Rachel, Monica, Or Phoebe? How To Steal Your Favorite '90s Aesthetic From Friends

If we had to choose the '90s TV shows that best represented the aesthetics of the time, "Friends" would definitely top the list. The hugely popular sitcom debuted in 1994 and ran for 11 years, which meant we got multiple seasons of iconic, trendy looks. In many cases though, "Friends" wasn't following trends — it was setting them.

Initially, the show's executive producer Marta Kauffman suggested the cast should wear jeans to represent how young people in the Big Apple were dressing at the time, but costume designer Debra McGuire was having none of it. "Yeah, no. I don't think so," McGuire told Highsnobiety of her reaction. Instead, McGuire carved out iconic aesthetics for each character we're still striving for today. "It was all about texture and color and staying true to a New York palette," she said. "Jennifer [Aniston] brought in these greens and blues. Courtney [Cox] was in this black, white, burgundy world. Phoebe was all patterns and a sort of contemporary, alternative, bohemian look," McGuire added. 

Many fans of the show, then and now, associated with one of the women based on their fashion and beauty choices. "You looked at the clothes, and you were like, I want to be their friend. Talk to anyone, and they resonated with one of the six," McGuire told Nylon. But which of the "Friends" cast's aesthetics did you most identify with? Whether it's Rachel, Monica, or Phoebe, we're breaking down their '90s vibes from the jewelry to the clothes and more. Because, could they be any more on trend?

It's not new information that one of Rachel's most iconic fashion choices was her impressive collection of denim overalls. Jennifer Aniston's character wore the '90s staple multiple times, including an acid wash shorts pair as well as longer versions in a richer blue. This major '90s trend has come back in a big way since Rachel wore them in the early seasons. Even major modern trendsetter Hailey Bieber has approved of the denim overalls resurgence.

To steal Rachel's vibe, try Wrangler's cut-off overalls in the "Dallas" color. These will give the '90s look, but the distressed, raw hem stops them looking too dated. You could also get Amazon Essentials' Relaxed-Fit Overalls in Classic Medium Wash, which are super '90s thanks to the straight leg and oversized aesthetic, similar to the ones Rachel wore in Season 1's "The One With the Sonogram at the End." Early on, Rachel wore the one-pieces with strappy, sleeveless tops (which made it even more '90s), but in Season 3's "The One with The Dollhouse," she rocked a green T-shirt underneath.

Though Rachel's fashion is regarded as the most iconic of the "Friends" gang, Courteney Cox's Monica Geller gave the character a run for her money. In fact, Monica wore several outfits in the '90s that would be totally on-trend in 2025. "She was a little more New York, refined, classic than the others. And how interesting it is that that is the wardrobe that young people really resonate with. And I think a lot of it has to do with the fit, there was this oversized aspect to the '90s clothes,"McGuire told Nylon. A big part of Monica's enviable oversized aesthetic was plaid shirts. She wore several of the collared button downs, particularly while lounging around the apartment.

Luckily for us, plaid has made a major comeback since Monica rocked it. In fact, it became one of the New York Fashion Week street style trends everyone was wearing in fall 2025, proving Monica's '90s vibe is actually timeless. CHYRII's Button Down Flannel in Vanilla-7123 is similar to the shirt she sported in Season 4's "The One with Phoebe's Uterus," and the Zeagoo Button Down Flannel in Purple would have fit seamlessly into the character's wardrobe in "The One with Chandler in a Box" from the same season.

Is your clothing vibe more Phoebe-coded? Then you'll probably lean into expressive, bohemian styles that are a little quirky and whimsical. "Phoebe's mixed prints and flowing layers are a perennial favourite of bohemian types," McGuire told The Guardian. Phoebe wasn't afraid to wear color or think outside the box with her clothing choices, and one of the most memorable parts of her eccentric style was her bold coats.

In the Season 5 episode "The One Where Everybody Finds Out," Phoebe rocked one of her loudest pieces of outwear; a bright orange, teddy coat. You can channel that vibrant vibe via CHARTOU's Faux Fur Coat in Orange, but remember a bright, textured garment is not for the fashion faint of heart. She also wore a metallic purple blazer in the Season 2 episode "The One with the Baby on the Bus." To replicate the look, try the Jild Lambskin Leather Blazer in Purple.

Jennifer Aniston's hair in the early days of "Friends" was the haircut wanted around the world. Hair stylist Chris McMillan and colorist Michael Canalé created the iconic style, which became one of the most famous eras of Aniston's hair transformation. The trendy '90s haircut was known as The Rachel and is still the ultimate retro sitcom star haircut, defined by its shoulder-skimming length and super choppy, face-framing, layers.

