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I’ll be there for youuu! It’s been 16 years since Friends went off the air, yet the comedic show still remains an iconic piece of TV history. It’s one of the most popular sitcoms ever, not to mention one of the most binged too (even though Netflix removed it from the platform in January—rude!). But dedicated fans got some exciting news last month: The entire cast is set to reunite for an HBO Max special that will air later this year.
That’s right, folks: Rachel, Monica, Phoebe, Ross, Joey, and Chandler are headed for a 2020 comeback. Though little is known about what the reunion special will entail, here at Vogue we started imagining what these characters’ lives would look like today: Are Monica and Chandler still together? Did Rachel and Ross take another break? More importantly, what would they all be wearing? After all, the fashion choices from the show are just as memorable as the absurd plotlines and guest appearances. While parts of Rachel’s wardrobe feel just as fresh today as they did 20 years ago, fashion has certainly evolved since the show’s ’90s heyday—leaving us to wonder how each character’s look might have changed over time.
Below, Vogue imagines what all of the six Friends characters would be wearing in 2020. Hint: Monica has transformed into a full-on Celine girl. And Phoebe? She loves herself some groovy Collina Strada.
Rachel Green
Rachel was the devoted fashion girl of Friends. Working as a buyer at Bloomingdale’s and Ralph Lauren, she always looked chic and was certainly in tune with the latest trends. Today would be no different: Rachel would deck herself out in the season’s most-coveted pieces—think a striking Saks Potts coat or those square-toe Bottega Veneta heels that all of the street style stars are wearing. She’s even transitioned into a full-fledged influencer now, attending all of the shows in Europe every season, armed with a 500K following on Instagram.
Ross Geller
Ross was Friends’ lovable nerd. A paleontologist by trade, he was book smart with the style to match: He loved a professorial blazer and a dressy button-up shirt. Today, Geller now runs the paleontology department at the American Museum of Natural History, and he’s stepped up his dad-at-the-office look as a result. He is very into Balenciaga’s new aesthetic, all about boxy blazers and deliberately baggy jeans: “He wore a lot of slightly ill-fitting jeans on the show,” agrees Rachel Besser, Vogue’s market editor. “But I feel like the shape is good now, if styled right.”
Phoebe Buffay
Phoebe was the definition of a free spirit. Fifteen years later, she’s still living her best bohemian life. Her acoustic sets have conquered social media; she is now a signed artist. Her style most definitely still embodies that hippie-dippie aesthetic, including loads of Collina Strada. “Phoebe would mostly shop thrift stores, but would always find interesting things,” says Janelle Okwodu, Vogue’s senior fashion writer. “She’s the girl who would head into Goodwill and find vintage Saint Laurent from the ’70s for $5. She would also like brands like Batsheva and the boho moments at Gucci.”
Joey Tribbiani
How you doin’? Joey was a ladies’ man, a real player, and often his fashion choices reflected this. He sported leather jackets as a uniform, often with a skin-tight tank top underneath. Today, he has finally settled down with a long-term girlfriend—but he hasn’t shed his bad boy image. In 2020, he is now testing out the sleazy-chic trend that’s been dominating the menswear runways. Think a fuccboi, but a luxurious fuccboi: After all, Joey has finally transitioned from a soap star to a professional host on The Bachelor—and there’s big money in reality TV! Vogue commerce editor Julie Tong agrees: “Would it be Joey without a leather jacket? This sharp Comme des Garçons version strikes the perfect tone for Mr. Tribbiani in 2020.”
Monica Geller
Monica’s fashion on the show always whispered, never screamed. “Monica was a sleeper—she was always great, but Rachel got the cred,” agrees Liana Satenstein, Vogue’s senior fashion writer. As a professional chef—which she still is, of course—she appreciates simple, practical fashion that still always looks smart. Her affinity for a well-fitted pair of jeans and crisp white button-ups couldn’t be more timely: She’s now all about Celine’s relaxed, 1970s-inspired fits. She’s graduated her white tees to frilly blouses, and added sleek separates such as a blazer and leather boots.
Chandler Bing
Could Chandler be any more sarcastic? He was Friends’ smart-ass, but a lovable one. His outfits were often on the casual side: They had a cozy, weekend-ready charm to them. In present day, Chandler is now a stay-at-home dad (because Monica’s the breadwinner). They live in Connecticut together, and he has adopted sweater vests into his rotation, to wear to the country club after a round of golf. The knitted top happens to be very trendy: “I could see him in that grandpa vest Harry Styles wore,” says Lucie Zhang, Vogue’s associate director of social media.
