It’s been 10 years since the first Twilight film. Here’s how to dress like its lead character today.
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Love it or hate it, you have to admit that the Twilight franchise is a true cultural phenomenon. It’s been 10 years (!!) since the first film was released and we’re still no closer to a winner in the battle of “Team Edward” vs. “Team Jacob”.
But man candy aside, one thing we can agree on is that many of you seem to love the main character Bella Swan (played by Kristen Stewart) and her effortless style. We first talked about Bella’s wardrobe back in 2009, so given the ten year anniversary of the film, we thought it was high time we post an updated guide to her style.
Read on to find out how you can dress like Bella today – you never know, maybe you too will capture the heart of a handsome but troubled teen vampire and/or werewolf.
Bella’s style is very low-maintenance, yet she still looks gorgeous at all times. Everything has a pretty yet effortless “I just threw it on” look to it. While it is clear that Bella would much rather stare at Edward all day than spend hours getting ready (who can blame her), she does have a specific sense of style.
Here we break down Bella’s wardrobe essentials, as well as show you two outfits that you could see Bella wearing on a typical day in Forks.
Bella’s wardrobe is very straightforward and simple. She has a wide array of long sleeve henleys and tops to shield her from the cold of Forks. Bella often sticks to neutrals and cool colors such as blues, greens and whites, but I mixed it up by adding a few colors such as red and electric blue. She’s also known to rock the typical Seattle button-down plaid shirt.
When it comes to copying her style, the main thing that you should focus on is to make sure your top is laid-back. Casual tops are a Bella staple.
Since Bella lives in a cold climate, she needs an abundance of coats to keep her from getting cold in dreary Forks. Unlike her tops, her coats have more variety in cut and color.
Most of her coats end about hip height to show off her legs. Often, her coats are the most colorful part of her outfit, so she chooses them in colors like blue, yellow, red, and green. I love the red bomber jacket on the bottom right as an updated take on Bella’s look.
As Bella grew up in Arizona, she has a bit of an All-American/Western style to her look and can often be seen wearing things like turquoise jewelry or suede boots.
To copy her look, I chose a maroon tank top, a plaid shirt, and a trusty pair of denim jeans for a low-maintenance combo that’s very Washington state. To keep you from getting chilly in Forks weather, I chose a cute grey beanie to keep your head nice and toasty. Throw this outfit on and you’ll be ready to explore the forest with one of our dashing anti-heroes.
For my second outfit, I chose pieces to show off Bella’s bohemian side. Her style often veers toward boho-chic, and this outfit reflects that, while still staying true to her low-maintenance mindset.
First, I chose a blue embroidered tunic and paired that with a gray cardigan. I then added dark wash jeans and a classic brown belt. For shoes, I chose Converse chucks in navy blue (Bella wears a similar pair in the films), and to add a touch of femininity, I picked out a delicate turquoise ring.
Overall, this look is tough, yet when you examine the details, it’s also very feminine. This mix of tough and girly gives the outfit character.
Bella’s Hair
Bella’s hair is the stuff dreams are made of. Like Serena from Gossip Girl, she’s one of those girls that doesn’t know how lucky she is to have such a nice head of hair. All she has to do is roll out of bed and her hair is perfect. But don’t despair, you too can replicate Bella’s hair with the help of a trusty 1-inch curling iron.
Here’s how to get Bella’s perfect locks:
First, find a curling iron with at least a 1-inch barrel
Separate your hair into sections and then grab a medium section of it and wrap it around the iron (don’t use the clamp).
Hold the section around the wrapped area for about a minute and then let go. It should be a nice loose curl now.
Continue doing this around the rest of your head (you don’t have to do all of it though, it’s nice to leave a few strands straight – it looks more natural), set your hair with a teeny bit of hairspray, and voila: you will have hair that no man (or vampire or werewolf) will be able to resist.
As I mentioned before, Bella’s hair is pretty much perfect. Sometimes when she wears it down, she accessorizes with a thin headband on the crown of her head.
You can try this style out to add a little bit of dainty detail to your look – all you need to do is push your hair back and place the headband in your hair. Also, headbands are fabulous because they’re so cheap. No matter your budget, this is one look you can definitely afford!
Bella also wears the occasional beanie to keep her ears warm during those chilly days relaxing in La Push. I chose an assortment of beanies and berets in different colors to mix things up. They’re great because they add a pop of color to your outfit and also keep your head nice and toasty.
