Skip to content

Top Navigation

InStyle InStyle InStyle InStyle
  • News
  • Fashion
    • Clothing
    • Accessories
    • Street Style
    • Look of the Day
    • Fashion Week
  • Celebrity
    • Awards and Events
    • Celebrity Transformations
    • TV Shows
    • Movies
    • Music
  • Beauty
    • Makeup
    • Best Beauty Buys
    • Health & Fitness
    • Skincare
  • Hair
    • Celeb Hairstyles
    • Color Ideas
    • Long Hairstyles
    • Medium Hairstyles
    • Short Hairstyles
    • All Natural
  • Lifestyle
    • Travel
    • Weddings
    • Books
    • Food and Drink
    • Home and Decorating
  • Politics & Social Issues
    • President Joe Biden
    • Dr. Jill Biden
    • Women in Politics
    • Women's Movements
    • Equal Pay
    • Badass Women
    • Motherhood & Parenting
    • Career
    • Charity
    • Choose 2020
  • Pop Culture
    • TV Shows
    • Movies
    • Books
    • Music
    • Social Media
    • Ladies First Podcast With Laura Brown
  • How To
  • Shopping
    • Celebrity Looks
    • Clothing
    • Accessories
    • Beauty
    • Home and Decor
    • Holiday Gift Guides
  • Video
  • In The Mag

Profile Menu

Your Account

Account

  • Join Now / Your Account
  • Newsletter
  • Email Preferences this link opens in a new tab
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
Login
Subscribe
Pin FB

Explore InStyle

InStyle InStyle InStyle InStyle
  • Explore

    Explore

    • The 8 Breakout Hair Color Trends of Winter 2021

      Expect to see these shades all over Instagram. Read More Next
    • What Is a Capsule Wardrobe? 10 Tips to Help You De-Clutter Your Closet

      Fashion designer Misha Nonoo weighs in on the essential items that'll make your 'nothing to wear' days a thing of the past. Read More Next
    • "Maskne" Is a Thing — Here's How to Fight Face Mask Breakouts

      As if stress breakouts weren't bad enough. Read More Next
  • News
  • Fashion

    Fashion

    See All Fashion

    How to Find the Best Color to Wear For Your Skin Tone

    It's not as tricky as you think.
    • Clothing
    • Accessories
    • Street Style
    • Look of the Day
    • Fashion Week
  • Celebrity

    Celebrity

    See All Celebrity

    The 35 Most Naked Dresses of All Time

    Naked dresses are perhaps the most impressive of all red carpet feats. While they may not always make the best-dressed list, they do require a certain breed of celebrity to pull off. Not only do you have to have the balls to risk a wardrobe malfunction, but you have to do it with enough confidence that you look fierce — not terrified — in the photographs. Take Naomi Campbell's appearance in Valentino's couture show during the spring/summer 2019 presentation. The legendary model gracefully strutted down the runway in a see-through gown with a ruffle skirt. (Click through the gallery for the NSFW photo).  Get the inside scoop on all your favorite celebrities with our FREE daily newsletter, InStyle Celebrity. Breaking news, relationship updates, hairstyle inspo, fashion trends, and more direct to your inbox! Let's not forget Rihanna’s infamous CFDA dress either. The girl rocked a completely sheer dress without a bra — and later remarked that her only regret was not wearing a bedazzled thong to match. That, my friends, is dedication. Then, there was the year 2015, when the Met Gala saw not one nor two but three naked dresses on the red carpet, all worn by Hollywood’s hottest A-listers. Jennifer Lopez, above, bared her famous curves in a custom Atelier Versace illusion gown. Beyoncé was nearly naked in Givenchy. And Kim Kardashian West almost looked modest in comparison in her sheer Roberto Cavalli dress, because no one’s getting naked without KKW joining in. Click through to see the best naked dresses of all time.
    • Awards and Events
    • Celebrity Transformations
    • TV Shows
    • Movies
    • Music
  • Beauty

    Beauty

    See All Beauty

    13 Steps You Can Take to Stop Stubborn Cystic Acne, According to Experts

    If you're struggling with breakouts on your chin and jaw area, read this. 
    • Makeup
    • Best Beauty Buys
    • Health & Fitness
    • Skincare
  • Hair

    Hair

    See All Hair

    The 5 Haircut Trends That Will Dominate 2020

    The beginning of the new year comes with the irresistible urge to start over fresh, which means it's a great time to get a haircut.  This decade's first big hair trends include looks at every length that can be tailored to your hair texture and personal style. For anyone with a blunt bob — the most popular haircut of the past few years — you probably already guessed that the cut will still be going strong into the next decade. But there will be a few tweaks. As seen on Kerry Washington, 2020's bob has textured, softer edges, and looks amazing whether you part it down the middle or off to the side.  RELATED: The 10 Hairstyles You'll See Everywhere This Winter But if you swear that 2020 is going to be the year you finally grow out your hair, let Jennifer Lopez and Kim Kardashian's extra-long lengths be your inspiration. Or, you can get the look instantly with the help of some clip in extensions.  To help you figure out how to wear your hair in the new year, we've rounded up the five biggest haircut trends of 2020, so you'll be sure of what you want before you head to the salon in January.  VIDEO: The Five Biggest Haircut Trends of 2020
    • Celeb Hairstyles
    • Color Ideas
    • Long Hairstyles
    • Medium Hairstyles
    • Short Hairstyles
    • All Natural
  • Lifestyle

