Fashion Inspiration: The Baby-Sitters Club

Move aside, Paris, Milan, and NYC… Stoneybrook is where it’s at.

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Kristy's Great Idea cover art
Image Credit: Scholastic

I don’t know about you, but I made my way through the majority of my childhood with a Baby-Sitters Club book in my hands. Reading about the lives and friendships of Kristy, Mary Anne, Claudia, and Stacey (AKA the original “fab 4”) was my awkward “Kids Bop” version of Sex and the City. There was drama, boy trouble and fun, but most importantly, there. was. fashion. 

The author, Ann M. Martin, meticulously described what the characters were wearing in all of the books, and each girl definitely had her own style. Here are four looks based on each of the original four Baby-Sitters Club members!  

Mary Anne’s Makeover (#60)

Mary Anne's Makeover cover
We love your makeover too, Mary Anne. (LOL at the rest of the BSC throwing major shade.)

Mary Anne is the secretary of the club, and is known for her sweet, shy demeanor and Type-A organizational skills. In Mary Anne’s Makeover, she gets a sassy new haircut and wardrobe update, which includes floral leggings and an oversized pastel button-down shirt.

(Let’s also take a moment to appreciate her bold and fierce brows– slay, Mary Anne, slay.)

Baby-Sitters Club Mary Anne Fashion

Product Info: Shirt- Aeropostale, Leggings- Macy’s, Shoes- Keds, Backpack- Target, Watch- Forever 21

Stacey’s Ex-Boyfriend (#119)

Stacey's Ex-Boyfriend cover
What’s wrong with Robert? He’s probably realizing that he’s gonna have to step his game up in order to keep a dope fashionista like Stacey around. Get it together, Robert.

Stacey, the “boy crazy” treasurer, is from New York City and moved to the suburbs of Connecticut at the start of 7th grade. Her style was always very sophisticated and trendy, and she was often described as one of the best dressed students at Stoneybrook Middle School.

In Stacey’s Ex-Boyfriend, she’s pictured sporting a flirty white sundress with red and pink flowers and casual white summer sandals. 

Baby-Sitters Club Stacey Fashion

Product Info: Romper- Forever 21, Necklace- Forever 21, Purse- Kohl’s, Sandals-Target

Claudia and the Perfect Boy (#71)

Claudia and the Perfect Boy cover
Look at her, just standing there waiting for this fool to stop playing Mrs. Pac-Man and bow down to her greatness. #NoScrubs

Any true Baby-Sitters Club fan knows that Claudia, the club’s vice president, was the ultimate fictional style icon of the late ’80s and early ’90s. I’m pretty sure that my most embarrassing elementary school outfits were a result of trying to recreate one of Claudia’s outrageous ensembles (I knew I looked fierce, but my efforts were lost on my basic peers).

In Claudia and the Perfect Boy, she pulls off a witchy black bell-sleeved dress, complete with dramatic jewelry and her signature side ponytail (with matching scrunchie, of course). 

Baby-Sitters Club Claudia Fashion

Product Info: Dress- Charlotte Russe, Necklace Set- Icing, Stockings- Icing, Earrings- Forever 21, Boots- Forever 21

Kristy’s Great Idea (#1)

Kristy's Great Idea cover
Starting things off with a bang, this turtleneck/sweatshirt/mom jean combo offers just a taste of Kristy’s plethora of softball chic outfits to come in The Baby-Sitters Club.

Last but not least, Kristy, the club president, is known for her laid-back, tomboy style. While her outfits are some of the least remarkable of the four girls (she’s shown wearing sweats or jeans on the front of nearly every book), there is certainly something to be said for her comfy and sporty getup on the cover of Kristy’s Great Idea, which was the first book in the series. 

Baby-Sitters Club Kristy Fashion

Product Info: Sweater- GAP, Hat- Urban Outfitters, Purse- Target, Shoes- Madewell, Jeans- Forever 21

Thoughts?

Were you a Baby-Sitters Club fanatic back in the day? Who was your favorite BSC member? Which of these looks do you like the best? Leave a comment and get the conversation started! 

10 thoughts on “Fashion Inspiration: The Baby-Sitters Club”

  1. Your captions are cracking me up. JEEZ ROBERT GET IT TOGETHER OR STACEYS GUNNA PUNCH YOU SO HARD YOU GO BACK IN TIME JUST SO SHE CAN BREAK UP WITH YOU AGAIN.

    Reply
  2. I would lovelovelove to see an entire post dedicated to Claudia and another for Stacey- they were totally my fashion icons growing up in the 90s!!!

    Reply
  3. Claudia and Stacey were everyyyything. Can we see one of Dawn and her “California Casual”?

    http://girl-meets-world.com

    Reply
  4. the nostalgia! i was so excited last year to find out that a couple of the books were adapted for tv back then – still yet to locate/watch those eps but i’m dying to! and yes, follow-up post please !! 😀

    Reply
  5. Yes I love this post! I had the entire BSC book collection and couldn’t get enough. My favorite was Dawn, though I occasionally favored Kristy and Claudia too. I was pretty fickle.

    Annessa
    www.seekingsunshine.com

    Reply

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