Fictional Style Icon: Sabrina Spellman

I never want to be “that person”, but I have to say it: I was seriously let down by The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. The campy, self-aware story of my favorite half-witch, Sabrina Spellman, traded in its tongue-in-cheek humor for something that takes itself far too seriously for what it is. (Not to mention the apparent confusion that witchcraft = Satanism. That’s just fake news.)

But, much to my annoyance, there is still something inherently likable about Sabrina. It isn’t the blatant sexualization of teenagers. It certainly isn’t the themes of modern-day Satanic Panic. Perhaps it has something to do with the ensemble of lovable foils, from Sabrina’s classically lovable Aunt Hilda to her newly-added cousin Ambrose. But, I think a huge part of Sabrina‘s charm comes from its gorgeous aesthetic. Obviously, the costumes are a huge part of that.

I could easily write an article for every character. But, allow me to start by dissecting the style of the iconic teenage witch that started it all.

Perfectly 60’s

Since Sabrina makes a point to mention her town feels like Halloween all year, the stylized costumes make sense. Sabrina’s wardrobe consists mostly of crewneck sweaters, corduroy skirts, and loafers. Every outfit is always completed with two finishing accessories—a black headband and a red coat, just like in the comics. Her go-to look is classic, preppy, and polished with mostly muted colors.

Sweater Weather

Perhaps Greendale feels like Halloween year-round due to the fact that the weather never seems to change. Obviously, the best thing about this is that it means every day in Greendale is perfect sweater weather. A lot of characters have great sweaters, but Sabrina definitely has the best and most extensive collection. After all, the crocheted caramel-colored sweater she wears in “Witch Academy” is to die for. Look at those crochet details!

That Dark Baptism Dress

Yeah, you know the one. Sabrina wears her mother’s wedding dress to a birthday/Halloween party and then to the “dark baptism” ritual where she’s expected to pledge herself to Satan. It’s initially an endearing shade of off-white, sweet and innocent with a lace overlay. But once Sabrina walks through a fire as she approaches her baptism site, the dress changes to pitch-black. While it’s a particularly drool-worthy moment in the art of costume design, it’s also a great metaphor for just how much this chapter of Sabrina’s life is going to change things.

Need more fictional fashion in your life? Check out last week’s style icon, Misty Day.