    Lifestyle

    See All Lifestyle

    Your Essential Keto Grocery List

    If you're embarking on the keto diet, here are the must-have items to add to your cart.
    • Travel
    • Weddings
    • Books
    • Food and Drink
    • Home and Decorating
  • Politics & Social Issues

    Politics & Social Issues

    See All Politics & Social Issues

    Joe Biden Broke Barack Obama's Nationwide Popular Vote Record

    Obama's record goes back to 2008.
    • President Joe Biden
    • Dr. Jill Biden
    • Women in Politics
    • Women's Movements
    • Equal Pay
    • Badass Women
    • Motherhood & Parenting
    • Career
    • Charity
    • Choose 2020
  • Pop Culture

    Pop Culture

    See All Pop Culture

    Introducing InStyle's First Podcast: Ladies First with Laura Brown

    Join editor in chief Laura Brown as she talks to trailblazers like Emily Ratajkowski, Michelle Pfeiffer and Storm Reid about their historic "firsts" in the industry.
    • TV Shows
    • Movies
    • Books
    • Music
    • Social Media
    • Ladies First Podcast With Laura Brown
  • How To
  • Shopping

    Shopping

    See All Shopping

    The 13 Best Shapewear Pieces to Shop, According to Thousands of Customer Reviews

    Upgrade your lingerie drawer with these top-rated body shapers.
    • Celebrity Looks
    • Clothing
    • Accessories
    • Beauty
    • Home and Decor
    • Holiday Gift Guides
  • Video
  • In The Mag

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Your Account

Account

  • Join Now / Your Account
  • Newsletter
  • Email Preferences this link opens in a new tab
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. Home Chevron Right
  2. Fashion Chevron Right
  3. 17 Back-to-School Movies That Earned Straight A's for Style

17 Back-to-School Movies That Earned Straight A's for Style

By Andrea Cheng
Updated Aug 21, 2017 @ 11:45 am
Skip gallery slides
Save Pin
Credit: Adam Taylor/©Screen Gems/Courtesy Everett Collection

Back-to-school season tends to elicit a rollercoaster of emotions. It marks the end of many things (read: shoreside excursions and summer flings), but it also signifies many beginnings, like sweater weather, a clean slate, and fall fashion. To make that transition sweeter, we looked to Hollywood to give us a boost in school spirit—even for those of us who have already graduated.

We rounded up the most memorable fashions from a library of campus-centric movies that we absolutely adore. From Mean Girls' fashion rules ("On Wednesdays, we wear pink") to The Breakfast Club's cliquey stereotypes (a brain, an athlete, a basket case, a princess, and a criminal), queue up these 14 iconic and sartorially driven films, which will leave you quoting one-liners and memorizing outfits from now until the school year ends.

Start Slideshow

1 of 17

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Mean Girls, 2004

Credit: ©Paramount/Courtesy Everett Collection

With hard-and-fast fashion rules, like wearing pink on Wednesdays, no other clique on campus but the Plastics stood the chance of running North Shore High School. 

1 of 17

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 17

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Grease, 1978

Credit: Mary Evans/PARAMOUNT PICTURES/Everett Collection

From the Pink Ladies squad uniform to Sandy's sweet style, Grease epitomized all things '50s fashion. 

2 of 17

3 of 17

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

High School Musical, 2006

Credit: AF archive / Alamy Stock Photo

These characters had serious school pride, and it showed whether they wore basketball uniforms everywhere (we see you, Troy Bolton), or repped their white and red school colors. 

3 of 17

Advertisement

4 of 17

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Bring It On, 2000

Credit: Mary Evans/Everett Collection

When Torrance wasn't dealing with a cheer-tastrophe in her red, black, and white Toro uniform, her off-duty #fitspo outfits were seriously on-point. 

4 of 17

5 of 17

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Dope, 2015

Credit: Courtesy of Sundance Institute

While this movie is more recent than some of the others on this list, it's no less fashion forward. This coming-of-age story is both touching and inspirational in many ways. 

5 of 17

6 of 17

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

10 Things I Hate About You, 1999

Credit: ©Buena Vista Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection

Bianca: "There's a difference between like and love, because I like my Skechers, but I love my Prada backpack." Chastity: "But I love my Skechers." Bianca: "That's because you don't have a Prada backpack." And scene. 

6 of 17

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 17

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Heathers, 1988

Credit: ©New World Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection

The incredible blazers and shoulder pads? That preppy, but villainous attitude? It was all so good. 

7 of 17

8 of 17

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Never Been Kissed, 1999

Credit: ©20thCentFox/Courtesy Everett Collection

Drew Barrymore's undercover high school ensembles may have erred on the side of awkward, but the school's popular trio Gibby, Kirsten and Kristin got the whole '90s fashion drill down pat.

