It has been over 25 years since Clueless premiered and the lovable, witty Cher Horowitz (Alicia Silverstone) entered the lives of movie audiences. She’s known for her comical one-liners (including ‘90s slang), clever advice and personality, and, of course, her fashion.
Cher’s fashion is a vibrant representation of the ‘90s, including plenty of plaid clothing, miniskirts, knee-high stockings, spaghetti strap shirts, and more. She was always “on point” and fans still envy her clothes after all these years. If you’re looking for a fun Halloween costume or you’re in the mood to bring back some ‘90s fashion, look no further than these 10 iconic outfits from Clueless. As if!
Updated on September 9th, 2022 by Amanda Bruce: The 1990s might feel pretty far removed from the 2020s in terms of fashion, but that doesn’t make Cher’s and Dionne’s looks in Clueless any less iconic. Plaid and leopard print never truly seem to go out of style. Fans of Clueless could probably wear almost any of their looks from the 1995 movie today and not feel out of place. Of course, if fans don’t think all of the iconic looks are here, they can spot more in the movie, which is now part of Netflix’s streaming catalog.
Dionne’s Bright Green Cardigan
Dionne’s love of brights is best demonstrated in a sweater set she wears to school. Seen on a bench talking with Murray, Dionne’s sweater set is a neon shade of green that really pops.
She expertly pairs it with a black and white mini skirt, making the cardigan and top stand out even more. It is, other than her plaid suit set, one of the few outfits she wears in the movie that appears to fit both her and Cher’s particular style. The two friends often compliment one another in scenes, but cardigans are certainly more Cher’s speed.
Cher’s Realization Outfit
Cher gets a lot of voiceovers while she appears in stylish outfits in different activities on screen. One of her best voiceovers, however, is after she argues with both Tai and Josh (played by the seemingly ageless Paul Rudd) and heads out to shop away her feelings. She realizes while out of the house that she’s, “majorly in love with Josh.”
The outfit combines her studious school look with some of her more feminine apparel choices. She’s got a diamond print mini skirt and sweater vest, but layers them with a sheer, ruffled, long-sleeve, button down. It’s even more layers than most of her ensembles have, but it works.
Cher’s First Red Dress
Cher wears a lot of little red dresses throughout Clueless. While one of them is certainly more iconic than the rest, the first one she dons for the movie is very much a product of its time - that came all the way around to be back in style a few decades later.
The babydoll red dress is simple, just offset with a bow around the waist, and Cher pairs the dress with a matching headband, something she rarely does in the movie. It’s one of the few times when she’s not dressed more sophisticated than her 15 years.
Dionne’s Leopard Print Pieces
If Cher wears a lot of red and white in Clueless, Dionne makes a point to be bold. While she wears a lot of bright colors, she also has a fondness for leopard print. There’s not just one ensemble to label as iconic, but Dionne’s penchant for the feline fabric still stands out.
While shopping with Cher, Dionne has a leopard print backpack. She also has a particularly eye-catching leopard print button-down that she pairs with a bright pink shirt to really make it stand out.
Cher’s Lavender Cardigan
Of course, when Cher wears cardigans, they’re more understated than Dionne’s bright green. One of her most laid-back looks in the movie becomes one of her most iconic because it’s what she wears while sitting at home watching television with Josh.
Cher pairs a lavender cardigan and top with a pair of light jeans. It’s simple, and probably closer to what the average mid-nineties teen would wear instead of Cher’s more elaborate outfits.
Tai’s Transformation Look
When Tai is first introduced in the film, she’s a clumsy, nerdy-looking girl who doesn’t have a clue about fashion. She’s artistic, so her fashion (mostly graphic t-shirts) reflects her creativity.
When Cher gives Tai her movie makeover, Tai transforms into a gorgeous, confident teenager with an adorable sweater (with a heart) and a cherry red miniskirt. However, Tai eventually realizes the fashion doesn’t reflect her true personality. She’s not like Cher and she embraces her individuality.
The Studious Student Looks
When Cher goes to school, she always looks stylish. She wears simple dresses, cropped cardigans, miniskirts, striped button-down shirts, etc. She looks like the most studious student in the school, even though she’s not the most devoted scholar.
