As '80s dark comedies go, _Heather_s might just be the coolest. It's the Clueless of high school horror movies, in that rather than feeling traumatised about the horrors that befall Heather Chandler, we were wondering where we could buy Winona Ryder's denim ra-ra skirt.
And Winona's wardrobe as Veronica in Michael Lehmann's 1998 cult hit was just as covetable as her floppy-haired, livewire boyfriend in the shape of Christian Slater. Part goth, part '90s power dressing, we want in her gang.
So go on then, why Winona?
If you gloss past the great loot of 2001, Winona's never had an off day. With her pixie looks and forever-1991 dress sense (in the good way), W.R. was busy setting trends before some of us were even born. Sartorially speaking, in Heathers, she is not only a homage to the sexy goth and power shoulders, but also a lesson in exemplary tonal blocking. Before it had even entered our lexicon as a 'thing', Winona was doing top to toe 'blue'. **
Who else is into it?
BCBG, Thakoon and Rag & Bone are all still dead keen on the crop top (us too – so sassy), while Topshop Unique is currently all about the exposed shoulder pinafore. Everyone from Erdem to Orla Kiely is digging creepy-cute Peter Pan collars for this season, and we even found a frog brooch to fasten your blouse with, just like Winona! And Kate Moss is currently showing off a fine parade of brooches, so the brooch is officially back. Yay!
How would I do it?
Unfortunately, ra-ra skirts haven't quite transitioned into 2014 i.e. I can't find out any, anywhere. I'm sorry. But you're good for the rest. Think off-the-shoulder long-sleeved tees under low-front pinafores or dungarees (massive, still), power -houlder blazers (avoid the '80s connotations by leaving the cinch out of the waist) and pleated knee-length skirts – which only happen to be everywhere! Easy.
So... should I do it?
This is a chick who still looks 25 having hit 40, and once wore a $10 dress to the Oscars. Fuck the Oscars, we just want a $10 dress full stop. So in short, we're Team Winona. There's something deliciously mysterious about her – Winona circa 1988, in Heathers, or in 2014, IRL. Leave the tormented teen out of it and steal the goth-meets-schoolgirl wardrobe to look super-sassy next to those trend-twitchers in their matching normsnore tailored trousers and matching pool slides.
Pleated skirt, £29.99 H&M
Off-the-shoulder top, £3.99 H&M
Embellished cady dress, £260 Versus at Net-a-Porter
Off-the-shoulder blouse, £24.99 H&M
Navy cotton stretch pinafore dress, £385 Victoria Beckham Denim at Harvey Nichols
This article originally appeared on The Debrief.