For the average person, feminist memes and Vine videos involving breakfast cereals would be enough…but alas, Ryan Gosling is not the average person. The man of a thousands beards once said that he’ll finally feel accomplished in his acting career once he plays a character that people can dress up as for Halloween. You know – those cult classic personalities like Cher Horowitz and Indiana Jones who have a style so iconic it’s unmistakably theirs. Now we’re not saying you should pull out your Indy Jones ensemble for the first day of school, but there is plenty of fall fashion inspo to be found in our fave films. So grab the popcorn and prepare for some major 90s nostalgia. With greats like Wes Anderson and Cameron Crowe calling the shots, it’s all lights, camera, fashion!
 

Mermaids (1990)

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With Cher as her mom, a young Winona Ryder navigates the uncharted grounds of teen angst and womanhood. It’s pretty much the 90s version of that Hilary Duff movie The Perfect Man (2005), but with more nuns and less Mr. Big. If there’s one thing you take away from Christina Ricci’s big screen debut, let it be Charlotte Flax’s (Winona’s) penchant for white collars and slouchy cable knit cardis. Fuzzy sweaters (top left) and 60s silhouettes also make an appearance, while Cher’s white frame sunnies steal the spotlight. On another very important note, we also learn that appetizers are a food group all their own – marshmallow shish kebabs included.

The Craft (1996) 

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Let hocus-pocus cast it’s sartorial spell on your fall wardrobe with dark florals and chokers worthy of Wednesday Adams. Anthony Kiedis must have been talking about the four teenage witches from LA when he said “Catholic Schoolgirls Rule.” I mean, Malaga wine lips and the occasional candy necklace is clearly a recipe for success. Appropriately soundtracked to The Smiths, the tale of four outcasts puts rosary beads and rings with a heirloom vibe at the top of our must-have list. Outerwear is bewitching in PVC and boxy leathers – the perfect uniform for casting love potion number nine. Neve Campbell takes a detour from her foray into 90s slasher films to teach us how to bring back the school kilt. And is it just me or is the young Robin Tunney a dead ringer for Kristen Stewart? Either way, it’s all black everything from now until the end of time.
 

Almost Famous (2000) 

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DON’T TAKE DRUNGS – just one of the many lessons we’ve learned from Cameron Crowe’s ode to musical acts and the critics they hate. When a rock band resembling a Zeppelin-Lynyrd Skynyrd hybrid (subjectively) kidnap The Rolling Stone’s youngest contributor, unruly hair and fuzzy jackets comes to life. Fairuza Balk strikes again, but this time as a fringe-loving groupie rather than a teen witch gone rogue. Accompanied by Anna Paquin in a patchwork bucket hat and their leader Penny Lane, the girls’ bohemian-infused garb says I’m with the band. Floppy hats off to Penny Lane for immortalizing the brown fuzzy coat; the perfect encore to your autumn attire.

 The Royal Tenenbaums (2001) 

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Acclaimed playwright by the age of fifteen, Margot Tenenbaum is made of winning equation that Wes Anderson crafts his leading ladies from. Jaded and as blunt as her bob, the lady Tenenbaum oozes that effortless I-don’t-care kind of cool you get from prodigies who’ve peaked prematurely. Her beauty look – thick-rimmed kohl eyes and hair fastened with a red beret – is just as iconic as that oversized furry jacket. Layered with a stripped Lacoste tennis dress, brooding demeanor, and a nasty habit, and you’ve got yourself a star.

Empire Records (1995)

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In the words of Lucas quoting the immortal worlds of The Doors, “the time to hesitate is through,” it’s about time you tried that daring mini and cropped fuzzy knit as immortalized by Corey Mason. Or how about high-waisted denim and a statement crop like Robin Tunney? Either way, the kids from Empire Records teach us that fall is made for stepping out of your comfort zone. Embrace your inner Liv Tyler, go girly like Cher, or just be effortless cool like Margot (minus the brooding, chain-smoking bit) because leading-lady is always in style.