While all of her school clothes are iconic, her button-front miniskirt with a long-sleeved shirt is the most memorable. She wears the long-sleeved Oxford shirt underneath a sleeveless jumper tucked into a button-front miniskirt. Don’t forget the knee-high socks. Cher seems like she belongs in the 1960s with this outfit.
Cher’s Shopping Outfit
Cher goes shopping numerous times throughout the movie. She needs to keep buying her iconic outfits, and she always does it in style.
Cher looks the most stylish when she’s wearing a miniskirt with a black-and-white diamond pattern, white blouse with a black jacket, knee-high socks, and Mary Jane shoes. This was known as her “most capable outfit.” It's easy to see why as she looks both stylish and professional in it.
Cher's Pink Spaghetti Straps
Cher liked to stay casual sometimes, especially when she was home. Her loungewear was still fashionable and sophisticated, but comfortable. Her most iconic “at home” look is when she wears a pink spaghetti strap tank top over a white t-shirt. She also wears blue jeans, which is a rarity for Cher.
Cher wears this outfit after realizing she might have romantic feelings for her ex-stepbrother, Josh. It’s a simple outfit that would still be fashionable today.
The Matching Gym Class Outfits
High school gym class isn’t supposed to be an occasion for looking stylish, but Cher is always the exception to every rule. She wears her iconic black shorts, a white t-shirt, and a black spaghetti strap tank top. Gym class has never looked more fun.
In addition, Cher also matches her outfit with her best friend, Dionne Davenport (Stacey Dash), who wears black shorts with a matching tuxedo long-sleeve top. Best friends who exercise together (or try to get out of gym class together) must also match their clothes. Finally, fans can’t forget their classmate, Amber (Elisa Donovan), who wears the memorable black-and-white striped outfit that no one wants to bring back from the ‘90s.
Cher’s Flirty French Beret Look
Cher is clearly inspired by many fashion icons and style trends, including France. She looks flirty in this black-and-white striped jacket with a black beret. Not everyone can successfully wear a beret, but not everyone is Cher Horowitz.
She looks like she just stepped out of a film noir, or that she just arrived from France. She most likely inspired many fans to try wearing a beret in the ‘90s. Hopefully, they liked the stylish hat as much as Cher.
The Red Date Night Dress
If someone needs advice on how to dress for a date, they can just ask Cher. When she goes on a date with Christian, she wears her signature red-hot dress that is barely fingertip length. The dress is festive, and it looks like Cher just threw it on before Christian arrived at her house.
However, that’s not Cher. She closely examines her fashion (even using a wardrobe-selecting computer in her closet). She knew her velvet dress would be perfect for her date. She wasn’t wrong.
The Little Red Dress
Cher might love her red date night dress, but she’s better known for her little red Alaïa dress that she wears to the Valley party. She wears a red and black jacket over the dress with a boa trim on the sleeves. It’s definitely an outfit that stands out in the crowd.
Cher remembers the importance of this outfit when she’s held at gunpoint after the party. She doesn’t care about her safety; she’s concerned about the dress. When the gunman asks her to lie on the ground, she hesitates. She says, “You don’t understand. This is an Alaïa.” The gunman asks who that is, and she responds: “It’s like a totally important designer.”
Cher's White Calvin Klein Dress
When Cher goes on her first date with Christian, she wants to impress him. So, she wears a naked white spaghetti strap Calvin Klein dress that looks perfect on her. It’s a daring silhouette and more risqué than other outfits Cher wears in the film, which is why her father doesn’t approve of it when he first sees it.
He asks, “What the hell is that?” She tells him it’s a dress, and he responds, “Says who?” Cher delivers the perfect response: “Calvin Klein.” Cher ultimately has to wear a white see-through jacket over the dress to be allowed to go on her date. Both style options are iconic.
The Plaid Skirt Suits
When fans think of Cher from Clueless, they probably picture her wearing her signature yellow plaid skirt suit. This is the first outfit Cher wears in the film, and it’s the most iconic outfit from the movie.
Cher chooses the matching outfit on her wardrobe-selecting computer closet, and she knows it’s the perfect outfit for her. She wears thigh-high white socks and a mustard cardigan. In addition, Dionne wears a similar plaid skirt suit, except hers is black-and-white to represent her sassier, edgy personality. Both teenagers love wearing plaid. The outfits might not be very fashionable in 2020, but they’re fun to wear for a Halloween party. A party-goer can’t dress up as Cher without her iconic plaid skirt suit.