It’s September. Brat Summer is over. And that can only mean one thing – Gilmore Girl season is upon us. So who better to look to for inspiration than the eclectic fashion icon that is Lorelai Gilmore.
No one does completely random but somehow stylish Autumnal fashion (or an iconic one-line takedown) like her, and with a few carefully selected patterns, you can recreate some of her best wardrobe pieces in just a few hours. Bonus points if you pair your outfit with a skinny scarf, cowboy boots, or headpiece (my vote is always with a headband).
1. The Cosy Turtleneck
So the Suki Bodysuit by Isa in Stitches was actually one of the first I ever bought years ago, and I still reach for it every season. First and foremost, what is an Autumnal Lorelai Gilmore wardrobe with (many) turtlenecks?
You’ll want a cosy knit (stretch) fabric for this one to fit like a glove and you can of course also leave the turtleneck off, and hem the bottom so it becomes a top rather than a bodysuit if you prefer. This pattern is THE PERFECT base for so many t-shirts and long-sleeved tops, so girl math = you’re basically making money on this.
2. A Jacket A Day
The Zip Vest with Basic Sleeve by Puff and Pencil is the perfect take on Lorelai Gilmore’s extensive collection of transitional jackets, but make it 2024. The jacket is slightly fitted with a zip down the front and a high collar. The genius in Puff and Pencil’s patterns are that you can swap out the sleeves for another style, so something like the Two-Piece Sleeve would also look great here.
We’re seeing suede everywhere this Autumn/Winter, and this jacket would be such a great piece to bring it into your wardrobe, but it would of course also look great in leather or very cute in denim! In true Lorelai Gilmore style, maybe we’ll have to make one in every fabric?
3. The Fitted Skirt
Paired with a V-neck sweater, or a shirt if she was feeling fancy, the pencil skirt featured pretty heavily in Lorelai’s outfit rotation and the Ally Skirt by NH Patterns is such a great match to recreate this yourself. It’s a lovely high-waisted, A-line fit that finishes just above the knee, although of course you can adjust this to your desired length!
The pattern comes as a pdf in in UK sizes 4-32 with both written instructions and a YouTube follow-along video. It’s pitched to an advanced beginner as it does include an invisible zipper, but if you haven’t used one before, don’t be put off! It’s much easier than you may think, and the YouTube video makes the whole process a breeze.
4. The Wrap Top
The wrap top just screams early 00s fashion to me, and clearly also to Lorelai, who had a rotation of wrap tops and dresses for any and every occasion. For this look, the Shanti Long Sleeved Top by Viki Sews fits the bill perfectly.
It has a beautiful wide V-Neck cut that wraps across the body to join at a gathered waist – very flattering, very 00s with a modern twist. The sleeves have the addition of a thumb hole to keep the sleeves super long and cosy (you can close this up if you want to!). You’ll need a light-weight, stretchy fabric for this pattern and you’re good to go! Don’t forget, with Viki Sews’ patterns, you’ll want to check that you’re buying the correct size, as you buy the pattern per size range.
Now to switch on Gilmore Girls for the 100th time, get the sewing machine fired up and in true Gilmore fashion, make yourself a XL cup of coffee – it’s the season and there’s no time to waste! I will now be singing “if you’re out on your own, feeling lonely and so cold…” under my breath for the next 2 months. See you soon X