What do you guys think of Bella’s style? Do you think I translated it well? Did you like this updated guide to her look? Whatever your thoughts, let me know in the comments!
Editor’s note: This post was originally published in 2009; it was completely updated and revamped in 2018 by Sharon with new photos and information.
Twilight is love it or hate it…I love it, but I understand the woes of people who hate it…Bella’s style is basically nothing like mine, but I liked the things about her hair, because…I love her hair. I would love it, if one of you guys did a college fashion tutorial on alice cullen. Please and thank you 🙂
I just don’t get it. Why are there so many make-up and style tutorials for Bella? It’s just ridiculus reading all those articles on how to achieve a no make-up look or look like you don’t care for fashion. That’s kind of ironic. xDD
The could have dressed Bella in paper bags and the fans would still want to copy her….
Yeah, but it’s not about respect. It’s about fashion. The wardrobe department on the set of Twilight has determined that Kristen Stewart as Bella will dress like an American Eagle/Abercrombie model. She’s boring and predictable and all of her clothes look like they come from the SAME shop. CollegeFashion used to be about how to combine tons of pieces – pricey and cheap, haute couture and vintage – for a fun, interesting, different and UNIQUE look. I can handle the “how to dress like….” articles posted so far, but BELLA? Seriously. Kim, you did a good job on this article, but the topic stinks.
AAAAhhhw thank you very much to send this post*.* I hoped that you’ll write about her style because i’m really into Twilight saga, I adore the books and what it’s all about… Maybe some of you guys think that Bella’s style is a simbly, everyday style, but I don’t think so. If you think about it, it’s really pretty even it’s quite natural. Every time my outfit looks like Bella’s, I feel like Edward will show up and he’ll fall in love with me!(:
While I am not much of a Twilight fan, I think this post is extremely well-written! I think you did a great way of adding to Bella’s in the outfits and picking up on the themes she subtly subscribes to in her fashion sense. I think you did an excellent job of showing her style to those who are intrigued by it.
I also know from feedback on my own posts that many CF readers live in colder climates that require layered basics such as the looks shown, so I’m sure many people really appreciate seeing these new ways to stay warm.
And I have to say that I agree with what Kim said about not bashing other people’s style. A couple years ago, people who wore crazy structured shoulders or over the knee boots may have been frowned upon and now they are all over the runways!
What I’m trying to say is that the fashion community is and always has been about taking inspiration from a variety of sources to mold new styles. While Bella’s style may not be your favorite, there is no reason to disrespect those who do.
Great post. I think one of the great things about Bella’s style is that she could be anyone. Her style is very accessible to anyone who wants to copy it because she’s not high fashion. Her look is more about keeping warm than thinking about what she looks like. The muted tones in her wardrobe follow along with the colours in the film. The only thing I disagree with in the post is the heeled boots in the second look. As most twilight fans know, Bella doesn’t wear heels. The one time she wears heels is at the end of the first book at prom and she can’t really walk in them.
As Janie said,there is a difference between giving constructive criticism and just being rude. No, you don’t like Bella’s style and yes, Kim did ask for opinions, but I’m pretty sure anyone with an ounce of compassion and maturity knows that you don’t need to completely trash the quality of writing/articles and be rude about the writer just because you don’t like this one post. If you have problems with the articles currently being used, why aren’t you emailling the editior instead of bitching at one writer? This isn’t the right place for you to vent your frustrations with the website.. if you don’t like Bella’s style, say so.. suggest topics you ARE interested in.
Gah.
Nice work Kim. I’m not a fan of Bella’s style myself, but the basics you chose for the outfits are really cute. Keep it up 🙂
I can’t understand why anyone would want to dress like Bella. Have a look at the scene when Rosalie smashes the salad bowl from Twilight. Yeah, Rosalie is clearly the one to emulate.
Heather, I don’t think Kim intended for the outfit to include the heels for the second outfit. She put a pair of blue converse for footwear to complete the outfit. It was just part of the picture that she didn’t bother to crop out.
I love the outfits though. I’m not a big fan of Bella’s style. It’s a little to plain for me, but i LOVED the outfits you put together. Simple, but had little cute and girly things here and there.
I’m kind of surprised to see everyone upset about this post on Bella’s style!
I thought everybody would enjoy this post, but I guess some of you guys really wanted Alice’s or Rosalie’s style.
Maybe some of us like Bella’s wardrobe while some of us like Alice or Rosalie’s ensembles.
We all have different styles, so don’t say, “why would anyone want to dress like Bella?” There are lots of people who probably respect her style! :] Including me, and I like Alice and Rosalie’s also!
