How To Dress Like Jughead (if You're A Girl)

Ever wanted to channel Jughead through your clothing? Here's how you do it!

Archie Comics / Via tumblr.com

If you're a girl and you love the Archie Comics character Jughead, this post is tailor-made for you!

Dressing like Jughead is actually really simple, but it's incredibly easy to mess up. What makes it simple is that Jughead himself doesn't dress extravagantly. In fact, I would think he uses a lot of thrift shop items or his dad's hand-me downs or something. He's not a person who actively goes to the mall to get a new pair of jeans (unless his mom might buy him some).

However, what makes dressing Jughead-influenced tricky is the hipster-aspect. Nowadays, tons of people trying to be cool will put on a skinny pair of jeans and an ironic shirt and call it "individuality" when they're really just rehashing the same thing every other "hipster individual" is wearing. Jughead, on the other hand, is a character who has always been an individual, which means that if you're going to wear some jeans and a shirt, those jeans and shirt had better bring out your own flair. You can't stand to be derivative here. Being different is the essence of style, you know.

I would also say that Jughead embodies the Italian word men's magazine's like GQ and Esquire love to throw around--sprezzatura. Sprezzatura means, according to Baldassare Castiglione's The Book of the Courtier, "a certain nonchalance, so as to conceal all art and make whatever one does or says appear to be without effort and almost without any thought about it." Jughead doesn't go out of his way to be a fashionista, but the fact that he does stuff with a laissez-faire attitude makes everything about him seem cool, even his clothes.

Okay, enough talking--let's get to the clothes!

Suspenders

Jughead suspenders by moniquej1988 featuring suspenders




Jughead generally wears suspenders nine times out of the 10 you'll see him in Archie Comics. I'm not really sure why he was constantly drawn wearing suspenders, but it's funny that he does wear suspenders. Suspenders are a staple in punk culture, which fits Jughead since punk culture consists of an alternative, DIY attitude. Also, in the late '80s and early '90s, Jughead was portrayed as punk. Not just a Riverdale version of a punk, but an actual mohawk-wearing, skateboarding, wildly dressed punk. It was insane. I wish that would come back.

"S" Sweatshirt

Jughead sweatshirts by moniquej1988 featuring a white sweatshirt



So, of course, I'd never be able to find an actual "S" sweatshirt on Polyvore unless I'd have knitted it myself and taken a picture of it for Polyvore. So I found some other similar sweatshirts instead.

The myth of the "S" sweatshirt is a big one. I read one rumor that it's supposed to be a shirt from his old school before he moved to Riverdale (I believe that's where his short-lived girlfriend Joani Jumpp came from--this is a story for a whole different blog post), but no one really knows for sure. It's one of the mysteries that makes Jughead so popular. So, if you want to feel more interesting, just get a sweater with a mysterious design or letter on it, and never tell anyone what it stands for. You'll be talked about for decades.

Black Jeans

Jughead black jeans by moniquej1988 featuring black jeans



For some reason, Jughead is constantly drawn wearing black jeans or trousers. It could have something to do with the fact that back in the day (and perhaps now), black ink is cheaper to print in than color. This is also probably why Jughead, Veronica and Reggie all have black hair.

Anyways, I like black jeans, for both boys and girls. Black jeans are a great way to feel a little more put-together and stylish than just your regular blue jeans (however, dark wash blue jeans are also good for that purpose, too). And, black jeans are slimming, in my opinion.

Sneakers

Jughead sneakers by moniquej1988 featuring a red trainer



All of these looks feature Converses. Archie Comics can't say it, but I think it's clear that the Converse sneaker is what Jughead favors. Also, Converse has embraced the "alternative" aesthetic, what with commercials basically stating that Converses are the shoes of choice for those who follow the beat of their own drum.

Crown Hat

Jughead crown hats by moniquej1988 featuring a black snap back hat



The crown hat is probably the most iconic thing there is about Jughead's style. These modified hats were their most popular during the first part of the 20th century, according to this article.

You can make your own by taking an old fedora and cutting points in the brim. However, if you want to be a little more 21st century, you can find some hats similar to these shown above. They're more hip-hop than "Golly gee!", so choose what suits you best.

So there you go--some suggestions as to how to get Jughead's sprezzatura. Get something cool, interesting and unique, wear it, and then act do the "This old thing?" act and pretend like you just got it out of your closet.

(All collages made on Polyvore.com!)