To recreate The Rachel, focus on the layers. "You can cut the layers anywhere from the cheekbone to the jawline to frame the face, leaving fewer layers in the back so that you still have volume and movement," celebrity stylist Garren told InStyle. "This works really great for thin/fine hair because it gives the look that you have more layers in your hair, without making it look too thin," they added. The style works best for on those with finer, straight locks. It's tougher to pull off if you have super curly hair because of how it falls around the face, so you may need to ask your stylist to create a similar cut that better suits your texture.

Monica sported a slew of different hairstyles over the sitcom's 10-season run, but in earlier episodes, she was all about the super trendy (at the time) bixie. The bixie is a cross between the pixie cut and a bob, and Monica's version featured choppy, side-swept bangs and flicked-out ends around her nape (not too dissimilar to the bottom of the flippy and flirty bell-bottom bob). Much of Monica's signature look was down to styling over the cut, though.

To steal Monica's aesthetic, blow-drying your shorter tresses is super important, because the character had plenty of volume and texture around her crown that can be hard to achieve when air drying. Consider a volume encouraging blow-dry spray or mousse, such as the John Frieda Volume Lift Blow-Out Spray or the Nexxus Volume Medium Hold Mousse. To get the definition at the bottom, use a small flat iron to flick out the ends.

Phoebe stunned with several bang styles on "Friends," but one of her most flattering was the on-trend, wispy look she wore in earlier episodes, including Season 2's "The One With Barry and Mindy's Wedding." Her slightly side swept bangs were light and airy, which mimicked her feminine, quirky energy, and always had plenty of volume. To recreate the look, get your hands on a round brush (like the Olivia Garden Thermal Hair Brush or the LORSEX Boar Bristle Brush) to achieve the same rounded effect over the forehead. The longer your bangs, the larger brush you'll need.

Phoebe's most flattering cut wasn't just about the bangs, though. Throughout Season 2, she sported the trend with mid-length locks in a soft side part with face-framing layers. To achieve her full aesthetic, ask your stylist to cut feathered layers and use your round brush with a blow-dryer to turn the ends inward. Just don't forget the heat protectant, applied correctly.

Though Rachel mainly wore her hair down, she was also a fan of a claw clip — a huge accessory trend in the '90s. We saw the fashion lover put her tresses up using the accessory multiple times, particularly throughout Season 1. Her claw clips were never hidden, though, and her looks were always designed to look messy and casual. To steal Rachel's style, leave a few pieces of hair out of the clip to create her undone, loose aesthetic and check out our favorite claw clip hacks for easy hair styling for more inspo.

Also remember that Rachel's claw clips were never overly glitzy or stole focus from her outfits. Rachel's fashion aesthetic was chic and metropolitan, and her dark, understated claw clips were usually simple and elegant to reflect that. In Season 1's "The One With All the Poker" she wore a classic, dark brown version that blended with her hair, and in "The One with the Evil Orthodontist" in the same season, she wore a navy version. Nalodu's Claw Clips or the Diva Claw Clip in Lapis Lazuli will help you steal her style.

For those who connect more with Monica's hair vibes, invest in hair chopsticks. We saw Courteney Cox's character put her mane up with the accessories on at least two occasions, including in the Season 5 episode "The One with Rachel's Inadvertent Kiss." She'd twisted her dark hair into a loose bun and wore black sticks with pearl embellishments on the ends. They blended in with her tresses to create a sophisticated and classy hairdo that was subtle, like her overall aesthetic. Monica's look wasn't perfectly polished, though, with a strand of hair down around her nape, which makes it easier to mimic at home.

For a similar vibe, try Camila's French Twist Sticks in Black. Or, if you're looking to steal Monica's subtle embellishment aesthetic, give Motique Accessories Store's faux diamond hair sticks a go. Just remember that hair chopsticks may not hold your tresses in place by themselves, so secure a bun using bobby pins first.

Phoebe's hair accessory style was more about XL scrunchies, which were everywhere in the '90s. The character had a penchant for blue ones, like Ivyu's Satin Hair Scrunchies in Blue or VLOMOT's Silk Scrunchies in Peacock, Cerulean, and Light Blue, which are similar to one she sported in the early seasons of "Friends." But Phoebe being Phoebe, she didn't simply tie the accessories around a standard ponytail for a conventional look.

In keeping with the masseuse's quirky aesthetic, she wore a half-ponytail, half-bun hybrid held in place by a blue scrunchie in one episode. You'll need longer hair that stretches at least past the shoulders to recreate her look, but it can work on almost any hair texture. Tie a scrunchie around a ponytail and, once it's tight enough, only pull the hair half way through for a whimsical, undone vibe.

The makeup in "Friends" was another big reason the characters' aesthetics have been so sought after for decades. One of the most notable parts of Rachel Green's makeup was her flawless, matte skin. Matte foundation was huge in the '90s and Rachel's vibe was all about full coverage, set with powder. Robin Siegel, who served as the head of makeup on nine seasons of "Friends," told Cosmopolitan she used Clé de Peau Beauté Radiant Cream Foundation on Jennifer Aniston's skin with Clé de Peau Beauté Concealer.

