Old School TV Style: Fashion Inspired by Winnie Cooper from The Wonder Years

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AppId is over the quota
Written by Chelsea - University of Oklahoma

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You knew this one was coming. One of my all-time favorite old school TV shows is The Wonder Years, the hit ’80s and ’90s series starring Fred Savage and Danica McKellar.

By the way, the dates above? They’re not typos. This show ran from 1988 to 1993, although the series itself was set exactly 20 years earlier. The Wonder Years did such an amazing job at recreating the feel of the ’60s and ’70s that many of us who saw it years later mistook it for a show filmed in the era!

Although this show featured many stylish characters sixties and seventies characters — hippies, housewives, preppy students, and more — this post will focus on Winnie Cooper, the sweetheart of The Wonder Years. Interested in stealing some of her innocent, mod style for yourself? Read on!

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The Wonder Years tells the story of a typical suburban boy from the ages 11 through 17 growing up in the late ’60s and early ’70s. Kevin Arnold, the protagonist of the series, faces hurdles in school, his dating life, and his life at home, and also encounters larger issues of the time, like the Vietnam war, counter-culture, and more. The series is narrated by an adult Kevin, who lends additional insight and humor to the events that unfold.

Kevin lives with his parents and older siblings, and mainly socializes with his best friend Paul and his neighbor Winnie Cooper. Winnie, the show’s heroine, is kind, thoughtful, wholesome, independent, and intelligent. She embodies the perfect “girl next door” archetype and serves as Kevin’s enduring on-again, off-again love interest throughout the series.

Despite its popularity, The Wonder Years was never released on DVD due to issues with licensing all of the amazing ’60s and ’70s music that the show featured. The Wonder Years is now available on Netflix Instant Watch – although it should be noted that the opening credits’ song “With A Little Help From My Friends” is not the Joe Cocker version featured in the show’s original airing and even syndication.

Winnie Cooper’s style is a unique mix of preppy, varsity schoolgirl looks and hints of ’60s mod. Even though she is very young, Winnie dresses almost like a “little woman,” in child-size versions of popular adult fashions. Winnie’s outfits somehow manage to look fresh and youthful, while at the same time mature. Crazy, I know.

For example, Winnie is often seen wearing mod-style dresses with tights while rocking blunt-cut bangs and a headband. She usually balances this “grown up” sort of look with youthful flat mary-jane slippers and a clean face.

Winnie’s style is also a great example of the preppy, wholesome, old school suburban teen looks seen on Happy Days, Grease, and The Brady Bunch. Varsity jackets and cardigans, rolled-up jeans, collared shirts, thin turtlenecks, pleated skirts, canvas sneakers, and more are her staples, and are a perfect match for her “girl next door” image.

Dress, Shoes, Headband, Bag, Tights

This first look has a colorful, fun, almost Boogie Nights-esque vibe to it! A colorblocked dress like the one above has a striking mod vibe to it, but is still sweet and wholesome enough to work for a girl like Winnie. Spice it up a bit with a pair of colorful mary-jane platforms and some polka dot tights. Finish the ensemble with a thin headband and a cross-body purse.

Shirt, Jeans, Shoes, Belt | Hair Photo Courtesy of Elle

This outfit is a great example of a casual, after-school look that Winnie might have worn while exploring the neighborhood or taking walks with Kevin. Plaid shirts were very popular during the ’60s and ’70s (as they are today!), and Winnie would have paired one with a relaxed-fit pair of jeans. Add classic white sneakers and a belt, and finish with foxy ’70s center-part hair.

Jacket, Turtleneck, Skirt, Shoes, Headband, Necklace

When Winnie wasn’t dating Kevin, she was usually on the arm of the school’s most popular athlete. Start with girly, studious staples like a turtleneck shirt and a pleated skirt, then add a varsity jacket and Converse sneakers for a fun and stylish outfit remix. Finish the look with a headband and a vintage camera necklace.

What do you think about The Wonder Years? What is your favorite episode? Favorite character? What other retro TV shows do you love? How do you feel about Winnie’s style? Leave a comment and tell us what you think!

Posted on on January 31, 2013 / Filed Under: Inspiration / Tags: 1960s, 1970s, Inspiration, mod, Old School TV Style, Preppy, TV, varsity jacket

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Looks from Books: Fashion Inspired by Jane Eyre

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AppId is over the quota
Written by Savannah - University of Washington

Welcome to the latest edition of Looks from Books, which aims to prove that you can look smart, while still being book-smart, too. Fashion inspiration can be found between the pages of your favorite stories, on well-designed book covers, and in your favorite characters… if you read closely enough.

This week, we’re focusing on Jane Eyre, a feminist favorite that made a hero of every plain-faced, witty girl in English class, and inspired more than one clandestine peek into the attic.

Jane Eyre book cover via Amazon

Jane Eyre is a Gothic romance novel, written in 1847 by Charlotte Bronte.

The story explores the personal life and emotional growth of plain, unassuming Jane Eyre, from an abused, precocious orphan, to a witty, yet subdued, new governess at the house of the mysterious Mr. Rochester. The plot thickens when she falls deeply in love with her secretive employer, only to face new struggles.

