How to be like Cher from Clueless

So much changes, and yet so much stays the same. If I were to ask you to name a stylish fictional character with loads of money, perfect hair, a love for headbands, oxford shirts, fitted blazers and baby doll dresses, who would you name? Today, you would probably name Blair Waldorf from Gossip Girl, but a few years ago you would certainly have named Cher Horowitz from Clueless. Alicia Silverstone made a name for herself playing Cher in Clueless, a modern adaptation of Jane Austen's Emma. Clueless came out when I was still in grade school, and it was an instant classic! Everyone wanted to be Cher! Even today when I watch the movie I feel pangs of envy. The Clueless stylist must have been some sort of genius, because while some outfits seem dated...many are stylish classics more than ten years later!

Cher's Accessories:

1. Over the knee or knee high socks with shoes of the same color
   
2. White Jeep Wrangler
   
3. Anything trimmed in faux fur or feathers, especially marabou
4. Mini backpacks
5. Subtle Classic jewelry: dainty hanging pearl or diamond earrings, diamond studs, silver chain bracelet, only one ring on each hand to be worn on your ring finger
   
6. Madonna like blingy cross jewelry
   
7. Headbands in basic colors...perfectly coordinated to your outfit
   
8. Black beret
9. Marabou topped pens
10. Starbucks (remember, this was long before it was ubiquitous)
11. A few beaded necklaces, especially if they have flower details
    
12. Layered necklaces, one short one long OR One long necklace wrapped around to make two necklaces
    
13. T-strap platform shoes, Mary jane platform shoes, clogs, patent leather flats
    

Cher's Beauty Basics:

1. Hair straightener for ridiculously straight hair
   
2. SUBTLE layers, we are talking pre-Jennifer Aniston layers
   
3. Natural looking makeup
4. You lips should be perfectly made up, with lip liner and lipstick must be applied with a brush
5. High pony tail...with short layers artfully falling out around your face
6. Hair if very, very polished for evening. Often times hot curlers are employed to achieve body. Hair is often piled high on your head, like in a giant chignon for the valley party.
   
7. Regular massages are a fabulous idea for working out tension
   

Cher's Wardrobe Basics:

1. Cher loves to match a jacket to a skirt or dress. She opens the movie wearing a matched plaid skirt suits with pleated skirts and fitted blazer.
2. She often wears small cardigans or vests over basic white t-shirts. Cher also likes to wear a twin set when dressing down
   
3. Transparent shirts are often worn as a cover up or with a plain white shirt underneath
   
4. Cher loves busy prints: plaid, argyle, and fair isle are all wardrobe stables. Prints are always balanced with a plain oxford or white t-shirt
   
5. Matching suits aren't always conservative! Skirts are usually mini's and on one occasion Cher wears a leather mini skirt, with matching black leather jacket.
   
6. Her shoes have chunky heels and are usually a a basic color: black, white and red
7. Exercise: hello spandex! I'm not sure I'm ready for the unitard to come back to the gym!
   
8. Cher loves baby doll dresses with ribbon belt worn at the waist
9. Who wears short skirts? Cher wears short skirts...ALWAYS
10. Formal wear should be skin tight, minimalist, short...and designer..Calvin Klein..sexy Azzedine Alaia
    

Cher's Wisdom:

1. Grades are just a jumping off point for negotiations
2. Use "womens troubles" to manipulate your teachers: you were tardy because you were surfing the crimson wave and you sucked at gym because your heart was broken by an evil male
   
3. No need to learn how to park...everywhere you go has valet
4. Legs crossed towards each other...that is an unequivocal sex invite
5. On how to grab a guy's attention: make sure he "sees you, but don't say hi first. Look like you're having fun and you're really popular. Talk to someone in his eyeline, preferably a guy. Make him come to you, and find an excuse to leave while he's still into the conversation. The key is, always have him wanting more."
6. On men's fashion: "So, OK. I don't want to be a traitor to my generation and all, but I don't get how guys dress today. I mean, c'mon, it looks like they just fell out of bed and put on some baggy pants, and take their greasy hair, Ew! And cover it up with a backwards cap and like, we're expected to swoon? I don't think so!"
7. "Searching for a boy in high school is as useless as searching for meaning in a Polly Shore movie"
8. "Until mankind is peaceful enough not to have violence on the news, there is no reason to take it out of shows that need it for entertainment value"
9. Ren and Stimpy are way existential
10. Don't rely on mirrors when dressing for an important event, always take Polaroids
    
11. When ever a guy comes over you should always have something baking
    

Looking for more Cher? Check out my Amazon store's Buy to Be: Cher from Clueless

Interested in getting the look of another style icon? Check out How to be like Holly Golightly from Breakfast at Tiffany

Image sources from reelfilm.com, dvdinmypants.com, hotflick.net and Canadianpreppy.blogspot.com