8 of 17

9 of 17

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

The Breakfast Club, 1985

Credit: ©Universal/Courtesy Everett Collection

We can wax nostalgia about the meaning of The Breakfast Club all we want, but in the end, it really was a lesson in dressing for stereotypes (even if we're all a brain, an athlete, a basket case, a princess, and a criminal). 

9 of 17

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 17

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

The Craft, 1996

Credit: ©Columbia Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection

The coven practiced more than witchcraftery—they casted cool Gothic-inspired takes on their preppy school uniforms. 

10 of 17

11 of 17

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Clueless, 1995

Credit: ©Paramount/Courtesy Everett Collection

While Cher may have been clueless when it came to love, she was definitely the opposite when it came to the fashion department, like pulling off a matching yellow plaid set or piecing together her most capable outfit (read: her white collarless shirt from Fred Segal). 

11 of 17

12 of 17

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Jawbreaker, 1999

Credit: ©TriStar Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection

The only crime that Courtney, Julie, and Marcie didn't commit in this thriller are any fashion faux pas. 

12 of 17

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 17

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Cruel Intentions, 1999

Credit: ©Columbia Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection

Ok, we cheated—all the memorable outfits in Cruel Intentions actually happened outside of school. When not in uniform, Kathryn's deviant behavior manifested itself sartorially in slinky slips and sleek styles. 

13 of 17

14 of 17

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Fame, 2009

Credit: Courtesy MGM

In a musical about students at a performing arts school, you can expect to see grade A fashion. The best part? Both the 1980 and 2009 versions of the film are equally fashionable. 

14 of 17

15 of 17

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

John Tucker Must Die, 2006

Credit: ©20thCentFox/Courtesy Everett Collection

John Tucker's many girlfriends joined forces to scheme in style, because revenge is a dish best served with sartorial prowess, right?

15 of 17

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

16 of 17

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Legally Blonde, 2001

Credit: ©MGM/Courtesy Everett Collection

On her first day as a serious law student, Elle Woods "totally looked the part" in a shirt, tie, a robe jacket, and (of course) specs.

16 of 17

17 of 17

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Easy A, 2010

Credit: Adam Taylor/©Screen Gems/Courtesy Everett Collection

We're not condoning lingerie in public, but Olive's literal take on The Scarlet Letter sure turned heads.

17 of 17

Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By Andrea Cheng

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook
Trending Videos
Advertisement
Skip slide summaries

Everything in This Slideshow

Advertisement

View All

1 of 17 Mean Girls, 2004
2 of 17 Grease, 1978
3 of 17 High School Musical, 2006
4 of 17 Bring It On, 2000
5 of 17 Dope, 2015
6 of 17 10 Things I Hate About You, 1999
7 of 17 Heathers, 1988
8 of 17 Never Been Kissed, 1999
9 of 17 The Breakfast Club, 1985
10 of 17 The Craft, 1996
11 of 17 Clueless, 1995
12 of 17 Jawbreaker, 1999
13 of 17 Cruel Intentions, 1999
14 of 17 Fame, 2009
15 of 17 John Tucker Must Die, 2006
16 of 17 Legally Blonde, 2001
17 of 17 Easy A, 2010

Share options

Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message
InStyle InStyle

Magazines & More

Learn More

  • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Accolades Licensing
  • Content Licensing
  • Sitemap

Connect

Follow Us
Subscribe to Our Newsletter
Other Meredith Sites

Other Meredith Sites

  • 4 Your Health this link opens in a new tab
  • Allrecipes this link opens in a new tab
  • All People Quilt this link opens in a new tab
  • Better Homes & Gardens this link opens in a new tab
  • Bizrate Insights this link opens in a new tab
  • Bizrate Surveys this link opens in a new tab
  • Cooking Light this link opens in a new tab
  • Daily Paws this link opens in a new tab
  • EatingWell this link opens in a new tab
  • Eat This, Not That this link opens in a new tab
  • Entertainment Weekly this link opens in a new tab
  • Food & Wine this link opens in a new tab
  • Health this link opens in a new tab
  • Hello Giggles this link opens in a new tab
  • Martha Stewart this link opens in a new tab
  • Midwest Living this link opens in a new tab
  • More this link opens in a new tab
  • MyRecipes this link opens in a new tab
  • MyWedding this link opens in a new tab
  • My Food and Family this link opens in a new tab
  • MyLife this link opens in a new tab
  • Parenting this link opens in a new tab
  • Parents this link opens in a new tab
  • People this link opens in a new tab
  • People en Español this link opens in a new tab
  • Rachael Ray Magazine this link opens in a new tab
  • Real Simple this link opens in a new tab
  • Ser Padres this link opens in a new tab
  • Shape this link opens in a new tab
  • Siempre Mujer this link opens in a new tab
  • Southern Living this link opens in a new tab
  • SwearBy this link opens in a new tab
  • Travel & Leisure this link opens in a new tab
InStyle is part of the Meredith Beauty Group. © Copyright 2021 Meredith Corporation. All Rights Reserved. InStyle may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
© Copyright . All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.instyle.com

View image

17 Back-to-School Movies That Earned Straight A's for Style
this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.