I think this is a great post Kim! (: Keep it up!
xoxoxoxoxoxoxo
and @Kimberly, I kind of agree that the site hasn’t been the same, but you know Zephyr is certainly busy taking care of other parts of the site and I think it’s a great oppurtunity that she has decided to hire writers for the site because now, every day you can be guranteed to see a new post up at CF! :]
@Kimberly, I disagree. I think Zephyr has done an enormous service by getting more writers on board. The fact that we’re now getting daily (and often TWICE daily) content with incredible variety has really taken this blog to the next level. I wouldn’t mind getting more contributions from zephyr herself, but being an editor doesn’t leave a whole lot of time for that!
Of course, I don’t like each and every post equally, but when does anyone read a magazine or blog and find each article equally interesting? That’s just reality. And anyone who writes on a regular basis knows that not everything they write is going to be pulitzer material every time. What I do find on CF is a certain consistency of quality, which is something that I feel gives this site a certain level of credibility and professionalism.
This post captures Bella’s style brilliantly! While her look isn’t one I wear myself it is a plain and simple style that lots of people want to emulate after seeing the films. People go crazy trying to find exact copies of the clothes she’s worn in the films (perhaps it will lure Edward) But I agree with the others, do similar posts about Rosalie and Alice!
I think the blog has been better since other writers were brought in – there lots more to read and the different writers make it much more varied.
I love your posts and everything, and I like Twilght but…. Why would anyone want to dress like Bella? She’s supposed to be the girl that doesn’t care about what she wears, and the tomb boy. You made a good post, but the “bella fashion” thing bothers me. Like how Nordstrom line made clothing inspired by Bella? It just doesn’t make sense to me.
I agree with above poster that Alice would be a better choice 🙂
Just to (probably over)emphasize – Kim, I did not mean to be rude or disrespectful. You’re a good fashion blogger. I just wanted to offer an opinion and some constructive criticism. I am not a fan of Twilight, and while I think the clothes they dress Bella in are pretty, they’re not my thing. But it’s nice to see girls emulating a fashion icon who is fresh, reasonably modest and … well, not Paris Hilton.
I actually meant the first outfit with the heeled boots. I realized the chucks were supposed to replace the heels in the second one.
Twilight is love it or hate it…I love it, but I understand the woes of people who hate it…Bella’s style is basically nothing like mine, but I liked the things about her hair, because…I love her hair. I would love it, if one of you guys did a college fashion tutorial on alice cullen. Please and thank you 🙂
I just don’t get it. Why are there so many make-up and style tutorials for Bella? It’s just ridiculus reading all those articles on how to achieve a no make-up look or look like you don’t care for fashion. That’s kind of ironic. xDD
The could have dressed Bella in paper bags and the fans would still want to copy her….
Yeah, but it’s not about respect. It’s about fashion. The wardrobe department on the set of Twilight has determined that Kristen Stewart as Bella will dress like an American Eagle/Abercrombie model. She’s boring and predictable and all of her clothes look like they come from the SAME shop. CollegeFashion used to be about how to combine tons of pieces – pricey and cheap, haute couture and vintage – for a fun, interesting, different and UNIQUE look. I can handle the “how to dress like….” articles posted so far, but BELLA? Seriously. Kim, you did a good job on this article, but the topic stinks.
AAAAhhhw thank you very much to send this post*.* I hoped that you’ll write about her style because i’m really into Twilight saga, I adore the books and what it’s all about… Maybe some of you guys think that Bella’s style is a simbly, everyday style, but I don’t think so. If you think about it, it’s really pretty even it’s quite natural. Every time my outfit looks like Bella’s, I feel like Edward will show up and he’ll fall in love with me!(:
PS.: I LOVE COLLEGE FASHION(L)^^
While I am not much of a Twilight fan, I think this post is extremely well-written! I think you did a great way of adding to Bella’s in the outfits and picking up on the themes she subtly subscribes to in her fashion sense. I think you did an excellent job of showing her style to those who are intrigued by it.
I also know from feedback on my own posts that many CF readers live in colder climates that require layered basics such as the looks shown, so I’m sure many people really appreciate seeing these new ways to stay warm.
And I have to say that I agree with what Kim said about not bashing other people’s style. A couple years ago, people who wore crazy structured shoulders or over the knee boots may have been frowned upon and now they are all over the runways!
What I’m trying to say is that the fashion community is and always has been about taking inspiration from a variety of sources to mold new styles. While Bella’s style may not be your favorite, there is no reason to disrespect those who do.
Great post. I think one of the great things about Bella’s style is that she could be anyone. Her style is very accessible to anyone who wants to copy it because she’s not high fashion. Her look is more about keeping warm than thinking about what she looks like. The muted tones in her wardrobe follow along with the colours in the film. The only thing I disagree with in the post is the heeled boots in the second look. As most twilight fans know, Bella doesn’t wear heels. The one time she wears heels is at the end of the first book at prom and she can’t really walk in them.
As Janie said,there is a difference between giving constructive criticism and just being rude. No, you don’t like Bella’s style and yes, Kim did ask for opinions, but I’m pretty sure anyone with an ounce of compassion and maturity knows that you don’t need to completely trash the quality of writing/articles and be rude about the writer just because you don’t like this one post. If you have problems with the articles currently being used, why aren’t you emailling the editior instead of bitching at one writer? This isn’t the right place for you to vent your frustrations with the website.. if you don’t like Bella’s style, say so.. suggest topics you ARE interested in.
Gah.
Nice work Kim. I’m not a fan of Bella’s style myself, but the basics you chose for the outfits are really cute. Keep it up 🙂
I can’t understand why anyone would want to dress like Bella. Have a look at the scene when Rosalie smashes the salad bowl from Twilight. Yeah, Rosalie is clearly the one to emulate.
Heather, I don’t think Kim intended for the outfit to include the heels for the second outfit. She put a pair of blue converse for footwear to complete the outfit. It was just part of the picture that she didn’t bother to crop out.
I love the outfits though. I’m not a big fan of Bella’s style. It’s a little to plain for me, but i LOVED the outfits you put together. Simple, but had little cute and girly things here and there.
I’m kind of surprised to see everyone upset about this post on Bella’s style!
I thought everybody would enjoy this post, but I guess some of you guys really wanted Alice’s or Rosalie’s style.
Maybe some of us like Bella’s wardrobe while some of us like Alice or Rosalie’s ensembles.
We all have different styles, so don’t say, “why would anyone want to dress like Bella?” There are lots of people who probably respect her style! :] Including me, and I like Alice and Rosalie’s also!
I think this is a great post Kim! (: Keep it up!
xoxoxoxoxoxoxo
and @Kimberly, I kind of agree that the site hasn’t been the same, but you know Zephyr is certainly busy taking care of other parts of the site and I think it’s a great oppurtunity that she has decided to hire writers for the site because now, every day you can be guranteed to see a new post up at CF! :]
@Kimberly, I disagree. I think Zephyr has done an enormous service by getting more writers on board. The fact that we’re now getting daily (and often TWICE daily) content with incredible variety has really taken this blog to the next level. I wouldn’t mind getting more contributions from zephyr herself, but being an editor doesn’t leave a whole lot of time for that!
Of course, I don’t like each and every post equally, but when does anyone read a magazine or blog and find each article equally interesting? That’s just reality. And anyone who writes on a regular basis knows that not everything they write is going to be pulitzer material every time. What I do find on CF is a certain consistency of quality, which is something that I feel gives this site a certain level of credibility and professionalism.
CF girls, keep up the good work!
This post captures Bella’s style brilliantly! While her look isn’t one I wear myself it is a plain and simple style that lots of people want to emulate after seeing the films. People go crazy trying to find exact copies of the clothes she’s worn in the films (perhaps it will lure Edward) But I agree with the others, do similar posts about Rosalie and Alice!
I think the blog has been better since other writers were brought in – there lots more to read and the different writers make it much more varied.
Um, Bella’s hair is perfect because it’s a WIG. Kristen Stewart was wearing a wig in the 2nd movie.
I love your posts and everything, and I like Twilght but…. Why would anyone want to dress like Bella? She’s supposed to be the girl that doesn’t care about what she wears, and the tomb boy. You made a good post, but the “bella fashion” thing bothers me. Like how Nordstrom line made clothing inspired by Bella? It just doesn’t make sense to me.
I agree with above poster that Alice would be a better choice 🙂
Just to (probably over)emphasize – Kim, I did not mean to be rude or disrespectful. You’re a good fashion blogger. I just wanted to offer an opinion and some constructive criticism. I am not a fan of Twilight, and while I think the clothes they dress Bella in are pretty, they’re not my thing. But it’s nice to see girls emulating a fashion icon who is fresh, reasonably modest and … well, not Paris Hilton.
Anyway – good blog, just not my taste.