Jane Eyre was originally published with the subtitle, “An Autobiography,” which points to the parallels between Jane’s life and Bronte’s own. The work is largely based on experience: Charlotte attended a school much like Lowood, where she endured tragedy; she later worked as a teacher, and then pursued a career as a governess. Of course, Charlotte eventually became a writer, and was then able to re-imagine her experiences with an amplified sense of drama.

A still from the 2011 movie adaptation of Jane Eyre || Photo via ELLE

Jane Eyre‘s most recent film adaptation, directed by Cary Joji Fukanaga, starred Micheal Fassbender as the enigmatic lover Rochester and Mia Wasikowska as our titular heroine, Jane. The costumes adhered strictly to those of the time period, featuring coiled buns, high collars, hoop skirts, and bloomers.

Although the days of hoop skirts are long since passed, we can find aspects of Jane’s simple, structured attire in many recent runway trends. Examples include the  androgynous silhouettes and understated feminine influences seen at Celine and Chloe Spring 2013, as well as the dour menswear-inspired suits of Anne Valerie Hash’s Pre-Fall 2013 collection. These modern-day trends could easily work in a Gothic feminist heroine’s wardrobe.

By integrating key themes and motifs from the novel, as well as Bronte’s writing style, you can try some of the season’s hottest trends and reference the intrepid heroine in your outfit choices, hopefully without enduring the same dramatic events she does.

Peacoat – American Eagle, Bowler Hat – ASOS, Headband – Nordstrom, Oxford Shirt – Uniqlo, Mary Jane Heels – Forever 21, Earrings – White House Black Market, Skater Skirt – Miss Selfridge, Embellished Belt – Asos, Vest – Zara.

While Jane Eyre can be viewed through the scope of many social commentaries – including class structure and religious right – the most enduring commentary allied with the novel is that of gender status.

Throughout the book, Jane confronts many men who, in some way, attempt to subjugate her to their authority: First, there is the hypocritical clergyman and Lowood headmaster, Mr. Brocklehurst, followed by the cold, intelligent St. John Rivers. Finally, there is our unlikely hero, Mr. Rochester, whose allure and mystique blind Jane to some horrible truths. Only when Jane is Rochester’s equal – financially independent, confident in herself, and fully capable of doing whatever she pleases – is she able to return to him as a partner.

Allude to this contrast by mixing of masculine and feminine styles in your wardrobe. A full skirt, ultra-girly mary-jane platforms, and jewel-embellished accessories give off a traditionally feminine aesthetic. Pair them with a men’s cut oxford shirt, peacoat, vest, and bowler hat for a contrasting and balancing, dose of masculinity.

Blazer – Maurice’s, Nail polish – Deborah Lippmann, Dress – Wet Seal, Mary Jane Shoes – Charlotte Russe, Belt – Cole Haan, Clutch – Akira.

One specific motif of interest within Jane Eyre is the color red. This motif is displayed in such features as the trauma in the Red Room; the color of Grace Poole’s hair; the cloak of “Mother Bunches,” the gypsy who tells Rochester’s guests their fortunes; and, of course, in the fires set by Grace’s phantom-like ward, Bertha. Bronte uses the sharp contrast between the novel’s bleak surroundings and these bold pops of red to indicate specific turning points or areas of interest in the story, as well as danger and concealment.

Reference this motif while trying the head-to-toe monochrome trend by styling your outfit around shades of red. However, avoid going overboard by mixing shades and textures within your attire. Pair a dark burgundy blazer with a bold red dress, then get started accessorizing. Extras like suede Mary Jane heels, a patent leather belt, and chunky glitter nail polish give multi-layered monochrome a mark of distinction.

Houndstooth Coat – Target, Striped Shirt – Oasis, Studded Loafers – Charlotte Russe, Lace Skirt – Chicwish, Polka Dot Scarf – Mango, Leopard Belt – Forever 21, Chevron Tights – Gap

The subjective nature of what is plain vs. what is beautiful takes center stage in both the romance and writing style of Jane Eyre.

Throughout the novel, Jane’s appearance is repeatedly described as plain and unremarkable. However, Rochester sees her active wit and lively spirit, and more than once remarks upon her “ethereal” and “other-worldly” beauty. Similarly, the settings Bronte describes – stone walls, endless moors, dark and concealed pathways – may be dreary and bleak, but the elaborate and vivid prose she employs while doing so grants them an unnatural allure.

Reference this unique mindset, as well as the mixed-prints trend, by styling minimalist and muted silhouettes with conflicting patterns, emphasizing that simple can also be interesting. To mix prints like a pro, base your look around one large-printed piece, like a striped shirt, and one subtly-printed piece, like a lace skirt, both in neutral tones. For outerwear, a houndstooth coat adds a small print for contrast, and accessories add more opportunities for integrating the trend.

Have you ever read Jane Eyre? If so, was it for class? What do you think of the Gothic Romance genre? What did you think of Jane herself? Did you see the most recent movie? Do you like the outfits? Let me know in the comments below! 

Posted on on January 30, 2013 / Filed Under: Inspiration / Tags: Androgyny, Books, Looks From Books, Mixed prints, monochrome, skater skirt

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