written BY Isabella Logue

“Brat Summer”, a term coined by British pop star Charli XCX and marked by the carefree party girl lifestyle, has officially come to an end. With changing seasons comes a changing wardrobe, and TikTok creators have deemed this autumn the season for embracing Meg Ryan’s cozy clothing staples. 

Television and film are often a reference point for many internet trends and their accompanying “aesthetic” or lifestyle. Likewise, TikTok has increasingly become an integral player in the fashion-scape since it launched in 2016. For users engaged with “FashionTok” (a label given to the app’s fashion content), fall is heavily romanticized. This niche type of video often depicts Gilmore Girls scenes overlaid with music by Mazzy Star, picture-esque collages of warm pumpkin spice lattes and orange leaves gracefully falling off tree branches soundtracked by The Cranberries’ melodic song, “Linger”, or a carefully curated montage of a curious girl exploring quaint bookstores in the Big Apple. This genre circulates every year and signifies the warmth and comfort often associated with the transitional season. Nostalgia is an overarching theme of the dreamy autumn aesthetic’s annual surge across the digital platform, and this year Meg Ryan is everyone's style inspiration. 

Meg Ryan, American actress and 90s-style icon, is best known for her roles in legendary rom-coms like, “When Harry Met Sally”, “Sleepless In Seattle”, and “You’ve Got Mail”. These films are all directed by Nora Ephron, who played a key role in the way Ryan dressed in these beloved movies. In each Ephron film, there is one defining aspect of Ryan’s style that all of her outfits incorporate: a bit of androgyny. She wasn’t afraid to shop in the men’s section to find the perfect sweater or oversized blazer, which often mirrored her male counterparts. This is exemplified in “When Harry Met Sally,” where she wears a nearly identical outfit to her co-star, Billy Crystal. In the scene, both stars sport a pair of denim jeans and a structured tweed blazer.

Beyond the specific pieces of Ryan’s wardrobe is the color palette. She wears neutral colors with an occasional pop of red—and this is no coincidence. Nora Ephron, the creative behind all of Ryan’s most fashion-quoted roles, once stated that, “Sometimes I buy something that isn’t black, and I put it on and I am so sorry." This sentiment is especially prominent in “You’ve Got Mail,” where Ryan plays a bookshop owner in New York City (which is essentially the blueprint for the “Meg Ryan Fall” TikTok trend.) In this film, Ephron doubles down on her love of black through Ryan’s wardrobe. One of Ryan’s most iconic outfits in the film is simply a black turtleneck paired with black trousers, tied together with a black leather belt.

In addition to an often neutral color palette, recurring pieces in Ryan’s 90s wardrobe are thick knits, oversized coats, and high-rise jeans—but it’s the accessories that give the iconic outfits her signature touch. Ryan often marked her autumnal style with chunky belts, funky hats, loafers, or a pair of leather gloves. When recreating her timeless and quirky style, incorporating accessories is essential. 

The Meg Ryan renaissance on TikTok inspires more than simply one’s fall wardrobe, it’s also influenced a romanticization of the adjoining autumn lifestyle. Trending videos play on this by formulating an atmosphere of golden foliage decorating the treetops of Central Park, but Meg Ryan’s influence has traveled far wider than the confines of the Concrete Jungle. Leather satchel bags and loafers are among the most popular items sported by Parisians, and the chilly weather has already invited an introduction of this season's trending cable knit sweaters and crochet caps.

While timeless class and eloquence are often associated with French style, this season is already showing the traditional style is fusing with elements of Meg Ryan’s staple style quirks. Whether you’re walking through Washington Square Park or Jardin des Tuileries, Meg Ryan’s influence continues to make an annual appearance over 30 years later.