16 Fictional High School Uniforms Ranked On How Much I Wouldn't Mind Wearing Them All Day

    TBH, my number-one pick shouldn't be a surprise at all.

    Salimah McCullough
    by Salimah McCullough

    BuzzFeed Staff

    As someone who went my entire educational career up until college wearing school uniforms for just about every day (excluding special dress-down days), I feel like I have a pretty good sense of everything that makes a uniform excellent.

    HBO Max / Via giphy.com



    And while I may not be an EXPERT, those combined 12 years of elementary, middle, and high school pretty much make me whatever comes right before an expert.

    Giphy / Via giphy.com

    I figured, what better way to use my knowledge of school uniforms than to rank some teen TV and movie uniforms. So without further ado, here are 16 teen TV and movie uniforms ranked from super cool to super drool:

    BTW, yes, I know super drool is cringe. Let's just roll with it, OK?!

    16. Starting off with my least favorite on this list is the uniform from Angus, Thongs, and Perfect Snogging.

    Eleanor Tomlinson, Georgia Henshaw, Manjeeven Grewal, and Georgia Groome in Angus, Thongs, and Perfect Snogging
    Paramount / Paramount/Kobal/Shutterstock

    For some reason, I can't help but be annoyed at the fact that they have to wear blazers on top of their sweater vests. I just don't think I could do both at once. You either get the sweater vest or the blazer, but not both at the same time. Also, putting on a tie every single day would get super annoying — I know there are clip-on ties and whatever, but I just hate all ties, so that includes even the more convenient ones.

    If they didn't have to wear both the blazer and the sweater vest, maybe I wouldn't dislike this look so much, but here we are.

    Eleanor Tomlinson, Georgia Henshaw, Manjeeven Grewal, and Georgia Groome in Angus, Thongs, and Perfect Snogging
    AA Film Archive / Alamy Stock Photo

    And yeah, my reasoning may seem a bit nitpicky, but when 90% of uniforms consist of plaid skirts and white shirts, I have to be a little nitpicky here.

    15. Even though the iCarly kids only had to wear this uniform for an episode, I couldn't stand it so much that it stuck in my head forever.

    Freddie, Sam, and Carly walking into school in their uniforms in "iCarly"
    Nickelodeon

    Sure they only had to wear this uniform for maybe a week max, but that's still too long. It's super boring and plain. Obviously, school uniforms aren't supposed to look like something out of a fashion show, but it's even better when they have a little pizzazz that puts them over the edge, and this one just doesn't have it. 

    I'm bored just looking at it. I will give them small props because they added small details that make a .00005% difference to the look.

    Freddie, Sam, and Carly from "iCarly"
    Nickelodeon

    During this episode, Sam said, "Wearing blue and khaki makes me feel like a numb," and that's one of the most accurate things I've ever heard. I don't hate this look. It's pretty simple, classic, and timeless. It's just dull and doesn't offer much.

    14. While Christina and Julie from Lady Bird are great, their school uniforms are not.

    Christina and Julie standing in a parking lot on "Lady Bird"
    A24/Courtesy Everett Collection

    Sure these looks get the job done, and they don't have too much going on to the point where it's uncomfortable to wear (I'm looking at you Angus, Thongs, and Perfect Snogging), but there isn't much going on here. 

    There's nothing I really hate about this look, but it just doesn't deserve to be any higher on the list, TBH.

    Christina sitting on a couch in her school uniform on "Lady Bird"
    A24 / courtesy Everett Collection

    Not that I was really ever excited to throw on my school uniform every morning, but if it looked like this, I would look forward to it much less than usual. 

    13. Before she was a princess, Mia was a student at Grove High School who had to wear a less-than-royal uniform like everyone else. I don't hate the look, but it's not my favorite.

    Lily, Mia, and another student from "The Princess Diaries"
    Walt Disney Co. /Courtesy Everett Collection

    I know this is such an iconic look and a staple for movie school uniforms, but I just wouldn't be as willing to throw these on as much as other uniforms on this list. 

    Maybe if the skirt pattern looked slightly different, I wouldn't feel that this look is so average.

    Mia walking down the bleachers in "The Princess Diaries"
    Walt Disney Co./Courtesy Everett Collection

    This may sound like such a minute thing to consider when ranking an outfit, but for some reason, this particular plaid pattern throws me off so much. Sure it looks basically like every other plaid skirt on this list, but something about it just stands out and not in a good way. 

