Fashion at Euphoria High: The couture, cliche, and implausible

Rue

Rue’s style is easy but timeless. Tending to pair oversized tees or shirts with classic jeans and trainers, this combo doesn’t seem to have differed for the new season. This is shown most notably in episode three when Rue styles a vintage tee with khaki trousers throughout a lot of tense scenes. However, in the same episode, while informing us of “How to Get Away With Being a Drug Addict”, she is seen wearing a gorgeous deep red jumpsuit – potentially homage to a prison uniform.

Jules

The show's costume stylist, Heidi Bivens, describes Jules’ style as “wildly expressive with a penchant for layering”. Maintaining her colourful, feminine wardrobe in season two, Jules’ first outfit of episode one is an ‘Orseund Iris’ corset skirt paired with an ‘NIHL’ bejewelled tank, layered over a ‘Maroske’ mesh peach-coloured top – living up to Biven’s need for layering with Jules’ looks. This alone presents her character as delicate and girlish, never mind the elegant evening gloves also accompanying the look – a complete juxtaposition to Rue’s style which may further demonstrate the fan-favourite mimicked Romeo and Juliet theory.

However, Jules could arguably be seen to be styled more similarly to Rue this season with last week's look. Wearing sweatpants and a crew neck jumper a la Rue, although remaining in a pastel colour palette, this veers away from her usual mini skirt and crop top combination, while the subtle beaded necklace by ‘Marland Backus’ adds the femininity back to the look.

Cassie

Without leaking any spoilers, Cassie has been exploring her personal style more this season. We have seen her try out looks resembling her usual season one hyper-femininity, although this time similar to her style, as well as arguable imitations of Jules and Maddy.

A look that I think will go down in Euphoria history is her bright pink, BBL-style bathing suit. Laughable but childish, Cassie really humiliates herself in this look – something that could have been powerful and sexy on another character. Her looks paired with her natural flushed skin has really exaggerated her childishness this season, juxtaposing previous outfits that presented her character as more independent and self-aware – such as her homage to ‘True Romance’ for Halloween or the grunge, subtle-buckle belt and straps Carnival outfit. However, in the final episode of season one, her baby pink winter formal Look seems to have foreshadowed her styling this season, perhaps a representation of the trauma she endured after (TW) going through an abortion towards the end of the last season.

Kat

Frustratingly following the plus size clothing trend of unnecessary text being plastered over it, Kat looks stunning – but not as much as she could. Although barely making an appearance so far this season, Kat’s looks have been pretty uninspiring. While she is seen to be in designer brands just like the other characters, it seems to verge on the side of designer cliches. Her season two opening look being the “Fairy Liquid” dress by ‘Mimi Wade’ showed her in a gorgeous cut silk babydoll style look… with the words “Fairy Liquid" plastered across it. On one hand, this is definitely encapsulating the 2022 cyber ‘Jaded’/‘Omighty’ style I think we’re going to see more of. Yet, it proves to join the plethora of gorgeous outfits randomly plastered with text. It may not fit the same budget, but does this not remind you of any plus-size, high street items scattered with unnecessary phrases like “cutie” or “heartbreaker”?

However, during last week's episode, credit is due to her ‘Auné Collections’ dress. With a gorgeous, modern colour scheme of blacks, browns, blues, and reds, the custom mini dress was to die for. And to top it all off, it was accompanied by matching elbow-length gloves – and the brand is sustainable, WOC-founded and 10 per cent of their proceeds go to Gays and Lesbians living in a Transgender Society (G.L.I.T.S. Inc), a grassroots organisation. A triple win.

Maddy

Is she sponsored by ‘I.Am.Gia’? Maddy always pulls up with the most outlandish and “bad bitch” looks – most memorably from season one being her deep purple carnival look. You know the one, accompanying the infamous line, “So, I’m not supposed to be here right now because I’m dressed like a hooker and none of you like me”. In the season finale, Maddy is also seen in a stunning chainmail dress and matching veil for their winter formal. This style was immediately matched in season two, opening in episode one with Maddy in an already infamous ‘Aya Muse’ black cut out dress styled with sparkly gladiator-style ‘Amina Muaddi’ X ‘AWGA’ lace-up heels and XXL nails.

Something else that’s returned to season two? Tiny handbags. A surely impossible statement accessory for supposed high school students, begging the question: how big are their lockers? While these have resumed for Maddy, the looks that go with them definitely overshadow. In episode two, Maddy can be seen wearing a ‘Blumarine’ fur-trimmed cardigan and custom ‘Berna Peci’ jewellery to sit in the school bathrooms. She also goes on to pair her black ‘Dior’ saddlebag with a blue floral mini dress by ‘Miaou’. Absolutely stunning but not practical or student-budget friendly.

Lexi

Lexi is probably the character whose looks have developed the most from season one, showing the Howard sisters as having the most growth over the two-year gap. From a Bob Ross Halloween imitation and the repetition of bland jumpers, Lexi seems to be taking on a more dominant and eye-catching colour palette this season. Shown in the first episode donning black boots paired with flared red pants and a gold silk blouse from ‘Batsheva’, this look is more mature and stylish, although with a slight red embroidery on the blouse so as not to jump too far from her season one style.

In episode two, we see Lexi in a ‘Miu Miu’ red plaid mini dress. This brand is then seen again in episode three where Lexi styles a cropped, ruffled collar and puff-sleeve white poplin top. While still slightly ‘old lady’ with the collars and ruffles like her season one looks, these outfits show her in a more professional light – potentially foreshadowing the success of her play but definitely highlighting the contrast and growth away from her childhood bestie Rue.

Edited by Miette Dsouza