though it was a look she did not quite subscribe to in personal life.
“Fashion is all about understanding what works for you, rather than bending to be a part of the trend. And that’s always the most important thing to remember,” emphasised McGuire, on a parting note.