    12. The uniform from The Kissing Booth displays a decent school uniform, but If I'm rating solely on comfortability, this outfit doesn't feel like it would be too comfortable.

    Lee, Elle, and Rachel walking into school on "The Kissing Booth"
    Netflix

    Surprise, surprise! I think what's throwing me off is the tie. 

    It is a cute look; I’ll give them that. But it just doesn't look too comfortable.

    Lee picking up Elle and Rachel for school on "The Kissing Booth"
    Netflix

    The shirt texture and skirt length are the two things that stand out to me, which definitely look too uncomfortable to wear for eight hours straight.

    11. On Elite at Las Encinas, they wear this uniform that actually stands out compared to other looks on this list. It's not the same old plaid that just about every other uniform has, but it's still just kind of meh.

    Two students from "Elite" walking around school
    Manuel Fernandez-valdes / Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection

    It doesn't look too uncomfortable, so there's that. For some reason, it's still just kind of boring to me.

    Two students standing outside in their uniforms on "Elite"
    Netflix

    Now, I'll state again that obviously school uniforms aren't supposed to be WOW, but if you're going to be forced to wear something every single day for five days a week for at least nine months, then at least have some fun with it.  

    10. Rory's Chilton uniform from Gilmore Girls is so iconic when it comes to TV school uniforms, but it's just fine. Nothing I'm too in love with and nothing I absolutely detest.

    Rory sitting in Luke's Diner in "Gilmore Girls"
    The CW / Courtesy Everett Collection

    I have no idea why it isn't better in my eyes; it's just not up to the same standards as better ones on this list.

    Rory walking into a classroom on "Gilmore Girls"
    The CW

    9. I know I've stated that I'm not the biggest fan of blazers; for some reason, this one doesn't totally upset me. Still, I'm not too in love with this look.

    Moordale community school students in blazers and skirts
    Sam Taylor / Netflix / Courtesy Everett Collection

    The kids at Moordale Community School just started wearing a uniform during the newest season of Sex Education, and at first, I hated it. But looking at it some more, It’s more on my “kinda like” side than “kinda hate.” 

    Something still just throws me off. Maybe it's the length of the jacket or the color, but I don't love it.

    students in long grey blazers with red liner
    Sam Taylor / Netflix / Courtesy Everett Collection

    That said, I also don't HATE it, but I definitely would not be excited to put that jacket on every single day. Again, it comes down to the blazers for me. I don't get it either. 

    8. The uniform worn on Atypical is pretty standard in the uniform realm. It's adorable and simple, which works just fine when it comes to something you're forced to wear every single day.

    Casey standing in the middle of the hallway at her new school on "Atypical"
    Netflix

    It also looks pretty comfortable, which is a plus. I'm not over-the-moon excited about it, but I also don't hate it.

    If I had to be picky about things, I would get rid of the tie thing, but that's just me nitpicking for something now.

    Casey and Izzie standing by the lockers at school on "Atypical"
    Netflix

    I guess I'm also not a huge fan of ties either 🤷‍♀️. 

    7. They didn't wear a uniform for long on That's So Raven, but it was stylish, chic, and nearly perfect when they did!

    Raven, Chelsea, and Eddie standing in the hallway on "That's So Raven"
    Disney Channel

    Like iCarly, on That's So Raven, they only had to wear this uniform for an episode. Despite its brief appearance, I have mixed feelings about the look as a whole. It's not my favorite, but I also don't hate it. What Raven did to jazz it up a bit made it much better, but even the standard version of the uniform isn't too bad. 

    And while this isn't how the uniform is supposed to look since they added all the accessories and such, I'm not mad at it or the potential write-up I would get if I wore this to school.

    Raven sitting with the popular girls on "That's So Raven"
    Disney Channel

    6. In Glee, William McKinley High School kids didn't have an official uniform, but the Cheerios did and wore it every day, so it counts.

    Quinn, Santana, and Brittany standing in the choir room on "Glee"
    Carin Baer / Fox Television / Courtesy: Everett Collection

    Not only does this get-up look incredibly comfortable, but it's also such a cool status symbol at McKinley, which is a bigger plus.

    TBH, I'd feel so cool walking down the hallway wearing this uniform, and I'm not ashamed to say it!

