8 Alexis Bledel Outfits That Scream Rory Gilmore
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On top of being a cozy classic, "Gilmore Girls" brings all the inspiration one needs to build a fall capsule wardrobe, with mother-daughter duo Lorelai and Rory Gilmore bringing a mix of preppy academia and early-aughts chicness to TV screens. Rory, played by Alexis Bledel, undergoes her own style transformation as she goes from prep school student to Yale journalism major throughout the show's seven seasons.
"Rory's character started out very frumpy. She wore, like, huge sweaters and just tried to hide herself, and she was very bookish," Bledel told Lucky Magazine about her character. "Now that she's in college, I think they're trying to dress her as more of a typical college kid. She's a little more grown up." In contrast, the actor's personal style is described as more high-end, city chic, and boutique-inspired. In fact, the Texas native has actually made an effort to stylistically differentiate herself from her onscreen counterpart in the past.
"I try to get away from the way people see me on the show in little ways, try to dress older or just differently," she told WWD back in 2009. Though Bledel, one of the actors behind "The Handmaid's Tale," has definitely curated a personal fashion ethos distinct from "Gilmore Girls," that doesn't mean her wardrobe never overlapped with her Stars Hollow character. Some notable ensembles definitely channeled Rory Gilmore energy, bringing all the New England autumn and prep school vibes our fall inspo boards yearn for.
The actor wore a dainty dress that reminded of us of some standout floral pieces
In addition to Rory's wardrobe being dominated by her Chilton uniform in the early seasons of "Gilmore Girls," the bookworm also wore standout dresses with dainty, romantic details. Alexis Bledel definitely matched this energy at the Seventeen Cover Girl Volunteerism Awards Program in 2002, sporting a purplish-red dress with a pink-and-green floral pattern. Though the garment featured a wrap bodice with split sleeves, it reminded us of the lacy, pink-accented dress that Rory wore to a classmate's party in Season 1, Episode 17 of the series. Unsurprisingly, Bledel stunned in both instances, with her awards program dress looking freshly plucked from the "Gilmore Girls" wardrobe department.
She channeled cozy Stars Hollow vibes in a simple red sweater
As mentioned, the New England fall vibes and small town setting of "Gilmore Girls" translate into plenty of inspiration-worthy autumn outfits, especially when combined with all the previously outdated trends that are making a comeback. Alexis Bledel brought this casual Y2K style to the Mercedes-Benz 2005 Spring Fashion Week, wearing a red, cold-shoulder top with bootcut jeans and gold sandals. As red sweaters are worn by Rory throughout the series, the ensemble could've totally be slotted into the show with just a few autumnal tweaks.
Alexis reminded us of an iconic Gilmore Girls moment with this vintage 'fit
Next up, Alexis Bledel channeled vintage glamour when snapped at a Derek Lam fashion show in 2005, turning heads in a silky beige gown with a ruched bodice and lace detailing. She completed the outfit with a red lip, loose curls, and pointed-toed heels, reminding us of a specific (and infamous) Rory Gilmore moment. In Season 3, Episode 7 of "Gilmore Girls," Lorelai and Rory compete in a USO-themed dance marathon in Stars Hollow, with the young Gilmore wearing a button-up, polka-dotted dress and twisted updo when drama at the dance ultimately culminates in a break-up with her first-ever boyfriend, Dean. Despite being a tough moment to watch, Bledel pulled off the vintage sweetheart look both on-screen and in real life.
She sported a tan jacket that resembled a long-time Rory staple
Back in 2002, Alexis Bledel experienced another fashion overlap with her "Gilmore Girls" character, wearing a classic suede jacket and straight-cut jeans to a WB casting call. The casual 'fit, rounded out with pointed-toed flats and straightened tresses, screamed Rory Gilmore, as the Yale student wore similar variations of the tan outerwear throughout the series. The Stars Hollow character brought the coziness we love with a classic, sherpa-lined jacket in early seasons before transitioning to leather pieces and utility-style canvas items during her college years. So, if you want to channel Rory as much as Bledel did in this moment, be sure to check out similar pieces like Levi's Men's Washed Cotton Military Jacket in worker brown.
Her simple graphic tee is reminiscent of morning cafeteria vibes
While Lorelai is the Gilmore girl most likely to sport a graphic tee, Rory occasionally adopts the more low-key look, wearing an iconic iteration of the casual classic in Season 5, Episode 14 of the series. The bookworm wore a yellow-and-green ringer tee that read "reading is sexy" alongside an unzipped hoodie and a pair of jeans while enjoying a meal in the Yale cafeteria. Alexis Bledel reminded us of this laidback fashion moment when sporting a similarly cheeky graphic tee in her personal life, pairing an "Alaska is for lovers" T-shirt with black pants and a pulled-back hairstyle. While the quippy slogan isn't quite as Rory Gilmore as the reading t-shirt, the Stars Hollow resident could be easily seen wearing the heart-accented top during another casual cafeteria meal.
She brought stylish drop-out energy with this jacket-and-skirt combo
Alexis Bledel had another stylish moment at an event hosted by The Museum of Television & Radio in 2005, styling a cropped trench coat with a classic black skirt, tights, and leather boots. Not only does college-age Rory bring academic vibes with plenty of skirt-and-tights combos, but this Bledel outfit reminded us of a specific chic coat that the "Gilmore Girls" character wore during her controversial break from Yale. While Bledel might not make a habit of channeling her on-screen counterpart, she sure looks stylish when balancing Rory's preppy academic aesthetic with her chic, Y2K flair.
Alexis went chic and modern where Rory went preppy and traditional
Next, Alexis Bledel once again put her personal spin on some very Rory Gilmore pieces at a 2007 charity event. The Texas native wore a beige, short-sleeved blouse with a tie-accented denim skirt, accessorizing with a baguette handbag, gold bangle, and beige heels. Though styled differently, the ensemble conjured imagery of the outfit Rory wears in Season 6, Episode 5 of "Gilmore Girls," when the journalism major paired a beige cardigan with a denim-toned skirt and similarly pulled-back hairstyle. Bledel definitely infused a contemporary vibe into her outfit while her on-screen character went more traditional and preppy, but the similar pieces demonstrated how their wardrobes can overlap.
The star had a blue dress moment that reminded us of Friday night dinners
Alexis Bledel had us thinking of Friday night dinners with the Gilmores when she sported a blue-and-black dress at a 2011 Good Housekeeping event, with the Oscar de la Renta piece calling to mind Rory's academic aesthetic with its tweed fabric and blue-toned color scheme. More specifically, the color combo resembled a silk gown that the character wore to a Friday night dinner in the latter half of the show, making it even easier to imagine the actor's ensemble appearing on the cozy teen drama. Overall, despite Bledel's real-life fashion sense contrasting with her on-screen character, she's momentarily channeled the "Gilmore Girls" vibe we love on several occasions, and looked ultra-stylish while doing so.