How to Dress Like a Character From Archie Comics
Summer stylings via Riverdale and the obviously superior choice in the Betty/Veronica binary.
Hello! The only thing that’s truly inspired me in the fashion sphere this past month was Articles Of Interest’s piece on the fashion of Archie Comics’ best girls, Betty and Veronica. Head over there for some brilliant research and insights into the illustrations and inspirations of these fashion plates. Then come back here for some ultra-subjective commentary on a handful of their (let’s be real, mostly Veronica’s) summer-ready outfits from a schlub whose only qualification is that a solid 65% of their childhood (the time not spent in abject misery, basically) was spent reading both contemporary Archie digests from the grocery store and old ‘60s and ‘70s Archies rescued by their mother from their grandma whose trigger-happiness regarding throwing cool shit away lives on in legend. To sweeten the deal, below the fold I’ve included shoppable outfits inspired by my chosen comic book pages if your summer plans are less Snooki-oriented and more in the “sharing a milkshake with your virginal polycule” camp. Bonus points for wearing a fuckass Jughead cap like the one from Urte Kat’s newest season:
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THANK YOU for being here, and I am always available @that.esque on Instagram for sartorial scandals/situations/summons. Here is a little [actually, this one’s really long] preview of what’s below the paywall:
Veronica’s tangerine fit above is what the Carolyn B*ssette acolytes WISH they were giving: clean lines, a perfectly struck balance between sporty (racing stripes, headband) and ladylike (bangles, T-bar cutout flats). The slightly drop-waist silhouette is what makes this a truly contemporary look. Now, Betty… looks a mess. The nonbinary-core rolled-sleeve patterned button-up is thoroughly Babysitters Club-ified by short overalls (not a garment I would ever recommend, especially in a bright color). I do like the idea of pointelle knee-high socks, but I am really growing weary of the boxy shorts + high socks/boots combo. Betty looks contemporary, too, in a bad way—like she is attaching to five trendy styles at once but only after they’ve been filtered violently through the sediment of the Target sale section. It’s giving Wild Fable.
More excellent showings from Baby V: sunglasses layered over a wide, ear-covering headband for a sensible, quotidian essence of Grace Kelly; a wide boat neck on a ribbed blouse/thin sweater, green + red but NOT Christmassy (a la Wong Kar-wai); a top with a crazy scalloped crop and one with an even crazier belly-button-touching V-neck layered over a long-sleeve; and pants with a closure that kind of recalls those godforsaken military jackets that are due to rot in dark corners of Buffalo Exchange any day now. All so old-school but indubitably fresh.
