Ralph Lauren's 'Friends' Collection Looks Like Nothing Anyone Wore on 'Friends'

You might recall that Ralph Lauren product placement went into total overdrive in the fifth season of Friends, after Rachel Green started working for the fashion house. There was even an episode where Phoebe got duped into making out with “Kenny, the copy guy” because she thought he was Ralph Lauren. (Lauren himself made a cameo.)

The designer label, very shrewdly, is now looking to capitalize on this history, by launching a collection said to be inspired by Friends‘ 25th anniversary. There’s only one problem: with the exception of a handful of items, none of these clothes look like anything someone in Friends might have actually worn.

Sure, these pleated skirts have definite Rachel vibes:

There’s a token sweater vest for Chandler:

And Ross’ leather pants (which appeared in exactly one episode) have clearly served as a major inspiration:

But most of the other items in this collection are genuinely baffling.

Who, for example, ever, in ten years of Friends wore anything approximating a pussy-bow blouse? No one! But, sure, go ahead, Ralph Lauren. