HBO Show Girls: Trending Fashion

HBO show Girls is trending in a huge way. It is the new series everyone is talking about. With producer Judd Apatow and co-producer Lena Dunham writing and acting in the show, this production has been called the new voice of a generation. Girls is an in depth look at twenty-somethings living in the city and figuring out careers, sex, love and life. Now in its second season, the show has been compared to HBO's previous show Sex & the City. The show is fascinating and the style is permeating trendy women all over the country.

Since its beginning in April 2012, the show has seen major success and was recently signed on for a third season this year. The show stars Lena Dunham (Hannah Horvath), Allison Williams (Marnie Michaels), Jemima Kirke (Jessa Johansson), and Zosia Mamet (Shoshanna Shapiro). These stunning women have brought life and humor to Sunday nights and have accrued countless awards including an Emmy in Outstanding Casting for a Comedy Series, Writer Guild Award for Best New Series and a Golden Globe for Best Actress and Best Comedy. These ladies inspire their characters and vice versa. The looks are styled for them and created by their orignal everyday style.

The girls are best friends on and off camera. Creator Lena Dunham grew up in New York City where she met best friend and co-star Jemima Kirke. Their friendship inspired much of the plot in the show. Dunham also graduated from Oberlin College and studied creative writing exactly like her character Hannah in Girls. Much of the shows events and clothing are inspired by the actresses themselves as each character has a unique style that's informed by the actual person portraying them. Here is a break down of each character and their individual style:

Lena Dunham: Hannah Horvath

Lena Dunham's character is a unique dresser and has a funky style. She often wears "shorteralls", commonly known as rompers, which is a combination of shorts and overalls. Hannah is very comfortable with her body and is often wearing revealing clothing on screen or is 100% nude. The mesh, neon shirt above was worn with no bra or undershirt. Hannah also wears fun patterns and likes a retro fit to most of her clothing. Urban Outfitters and Anthropologie would be her stores of choice. 

Jemima Kirke: Jessa Johansson

Jemima's character is almost an exact replica of her persona in real life. Jessa is a free spirited ex-addict who loves and lives free. Her flowing locks and carefree attitude show through on screen and in all of her interviews. Prior to her acting career on Girls, Jemima is most famous for her topless pregnancy expose in Vice magazine.

This English born mother of two is a woman all her own. Jemima often wears clothing inspired by her own wardrobe. She loves retro clothing that fits loosely and looks natural. She is not afraid to wear revealing clothing and always wears her long locks naturally. Her hippie chic look fits her wild personality. Jessa would most likely shop in her mothers closet or at a vintage turnover store.

Zosia Mamet: Shoshanna Shapiro

Zosia plays the moral center of the show. Shoshanna begins the show as a virgin who idealizes love. She is innocent, fun and all kinds of preppy. Shoshanna is the youngest character in the show and still in college; she has not experienced the harsh realities of the working world and represents the beginning of the 20's.

Shoshanna's style is marked by preppy pieces and wild hairstyles. She loves tea-length dresses and crazy up-dos. Gorgeous dresses and designer bags are part of her college ensembles. She often wears fun side buns or weird side braids to tie her look together. Shoshanna's party girl style is also marked by bright frocks, lace and heels.

Allison Williams: Marnie Michaels

Allison Williams plays the uptight type-A personality of Marnie. As Hannah's roommate and best friend in the show, Marnie shows us all that planning your life doesn't always work out. Her style is very high-end and put together. You always see her character in fancy work dresses with designer accessories. This gorgeous character is struggling to be a singer and follow her dreams while being a hostess in the city.

The character is undoubtedly inspired by Allison herself. Allison, the daughter of news anchor Brian Williams, got her job on the show through staring in an RJD2 Youtube music video. Her overnight success has led her to roles on The League and The Mindy Project. Williams' love of fashion is obvious through her choices on the red carpet and attire during interviews. She has also recently launched her support behind the Simple skin care line.

Sex & the City Inspired

It is no surprise that the show Girls has been compared to the previously aired on HBO, Sex and the City. The New York Times applauded the series by saying, "Girls may be the millennial generation's rebuttal to Sex and the City, but the first season was at times as cruelly insightful and bleakly funny as Louie on FX or Curb Your Enthusiasm on HBO." The parallels are obvious and the fashion trends created in both shows inspire the masses.

Although the characters look different, their sentiments and symbolic natures are the same. Lena Dunham plays an aspiring writer in the show, just like Sarah Jessica Parker's character Carrie, and both are the main focus of the show. Their love interests are toxic but in the end, the viewer sees the positive in these long term relationships. 

Marnie is Charlotte reincarnate. Both are high achieving and driven by status to only realize happiness comes from within and is not driven by money, power or looks. These perfectionists teach us lessons that are invaluable to type-A personalities.

All truth be told, this comparison is a stretch. Shoshanna is not like Miranda per say, however, both women ground the other girls in reality and provide an outsiders look into self absorbed issues. A lawyer is not exactly evenly matched with a college student but when the viewer steps back they realize that Shoshanna is the only character on a concrete path to success.

Last but not least is the most solid comparison: Jessa to Samantha. Both Jessa and Samantha are free spirits that enjoy sex. They are the most frank and open about their exploits and opinions when talking to others. These women give all women the courage to be bolder.

To steal the looks of the women in Girls and the character they inspire, check out the graphic above! Whether you're a Sex and the City fan or a Girls fanatic, you can steal their styles and make it your own. Thanks HBO!