Before she was 2000s mystery-solving baddie Daphne in the live-action Scooby-Doo movies, Sarah Michelle Gellar served consistent looks on the set of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Buffy's signature Slayer style cemented her place as a fashion icon of the late '90s and early '00s.
From flowery sundresses to red leather pants, Buffy Summers rarely donned an ugly look, save for the occasional cowboy-hat-that-shall-not-be-named. Though Buffy housed an incredibly stylish ensemble cast with memorable looks of their own, it's clear that Buffy wasn't just called "the Slayer" because of her kick-ass attitude and divine destiny.
10 Buffy Looked Angelic In This Sheer White Number
In the 16th episode of Season 2, "Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered," Buffy and the other ladies of Sunnydale (aside from Cordelia) fall victim to a failed love spell performed by Xander. As a result, Xander finds himself being chased throughout the episode by spellbound suitors, including Buffy.
Buffy serves a number of looks this episode, but this white sheer top-camisole combo is perhaps the cutest and most quintessentially early Buffy style: soft and feminine. Even under a love-spell-gone-wrong, Buffy's impeccable fashion sense always prevails.
9 Buffy Has Been A Style Legend Since Day One
Even in her debut episode in 1997's "Welcome to the Hellmouth," Buffy was providing fans with non-stop fashion inspiration. After getting dropped off on her first day at Sunnydale High, she tries unsuccessfully to blend in with her non-Slayer fellow students, and honestly, she would have stood out for this fit alone.
In the show's premiere episode, Buffy dons a cropped baby blue button-up and a burgundy mini-skirt paired with knee-high black boots. The skirt and top give this look a casual school-girl vibe, but the boots truly elevate the entire fit to something much more fashion-forward.
8 "School Hard" Proved Buffy Can Make Even Overalls Look Chic
In the Season 2 episode, "School Hard," Buffy is tasked with organizing a parent-teacher night by Principal Snyder to save herself from potential expulsion. On top of struggling to impress her nosy principal, Buffy is forced to fend off the Hellmouth's newest villains, Spike and Drusilla, while protecting her mother and classmates.
In full '90s fashion, Buffy takes to her decorating duties dressed in a pink baby-tee and overalls. Though this episode introduces audiences to two of the show's heaviest hitters in terms of extravagant style, Buffy's casual wear reminds fans of the show's better laid-back fashion moments.
7 Buffy Was A Dream In This Fantasy Wedding Dress By Vera Wang
In episode 20 of the show's third season, "The Prom," Buffy and the gang prepare for a night of romance and debauchery amidst the looming threat of Mayor Wilkins' mysterious "ascension." Nothing is ever easy for the Scooby Gang.
After a meaningful conversation with Joyce, Angel wakes from a slightly prophetic dream in which Buffy burns in the sunlight instead of himself at their wedding, prompting him to dump her later in the episode. Vera Wang designed the gown used in the dream sequence and, in 2002, designed Sarah Michelle Gellar's own wedding dress.
6 This Flashback Saw Buffy Serving Barbie In "Becoming: Part 1"
Before she was the supernatural savior fans know her as, Buffy Summers was a popular So-Cal valley girl, dressed in all things girly and in-season. In the first part of the Season 2 finale, Angelus attempts to summon a powerful demon to destroy Sunnydale while stories from his life are relayed to the audience.
One story comes late in the episode and sees a starved and beaten Angel arriving to Los Angeles and coming across Buffy just before she is meant to learn of her destiny. The Buffy seen here is much more vain and vapid than the present Slayer, donning quaffed hair and a hot pink jacket, but it's obvious that her fashion sense carried over.
5 Season Four's Premiere Saw Buffy Blooming Into An Adult
Following the emotional and slightly bizarre ending of Season 3 and the Scooby Gang's high school years, the fourth season premiere, "The Freshman," follows Buffy as she and Willow join UC Sunnydale's freshman class. While Willow is understandably excited to further her education, Buffy feels unprepared for life in college.
The costume team took Buffy back to her early days in Sunnydale by styling her in a softer, flowery garment as Buffy attempts to lower her guard in the wake of starting college. The floral peasant-neck number she wears to tour campus with Willow stands out considerably against Willow's more vibrant and playful outfit.
4 Buffy's Season One Looks Were Unceasingly Fashion Forward
Buffy's ninth episode, "The Puppet Show," sees the Scooby Gang come into contact with a talking ventriloquist dummy à la Goosebumps while trying to investigate a series of organ thefts on campus. To everyone's surprise, Sid, the puppet owned by nervous classmate Morgan, is a member of a demon-hunting society cursed to take on the form of a dummy.
In the midst of the murders and the equally terrifying talent show at Sunnydale High, Buffy gives a very '90s look in a leather jacket and short leopard print dress, paired with knee-high black boots. With this look, Buffy is ready to kill demons or join Liz Phair on stage.
3 Buffy Serves Bride Of Chucky Realness In "Prophecy Girl"
In the first season's finale, Buffy gears up to battle the Master despite a prophecy recounted to her by Giles that foretells her death upon the Hellmouth's opening. While the gang prepares for a big dance, Buffy attempts to stop the Master and his horde of vampires from taking over Sunnydale and fulfilling the prophecy.
When she first comes in contact with the Master, Buffy drowns, decked out in an elegant white dress and leather jacket, seemingly fulfilling her end of the prophecy, but she quickly gets her revenge by killing the Master in the school library.
2 Buffy Was The Queen Of The 90s Trench Coat
Another iconic look from "Becoming," Buffy's blue trench coat shows an arguably much more adult side of the Slayer. In her more mature fashion moments, Buffy has proven to be a champion of the off-duty model look, and her various trench coats are a staple of her style in later seasons.
Buffy's fashion in this two-part finale is largely symbolic of her growth as a Slayer and acceptance of her grim destiny. The Slayer was rocking the trench coat look before The Matrix made them cool again, showing just how ahead of the curve she was.
1 Buffy Isn't The Only Fashionable Slayer In Sunnydale In Season Three's Finale
Fans were introduced to fellow Slayer Faith, played by Bring It On's Eliza Dushku in the Season 3 episode "Faith, Hope & Trick." The other Slayer quickly wins over everyone at Sunnydale High aside from Buffy, until the two eventually grow closer and subsequently fall out over Faith's questionable ethics.
The Slayers' falling out didn't come without Faith's explosive and edgy style rubbing off on Buffy. In the two's final confrontation in the third season finale "Graduation Day," Buffy and Faith come face to face in similarly leathery outfits, with the former dressed in her now-iconic red leather trousers and black leather jacket.