Polly Katherine Hilton

Okay… I’ll admit it. Right here, right now, for all the Internet to read. I just really love Girls. While at first blush that reads like a coming out statement, the girls I’m referring to are the main cast members in Lena Dunham’s multi-million dollar HBO smash hit. Whether you love the deliciously hilarious situations that Hannah Horvath (portrayed by the shows creator and writer, Dunham herself) and her gaggle of misfit friends constantly find themselves tangled up in, or you find the premise of the show to be over-the-top annoying, one aspect of this feminist’s dramady is above debate; it's fashion forward. Constantly likened to TV’s most trendy programs, such as Gossip Girl and Sex in the City, Girls goes above and beyond in creating three dimensional characters out of clothes.  

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Image via New York Magazine 

In prepping for this article, I showed my twin sister some images of the cast in their full costumed glory. Since she'd never seen the show, I asked what her first impressions were of the women (she has since watched the pilot episode and had mixed feelings about it… I mean the pilot is a lot to take in…). The first words out of her mouth when looking at the pictures were, “I know that girl…” and honestly I don’t think I could’ve written it better if I tried, because the magic of this show is that each character’s style epitomizes her own reality. We relate to these characters, we “know these Girls,” because they're not over-idealized, over-stylized representations of the idea of women, but rather, they are real women, with unique body types and sense of style. We innately identify with that which seems raw and real, and when it comes to dressing reality, costume designer Jennifer Rogien readily admits, “This show is not about the clothes… it’s not a fashion show. We use the magic medium of the clothes to tell these girls’ stories.”

With spring now upon us, and stores once again starting to stock up on florals, prints, and colors on top of colors, consider checking out the styling of the ladies from HBO’s Girls for some fashion forward and accessible ideas for how to capture your own unique style and personality.     

Fashion Profiles:

Marnie

Marnie is the girl who is chronically put together to perfection. The ideal New Yorker with an uptown style, Marnie’s expensive taste and classic looks match her boundless drive with an artistic flair, making her outfits perfect for gallery openings, coffee dates or a fancy night out. Her closet is seemingly filled with clothes from J. Crew, Kate Spade, Urban Outfitters (I personally own two tops she has worn on the show that I purchased at Urban), Lulu Lemon, and Top Shop.  

Jessa

Jessa is the girl who is edgy and effortless. Jessa’s bohemian and textured style makes her every hipster’s spirit animal. Her clothes represent countless cultures and experiences, as she is the most well traveled within the group of girls. By combining vintage accessories with pieces from Free People, United Colours of Benetton, Anthropologie, and even Forever 21 (maxi skirts for days!), Jessa’s outfits always tell a story.    

Shoshanna

Shoshanna is the girl who defies the boundaries of decades, decadence and hair-do’s. Shoshanna (my favorite character) is constantly known for changing her fashion preferences due to the people she hangs out with and the places she’s going. Her style is a combination of Princess Kate meet’s Sex in the City’s Samantha, with a touch of figure skater glory, and I can’t get enough! Her closet ranges from Nine West and Aldo pumps, to Juicy Couture sweat suits, to the H&M dress pictured below (which I also own and adore), to enough hairpieces and headbands to float a boat.

Hannah

Everything I ever needed to know about thrifting, I learned from Hannah Horvat (played by Lena Dunham). When she actually wears clothing (I say this not as a shot but genuinely as an observation that this character spends more time stark naked on the show than clothed at all) there is no doubt in my mind that everything she wears has come either from a secondhand store, a vintage shop, or was stolen out of someone else’s closet. Hannah truly marches to the beat of her own drummer (let us never forget the yellow mesh tank top) and challenges her audience to do the same with their own personal styles.  

Whether you identify more with the classic styles of Marnie, the electrifying Jessa, the bold and brash Shoshanna or the thrift-tastic Hannah, keep doing you and this spring, step beyond stylistic boundaries to glorify your uniqueness. A little accessorizing can go a long way, and dressing to feel the most like 'you' can uplift your personal confidence. Be brave and dress to impress!

  

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