If you're attempting Rachel's super matte finish, it's imperative you prep your skin first with a matte primer, like Smashbox Photo Finish Control Mattifying Primer or Rimmel London Matte Primer. Matte foundations can be incredibly drying, so they work best on those with oily skin. If your skin is on the dryer side, try a dewy foundation and mattify the areas that need it using a powder for a more flattering finish.

Monica Geller was the queen of the red lip on "Friends." The rich hue looked gorgeous against her dark hair and fair skin, and she repeatedly showed us how to take a red lip from day to night. When dressing up, like in the Season 3 episode "The One with Ross's Thing," Monica wore a more vibrant shade, similar to Maybelline Super Stay Vinyl Ink Lipcolor in 10 LIPPY or e.l.f. O Face Satin Lipstick in No Regrets. When she was dressed down for daytime though, like in "The One With Two Parties" from Season 2, Monica's shade was slightly darker and more muted. Robin Siegel told Cosmopolitan she used MAC's lipstick in Spice It Up! when getting Courteney Cox into character.

There's a science to finding the right lipstick shade. To get the most flattering version of Monica's red lipstick for yourself, read our tips for finding your perfect lipstick match based on your skin tone first. Those with cooler undertones will find lipsticks with blue-leaning reds more flattering, while anyone with warmer undertones should lean towards more orange reds. People with neutral undertones can wear almost any red, including super vibrant hues.

When we think of Phoebe's makeup, the first thing that springs to mind is her healthy-looking blush. The character's complexion had a warm glow, was never overdone, and was always blended to perfection with flattering placement. Interestingly though, Robin Siegel told Cosmopolitan Phoebe never wore bronzer, but revealed of her blush, "[I used] clear, rosy pinks."

Today, the flattering '90s flush we saw on Phoebe can also be achieved using an orange blush, which should have a place in your makeup routine. We'd recommend subtle orange shades though, because the "Smelly Cat" singer's look was more about a hint of glow without looking too "done." Try NYX's Buttermelt Blush in Sooner The Butta or e.l.f. Putty Blush in Bahamas. Whatever you choose, remember to keep your blush matte like Phoebe's and sideline any bronzer.

During the earlier seasons of "Friends," Rachel didn't wear a lot of jewelry as she struggled through life without her dad's credit card. However, she was often spotted wearing a hard-to-miss cocktail ring with a large green stone on her right ring finger. You can steal that aesthetic via the Hebelee Store's Oval Statement Ring or the Xinpeng Store's Natural Stone Ring in Green Aventurine.

In Season 2's "The One Where Old Yeller Dies," Rachel stacked two statement eternity rings with multiple white stones on top of each other. The jewelry signified how the character was growing up and choosing more sophisticated pieces as she assimilated to working life in the Big Apple. Stacking PAVOI's 14K Gold Plated Rings in White Gold or Amazon Essentials' All-Around Band Ring in Platinum will get you Rachel's jewelry aesthetic.

While Rachel Green was all about bold rings, Monica Geller was all about statement necklaces. Though her overall style was more refined, the chef dressed up in various loud jewelry pieces, including a necklace with a large, black stone on a chunky, silver chain in Season 3. The Chunky Bubble Collar Necklace by Firstmeet will give a similar aesthetic, as would the Linawe Crystal Chain Necklace in Silver and Black. Just remember that Monica wore this statement piece with simple black top to let it have its moment.

She wore another jewel-filled necklace in Season 3's "The One With Ross's Thing." Monica complimented her formal dress with a gothic-inspired necklace on a double chain with a small, teardrop jewel accent. The Lonyinlg Camellia Pearl Necklace wouldn't look out of place in Monica's collection, and neither would the Chaps Double Strand Bead Necklace.

Of all the friends, Phoebe had the most fun with jewelry, often wearing unique and eccentric pieces in line with her offbeat aesthetic. "Phoebe was my Lower East Side vibe; sort of this bohemian, artistic concept," McGuire told Nylon. "Here was a character who could have some kind of bravado in jewelry and in expression with her hairstyles and accessories. In one episode, Phoebe wore a whimsical, youthful necklace featuring a butterfly pendant. The Rhinestone Butterfly Pendant Necklace in Pink from Alilang is so Phoebe-coded, as is the CUOKA MIRACLE Butterfly Jewelry.

The character also favored statement-making, matching, colorful sets. In "The One in Vegas: Part 2," Phoebe paired a black dress featuring colorful, mirrored polkadots with drop earrings featuring blue gemstones and a matching necklace. You can copy her look with the Yinkin Sea Glass Necklace. Whichever friend has your ideal vibe though, you're bound to get your fill of the '90s aesthetic.