Confessional: if/when this YA novel makes it to theaters, yours truly will be sprinting there, tripping all the way over the laces of my Converse. I first picked up Rainbow Rowell’s Fangirl after hearing the buzz about Eleanor & Park. The latter had been waitlisted at the library for weeks, so while I twiddled my thumbs, dying to jump into Eleanor’s painful, beautiful, messy world, I decided to give another novel a shot. And while I’ve since gone on to devour both (and Carry On and Attachments – must reads) Fangirl holds a special place in my heart. 

Cath, the protagonist, is a Simon Snow fan and fandom writer. She and her twin sister, Wren, are off to college – but she wants to hold on to the magical tales of their childhood, while Wren wants to break free and create a new identity. Throw in a brass but lovable roommate, her charming perhaps-boyfriend, and a scheming classmate, and you have a tale of firsts that perfectly fits the transitional college phase.

Table of Contents

Fangirl + Costume Design = <3

When I decided to change one of my major concentrations (again) to costume design and had to interview for my university’s theatre department, I chose Fangirl to talk about because the characters were so real to me. They weren’t Sex & the City material, but it didn’t matter; Cath and her friends, to me, were a wealth of inspiration. Their clothes would resemble their narrative – awkward, charming, and ultimately, relatable.

So today, I’m going to break down my dream costume design for my ideal movie version of Fangirl. We’ve covered Fangirl fashion on CF before, but today I’m covering the novel from a movie costume design standpoint. Take a peek below at how I imagined each major character’s wardrobe. If you haven’t read the novel, never fear! Character descriptions are included.