We all want to look like the glamorous, completely made-up models and actors of the small screen; however, our pocketbooks might tell a different story. Anyone who knows me is aware of my absolute obsession with thrifting and finding the perfect dupe for a movie or television accessory. I once spent two hours trying to find the same sweater that Drew Barrymore wore in the opening of Scream.
Today, I’d like to share with you all one of my own television inspirations: Camila Mendes as Veronica Lodge in Riverdale. Say what you want about the questionable writing, but Riverdale’s production and costume design are utterly perfect. Here’s one of my favorite looks and how you can recreate it.
Veronica mostly dresses in cooler tones, including black, grey, taupe, and maroon. This makes her wardrobe classy, sophisticated, and surprisingly easy to replicate. Though I’m sure her closet is full of designer garments, you can find similar items in thrift shops or online.
Here, she’s in a grey top with a statement skirt and basic, shiny jewelry. Another great thing about this character is her versatility, so you don’t have to absolutely copy the look but can find similar pieces that give the essence of the character. I recommend checking Goodwill or Salvation Army for shirts, as it is easier to find different-sized tops there than bottoms.
For pants or skirts, I recommend eBay, Depop, or Poshmark where you can contact sellers and request sizing or specific inch lengths. Jewelry is the easiest of all; Claires, Hot Topic, H&M, and Urban Outfitters all have cool-toned, gothic-inspired jewelry that Veronica wears for much less than her designer price tags.
If you don’t want to contribute to any fast fashion whatsoever (I applaud you), you can also often find broken jewelry in clearance bins at Joanne’s, Michael’s, or other craft stores. These pieces are going in the trash anyway, and pliers and a hot glue gun usually do the trick to fix them.
I wore Veronica’s iconic cheerleader outfit to a comic convention once and was asked for photos and costume recommendations. This is a fun and recognizable character that you can dress up as or mimic in your everyday style. The most important thing is to have fun and try new outfit combos!