What's So Special About Bella Swan’s Style?

When Twilight hit cinemas in 2008, conflicting opinions collided. While some criticized the acting and script, others savored its blue-like aesthetic. And, in terms of fashion, it was no different. From young girls heading to Brandy Melville and Hollister to a neutral teenage style, the film's look became a fashion craze that is now re-emerging.

Avenging the hatred the movie once received, Gen-Z embraced it as their cinematic masterpiece, which not only brought back Twilight videos, books, pictures, memes, and the entire saga, but also recovered its style. From multiple T-shirts printed with iconic quotes from the movies to bags with Edward Cullen's pictures, Twilight Core is taking the world by storm.

Inspired by the late 2000s, Twilight Core encapsulates low-rise flare jeans,tight-fitting shirts, earthy tones, simple silhouettes, flannel shirts, light jackets, and winter accessories in desaturated shades. Comfort is key. As the central figure in the narrative, the trend muse would be none other than Bella Swan.

The character, played by actress Kristen Stewart, is known for quirky facial expressions, the insatiable desire to become a vampire, and the iconic “Loch Ness” response she delivered when her former romantic partner revealed an imprint for her recently born daughter.

Despite these moments, she is also the driving force behind the style's success and its widespread popularity – along with Alice Cullen. While for both figures the clothing articles are very basic, what differs both is the intention and the styling, which are more elaborate for Alice.

Alice tends to favor garments with a more feminine appearance, whereas Bella tends to gravitate toward more androgyne silhouettes. “Bella is an outsider. She’s a tomboy,” Wendy Chuck, the costume designer for the 2008 film, told Bustle. From a palette of neutral shades to even more basic garments, Bella Swan was famous not only for her tumultuous love life but also for her uncomplicated style that transformed the fashion landscape of the chilly autumn months.

And now she is making her way into the trendy fashion scene. With Tik Tok users recreating her looks and independent stores selling similar items, the style has been rescued by the power of nostalgia. After all, the saga is a nostalgic trip back to a simpler time in our lives. In addition, her signature look is related to another protagonist of vampire fiction, Elena Gilbert from The Vampire Diaries. The character in the series has a very similar style to Bella Swan, both of which remain directly connected.

One might just type their names into Pinterest with the suffix "core" and find a complete guide to the look. In the fall of 2023, the film reached a high point in Google Trends, which eventually diminished with the arrival of spring. It was during that time too that according to Bustle, the #TwilightCore hashtag had roughly 100 million views, and #Twilight Outfits more than 10 million in Tik Tok.

But what makes Bella Swan’s style so special to receive this immense popularity? Actually, nothing. Bella wears stripes, loves plaid, and wears skinny jeans. She hates dresses. She wears sneakers to the prom while feeling bored when shopping. She's different from the other girls, and these days everyone wants to be unique. But is she really that different? Or, most movies have put some standards on the public’s minds on how girls should wear, behave, think and act in high school?

From Mean Girls to 10 Things I Hate About You, one can see how some wardrobe choices change depending on the movie. And also how each one represents adolescence. At its core, Bella Swan’s style stands out while intentionally simple because it is relatable to a younger audience. She’s realistic and actually relates to the awkward nature of growing up. She doesn’t appear on a cold morning in school with hot pink Christian Louboutins, Birkin bags, and Chanel tweed sets. She’s done with the loud, familiar with the basics, and, despite portraying a movie with mystical creatures, feels more lifelike than most films.