Every autumn, a few things are certain. Leaves will turn brown and nights will draw in. Chunky sweaters will return to your outfit rotation. And most importantly, you’ll rewatch your favourite cosy autumnal comfort films. In other words, it’s Nora Ephron season. The writer and filmmaker’s classic romcoms like When Harry Met Sally… and Sleepless in Seattle are filled with warm, fuzzy feelings that make for perfect viewing as the days get colder. But they don’t just feel good. They look good too.
Against a backdrop of reds, oranges and maple leaves, characters fall in love ensconced in turtleneck knits and twee cardigans. The archetypal Nora Ephron woman is the American cousin of the frazzled English woman, a not-so hopeless romantic with a perennially autumnal wardrobe consisting of knitwear and minimalist trouser suits. While Nora’s films are known for exploring the emotional lives of headstrong women, when it comes to fashion, the menswear is just as important — take Harry’s fisherman sweater in When Harry Met Sally… or Stanley Tucci’s unbuttoned polo shirts in Julie and Julia.
Nora Ephron passed away in 2012, but these films endure, in part because of their cosy vibes and even cosier wardrobes that make watching and rewatching them a seasonal ritual. If you’re looking for some autumn style inspo, we’ve rounded up nine of the most iconic fashion moments from her most beloved films.
Harry’s white fisherman sweater in When Harry Met Sally…
Is Harry Burns the best dressed Nora Ephron character of all time? His sweater collection would suggest so. Styling a chunky fisherman knit with straight leg blue jeans and casual white trainers, in 1989, he set the tone for every cosy boy autumn to come. It’s the kind of outfit that makes you want to cuddle up close to him while you stroll through Central Park. When the jumper first appears in the film, Harry is suffering from a cold and wears it with grey sweatpants and matching socks to snuggle up with a Stephen King novel. We’re not sure anyone has ever looked so comfortable.
Kathleen’s Marc Jacobs dress in You’ve Got Mail
Despite their cosy reputation, Nora Ephron characters have also been known to channel 90s minimalism. Kathleen’s classic final look in You’ve Got Mail, which she wears to meet her mystery email pen pal in Central Park, evokes the understated sophistication of Gwyneth Paltrow and Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy. The pleated midi dress is by Marc Jacobs, the only designer piece she wears in the film. According to costume designer Albert Wolsky, it had to be dyed when it arrived because it turned out to be completely see-through – and if one thing’s certain about Nora’s midi skirt and turtleneck-loving heroines, it’s that they always maintain their modesty.
Annie’s grey sweats in Sleepless In Seattle
In Sleepless In Seattle, Meg Ryan’s Annie Reed flies across the country to stalk a man she’s never met — how romantic! When she arrives in Seattle, she curls up in her hotel room to call a friend, looking much more laid back and at ease than perhaps she should do given the weirdness of her situation. What makes her appear so cool? It has to be the grey sweats and matching thick woollen socks. This is timeless loungewear at its absolute best.
Sally’s tailored menswear in When Harry Met Sally…
‘Tis the season for strolling through parks, sipping pumpkin spice lattes and falling in love with your best friend. In other words, it’s When Harry Met Sally… season. The eponymous Sally is arguably the biggest on-screen menswear as womenswear style icon since Annie Hall in 1977. Her wardrobe is replete with tweed blazers, loafers and tailored trousers in a colour palette ranging from soft beige to rich brown and every neutral in between, reflecting the shades of falling autumn leaves. If you’re ever stuck for transitional outfit inspo, just throw on a blazer over jeans and a turtleneck à la Sally Albright and you’re good to go.
Kathleen’s black turtleneck in You’ve Got Mail
As Nora Ephron grew older, she became increasingly obsessed with her neck, titling her 2006 book of essays, I Feel Bad About My Neck, And Other Thoughts on Being a Woman. The writer hid her neck with an array of scarves and turtlenecks, earning her a place on Vanity Fair’s Best Dressed List in 2010, with special mention of her Chanel turtleneck. Her heroines also loved high necks, with Kathleen in You’ve Got Mail wearing a black turtleneck underneath a jumper dress with matching wool tights and her black Oxfords; an outfit as preppy as you’d expect from a character who runs a charming independent bookshop.
Isabel’s red dress in Bewitched
From Scarlett O’Hara in Gone With The Wind to Julia Roberts in Pretty Women, film and literature love an iconic red dress moment. In Bewitched, Nora Ephron’s misunderstood 2005 classic, Nicole Kidman joins the canon of red dress-wearing seductresses in a cherry red shift and matching stiletto heels. She plays an undercover witch who moves to LA to start a new life, but camp chaos ensues when she meets an actor (played by Will Ferrell) who convinces her to audition for a role in the remake of 1960s sitcom, Bewitched. The film features other more minimalist 00s fashion moments too, like Kidman’s pink floaty midi skirt styled with a beige jacket and ballet flats, or when she wears a pale pink cardigan over a simple white blouse and cropped jeans. This film might have been critically panned, but when it comes to the clothes, it’s pure fashion magic.
Paul’s unbuttoned polo shirts in Julie and Julia
If you were thirsting over Stanley Tucci’s lockdown negroni video, you’ll love Julie and Julia. The 2009 film focuses on the lives of two women connected by their passion for food, but it’s Tucci’s character Paul that serves up the best style moments. While walking through a Parisian park arm in arm with Meryl Streep, he wears a flat cap and white polo shirt with a sweatshirt thrown over his shoulders, a timeless ‘dad on holiday in Europe’ look. Throughout the film he switches between casually unbuttoned polo shirts and suave suits, while generally being an all round good man, which makes his fits even sexier.
Sally’s brown bowler hat in When Harry Met Sally…
Of course, when the days get colder, you’re going to want something to keep your head warm. Bucket hats and beanies are fine, but if you really want to step up your autumn style game, take a style cue from Sally Albright and invest in a bowler. In one of her most famous looks, she tops off a greyish tweed blazer, patterned brown jumper, leather gloves and brown trousers with a matching round bowler hat. Perhaps not everyone can pull off such an ambitious hat shape, but here, it’s what makes the look so iconic.
Dungarees and angel wings in Michael
Ever wondered what a bad boy fallen angel would wear if he roamed the Earth and looked like John Travolta? Well, in Nora Ephron’s 1996 film Michael, he wears dungarees with his white wings poking out the back while he tells bad jokes and drags lazily on a cigarette. When tabloid reporters discover him, they try to get him to clean up his act, which involves dressing him in a Burberry trench which somehow hides his enormous wings, but it’s the initial dungaree look that’s most iconic. If you’re stuck on what to wear for Halloween this year, a dungaree-clad, chain smoking angel is a solid option.