    Quinn, Santana, and Brittany in cheer uniforms
    Fox

    5. We didn't see school uniforms on Suite Life of Zack and Cody, but they looked pretty great when we did.

    Maddie and London standing in the school hallway on "Suite Life of Zack and Cody"
    Disney Channel

    This is a pretty classic take on the "Catholic school girl" uniform. If you just changed the colors a bit, you have the exact outfit that I wore all throughout high school. I just really love how classic and cozy this ensemble is. There's no itchy blazer or no annoying ties, just typical cotton. The colors work well together, and I would have no problem feeling uncomfortable in this at all.

    I'm not mad at this look at all. In fact, I'd probably wear a variation of this IRL and not for school.

    Maddie and London looking horrified in uniforms
    Disney Channel

    4. This uniform from Cruel Intentions is very close to the uniform I had to wear in middle and high school, which is why it's so high on this ranking. It feels very familiar and nostalgic.

    Cecile from "Cruel Intentions"
    Columbia Pictures /Courtesy Everett Collection

    This uniform is just super classic and looks super comfortable, which is why I would have no problem wearing it for an eight-hour school day.

    This look just proved to me that I'm much more of a sweater/sweater vest girl than a blazar girl.

    Kathryn and Annette standing in the bathroom looking in a mirror on "Cruel Intentions"
    Columbia Pictures/ Courtesy Everett Collection

    I could wear a cotton sweater over a serge blazar any day! 

    3. While it's super simple, I didn't hate the uniform they had to wear on Degrassi: The Next Generation. It's classic and comfortable, and I wouldn't mind throwing this on every day.

    Maya, Zig, Ali, Jenna, Imogen, Eli, and Sav from "Degrassi: The Next Generation"
    CTV/ Teennick

    For some reason, I also love how each grade has a different color shirt. This look as a whole is super similar to the iCarly uniform, but the reason that this is number 3 and the other one is number 15 is because I'm not bored of looking at it. Of course, a uniform isn't necessarily supposed to be pretty, but why not wear a uniform that's comfortable and cute?

    You just can't go wrong with a bright-colored polo and khakis.

    Maya, Tori, Fiona, Marisol, and Jenna from "Degrassi: The Next Generation"
    CTV/ Teennick

    The iCarly uniform should be taking notes right now!

    2. I couldn't complete this list without including the new Gossip Girl reboot that everyone's been raving about!

    Aki, Julian, Luna, Monet, Max, Obie, and Audrey from the "Gossip Girl" reboot sitting on the MET stairs
    Kristin Callahan/Everett Collection

    Just like our OG faves, this batch of socialites also knows how to turn a rather dull school uniform into something that I would be excited to put on every morning. Although this version of the Constance uniform would FOR SURE give me some dress code violation write-ups, I wouldn't mind because at least my outfit is cute 🤷‍♀️. 

    I could totally wear this for an eight-hour school day and have no worries of being uncomfortable or looking a mess.

    Zoya from the "Gossip Girl" reboot
    RCF/Everett Collection

    The addition of sneakers makes this such a great uniform as well! At my high school, we couldn't wear any shoes other than dress shoes with our uniform (no sneakers, no boots, only dress shoes), so the sneakers give this uniform bonus points for comfortability, since walking around in these shoes for eight (or more) hours should be no problem.

    1. And finally, finishing off strong with one of my favorite TV high school uniforms ever; the OG, classic 2007 version of Gossip Girl.

    Serena Van Der Woodsen standing by a cab from the original "Gossip Girl"
    Cw Network / ©CW Network/Courtesy Everett Collection

    There's no other uniform that I'd rather have been on the top of this list. This uniform feels very familiar and close to home as it nearly resembles the green plaid skirt I had to rock all throughout high school. Paired with a classic white shirt, a tie, and the sweater vest, this just screams classroom chic. What puts this look over the edge is how the students of Constance Billard always knew how to accessorize to stand out even when wearing their muted school colors. 

    Just look at all the ways they turned this rather boring look into something people have wanted to emulate IRL!

    bright belts, jackets, and shoes worn by blair and serena in gossip girl
    THE CW / courtesy everett collection

    Now while adding bright belts, jackets, and any shoes other than the black or navy blue exception to my uniform would've probably resulted in my being written up for a dress code violation (similar to the reboot), I do appreciate how I could at least aspire to add chic accessories like them in my uniform days. 

    Well, there you have it! Tell me if you agree (or disagree) with my number-one pick in the comments below!