8 Sarah Michelle Gellar Outfits That Could Have Come Straight From Buffy Summers' Closet
Even decades after its premiere in 1997, the supernatural teen series "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" remains a beloved classic. And with the return of '90s beauty trends and Y2K fashion, Buffy's on-screen looks are still just as relevant as ever.
Former leading lady Sarah Michelle Gellar told UsWeekly in 2024 that even her daughter Charlotte appreciates the fashion seen on the series. "My daughter came back and she's like, 'Do you still have any chokers?'" Gellar said. "I was like, 'What?' Or she'll come out with the white T-shirt with the dress over it."
Charlotte isn't the only one with an interest in Buffy's iconic fashion. While Gellar didn't get to keep a lot of the pieces seen on the show, explaining "we weren't allowed to keep the wardrobe in those days," she has still managed to channel her supernatural-battling TV counterpart in some of her everyday looks. Here are some of our favorites.
Sarah and Buffy both slayed in leopard print
Buffy wore a lot of divisive prints in the early seasons of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," some even prompting a comment from Sarah Michelle Gellar. "With Buffy, some of the looks I'm all for," she told Vogue in 2023. "But some of the early outfits, I'm just like, Did you really need to mix leopard and stripes? Is that really a thing?" Still, we're of the mind that the leopard print Gellar wore to the "The House of Yes" premiere in 1997 – and in Season 1, Episode 9 of "Buffy" — is still super cute today.
Buffy has always had a penchant for leather
Leather was a go-to fabric for Buffy Summers, with the Chosen One sporting it in all different forms throughout the show. Sarah Michelle Gellar's look at the 2000 MTV Movie Awards definitely channeled her character's affinity for leather pants, also seen in Season 5, Episode 1. Gellar's powder blue halter top, a popular piece in the '90s, could also be straight out of "Buffy." While leather pants aren't known for being the most comfortable option, Gellar really does make them look cool.
Both have worn bold, patterned pants
Sarah Michelle Gellar wore a silky black blouse and a pair of blue, snakeskin patterned pants to a TV Up-Front event in 2000, reminding us of Buffy's love for unconventional prints. Specifically, this Gellar look reminded us of the giraffe-printed bottoms the vampire slayer sported in Season 2, Episode 5. While both garments are eye-catching choices, Gellar balanced her outfit with a simple blouse while Buffy went bold with a lacy top.
Delicate tops were a staple of the '90s
Camisoles as tops were a pretty popular trend going into the 2000s. This style was really channeled in the outfit Sarah Michelle Gellar wore to the premiere of "Summer Catch" in 2001, with the lacy detailing of her delicately-strapped shirt reminiscent of the bedroom-inspired blouses. Buffy wore similarly slinky tops on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," and Gellar's outfit reminds us of this pastel piece from Season 3 in particular.
Sarah and Buffy both embraced the frills
Buffy Summers had a versatile sense of style, rocking edgier pieces to slay vampires while also not shying away from some preppy and girly pieces in her everyday fashion. A great but controversial example of this is her Season 3, Episode 5 outfit, which sees the high school student in a frilly, pastel pink top with a matching handbag and wedge heels. While it may seem a bit too saccharine for some viewers, the frilliness of the outfit is very reminiscent of the outfit Sarah Michelle Gellar wore when spotted in LA in 2007.
Buffy's leather jacket is a true fashion standout
We already mentioned Buffy's penchant for leather, but there was one piece that stood out among the rest. "I think the Buffy quintessential fight look — leather jacket, low-cut top, push-up bra, her cross pendant — that was a staple look and it's still referred to today," series fashion designer Cynthia Bergstrom told Fashionista. "Like, 'oh, that's a Buffy Outfit.'"
In this way, it makes sense that Sarah Michelle Gellar's outfit for Comic-Con San Diego in 2022 felt so Buffy-coded. While there are many leather jacket styles to choose from, the actor wore a classic biker-style piece over a white T-shirt and a pencil skirt for the "Teen Wolf: The Movie" panel.
Keeping it classic with high-waisted trousers
Buffy and Sarah Michelle Gellar know that crop tops and oversized pants are a fun combo. The "Cruel Intentions" actor showed off her simple white T-shirt and asymmetrical plaid pants in an Instagram video in February 2023. The timeless look reminded us of the high-waisted trousers that Buffy paired with a white tank top in Season 2, Episode 1, with the vampire slayer going a bit business casual for her school day.
One dress stands out among the rest
One of the most iconic Buffy looks of all time comes from the Season 1 finale, when the young slayer dons a flowy, high-low style prom dress in white. She paired the piece with chunky, matching heels and her signature leather jacket, later grabbing a crossbow to go head-to-head with the season's villain.
In 2020, Sarah Michelle Gellar once again donned the iconic outfit, sharing a photo to Instagram with a caption quoting the episode. Buffy's dress at the end of the first season was based on a dress and Emmy dress that I wore, and I have that," she told UsWeekly. In this case, it seems that Gellar's look actually came straight out of Buffy's closet.