Great Outfits in Fashion History: Mariah Carey’s ‘Gilmore Girls’-Coded Calvin Klein Look

There are perfectly good celebrity style moments, and then there are the looks that really stick with you, the ones you try desperately to recreate at home. In ‘Great Outfits in Fashion History,’ Fashionista editors are revisiting their all-time favorite lewks.

Summer was cute and all, but there are only so many heatwaves and rainstorms a girl can handle. I’ve now reached peak fall yearning. It doesn’t help that my TikTok algorithm is providing ample autumn aesthetic content (nor I do help myself by wistfully compiling fall fashion Pinterest boards). But there is a plus side to my self-sabotaging tendencies: They’ve led me to discover the perfect fall ‘fit I’m already itching to recreate once the temperature drops a few degrees.

The outfit in question was sported by Mariah Carey at the Calvin Klein Fall 1994 runway show. At the time, Carey’s sartorial choices skewed closer to ’90s minimalism with a touch of bombshell. This look, however, was a departure. It was an outfit worthy of placement on “Gilmore Girls” or “Gossip Girl” (both the original and reboot): a cropped black cardigan atop a white T-shirt, paired with a plaid skirt.

Adding to the “schoolgirl aesthetic” of it all, the then 25-year-old styled the look with black tights and platform loafers. A half-up hairdo with parted bangs and a glossy lip provided the finishing touches.

Though fall is still weeks away, it’s never too early to secure a cardigan and plaid skirt combo. Shop our curated picks in the gallery below.

Mango Plaid Miniskirt, $60 $23, available here

Simkhai Darlene Cardigan, $395, available here

Cult Gaia Blair Knit Cardigan, $358, available here

Good American Slim Fitted Tee, $69, available here

Madewell Supima Rib Tee, $42, available here

Please note: Occasionally, we use affiliate links on our site. In no way does this affect our editorial decision-making.

Tune into the Fashionista Network to join the conversation with fashion and beauty industry leaders. Sign up here.