Nearly 28 years ago to the day, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air premiered on TV. Along with the iconic theme song, a slew of ridiculous pickup lines, and the Jazz handshake, there’s one other impossible-to-forget aspect of the show that’s still influential today. We’re talking about the most stylish silver-screen sisters of the ’90s: Hilary and Ashley Banks.
With this anniversary on the horizon—the premiere date being September 10, 1990—we’re paying overdue homage to the stylish duo who never completely agreed on what to wear. Instead, they provided dual perspectives on the height of ’90s fashion.
In a bit of a nutshell, Hilary is the older sister, always dressed as if her social calendar is booked (it is) and loves a strong, sophisticated silhouette as much as she does a powerful accessory. On the other hand, little sister Ashley sees more of a style evolution over the show’s six seasons—beginning as a sweet child in patterned, poofy dresses and growing into a teen who loves iconic ’90s staples and isn’t afraid to belt Aretha Franklin as a metaphor for how she’s come into her own.
Now, with their different perspectives of dressing, how can you decide which Fresh Prince star’s style is more you in 2018? There’s no pressure to pick just one, of course, but for a bit of fashion fun, we broke down a few signature staples of the Banks sisters to help you continue emulating their looks today. Are you more a Hilary or Ashley? Scroll down to find out.
This strong blazer-and-shoe color coordinating in a fiery shade of red is not for the faint of heart—which is why Hilary does it so well.
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Ashley might have picked up her appreciation for clashing from her older cousin from Philly. Here, a sweet top gets a big dose of playfulness.
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Hilary's LBD game is strong, and this off-the-shoulder tulle piece is something we wouldn't even hesitate to wear today.
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What's a girl to wear on a big mini-golf date in the late '90s (even one broken up by her meddling cousin)? This effortless high-waisted shorts–and-tank combo was the perfect minimalist approach for the era.
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Think 2018 has an obsession with statement-making gold earrings? It's met its match in Hilary Banks.
Both the Banks sisters love some plaid, but Ashley wore it a bit bigger, baggier, more relaxed, and more distinctly '90s.
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Hilary is the type of woman who always looks polished, as if she could land any job she wanted. Those who appreciate classic dress-up style might relate to her penchant for pencil skirts and suiting.
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This timeless, boxy, slightly cropped denim jacket gives Ashley's look a strong shape while generally remaining true to her laid-back style.
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Up next, take another trip down memory lane and see how celebrities, royalty, and Anna Wintour all once did '80s style.
