Let me first just say I never planned on doing any kind of Glee post this week and yet despite not having watched the show regularly since about halfway through Season 5 (I got angry at stupid storylines…), I found myself last Saturday morning in my bed watching the trailer for the final episode and crying…yes. Crying.
Now as much as I want to get sentimental about the final episode of the series airing this Friday (for me Glee was the show that defined my online life from about 2009 to 2013) I thought I’d pay tribute to the show in a nice lighthearted way by looking back on the weird and wonderful world of the characters’ costume choices.
Now, it’d be hard to pick out ultimate favourites across the whole show, so I thought I’d pick out my favourite character from each season.
Season 1 | Kurt Hummel
Though Season 1 (and the subsequent series) revolved around the ‘will they/won’t they’ story line of Finn and Rachel, there was one other character capturing the hearts of the nation. The fabulously scathing and catty Kurt Hummel may have had some questionable fashion choices over season 1 but there’s no denying he was like the misunderstood Tavi Gevinson of the Glee Club with a soprano singing voice.
Favourite outfit(s): You can’t not love the ever iconic Single Ladies leotard or his Roses Turn blue shirt/cravat combo.
Season 2 | The Warblers
Ok this isn’t just one character, but my sartorial tribute to the genius who came up with the uniform for the Dalton Academy Warblers. Never has there been a more iconic costume for a group of characters in my opinion. The Warblers only got even more fashionable when Kurt joined and introduced a whole new meaning to uniform personalisation. But the leader of the pack? The super slick and suave Blaine Anderson – subsequent leaders including Sebastian Smythe and Hunter Clarinton had tried to replicate his impeccable dapper-ness but few match up.
Favourite outfit: Well, there was only one. That blazer tho’
Season 3 | Quinn Fabray
Season 3 was dominated by one woman and her name was Quinn Fabray. Season 3 Quinn’s style was so on point that I even subconsciously start to incorporate elements of her outfits into my own wardrobe. From her ‘bad girl’ Quinn phase at the beginning of the season, to her lust-worthy preppy tea dresses, even a freakin’ car accident couldn’t knock her off her fashionable pedestal. Every outfit had me wanting to shake the hand of the costume designer who placed Diana in them.
Favourite outfit(s): For me it was a tie between two lesser known looks. There’s the bad girl Quinn’ look, crop top, maxi skirt and pink hair with cigarette in hand, and then the gorgeous blue printed tea dress and cloche hat combo.
Season 4 | Blaine Anderson
Why yes, I am aware this is Blaine’s second mention on this list (No it wasn’t an excuse to get Darren in this list twice…) People give Blaine a lot of grief over his outfits, but like Kurt in season 1 I’d argue that Blaine is probably one of the more interesting characters to follow if you’re into fashion. Finally out of the Dalton blazer Blaine got his chance to shine during his Mckinley transfer in the last series and fully settled into his style in Season 4. Though there’s certainly no toning down his love for polo shirts, chinos and bow ties, his overall New England prep-school style definitely is totally unique to him.
Favourite outfit: His maroon shirt/dark brown bowtie combo is a nice pre-curser to teacher Blaine of Season 6 (who’s style I LOVE)
Season 5 | Tina Cohen-Chang
Whilst Rachel was busy with her Lea Michelle-makeover, there was another character gearing up to take the spotlight back at Mckinley High. Tina may have been overlooked by other characters (and by certain writers *cough* Ryan Murphy *cough*), but her style evolution into Season 5 from shy skater-goth to fully fledged modern mod-girl has been fantastic to watch. Turns out Tina loves colour and graphic prints and is never afraid to block out in bright primaries, even bolder secondary shades and a chic touch of monochrome.
Favourite outfit: It’s hard to pin down which of Tina’s dresses I loved most, but her this bright orange shift dress is just the best bold minimalist statement ever.
Season 6 | Rachel Berry
We’ve been through the ringer with Ms. Berry and it seems fitting after 6 seasons, I’ve found myself finally loving her style. It’s not little Rachel from Ohio, or the awful Lea Michelle-clone/Rachel from New York, but it’s the more polished, mature and driven Rachel Berry who is ready to take on the world. ‘Teacher’ Rachel loves her all-blacks/neutrals but she never forgets her roots in her, now, uber-chic plaid and mary-janes combo.
Favourite outfit(s): So far? It’s actually one of her last Rachel Berry performance outfits (an all white number with red pumps) but I’ll also notably point out her original Rachel outfit from the upcoming ‘2009’ flashback episode (because I miss this Rachel, even if she was super-crazy)
Now as silly as this post has been and despite my love/hate relationship with the show, I can quite honestly say I’ll miss this show. I have lots of fond memories staying up watching livestreams, fangirling on Twitter about the episode and getting knee-deep into the fandom (especially the shipping wars)
Happy trails Glee, you were fabulous!
p.s. all the photos I’ve managed to source from the INCREDIBLE Fashion Of Glee Tumblr. If you ever get a spare 10 mins, have a scroll through, they are comprehensive in their snooping to source where the costumes come from!
R.xoxo
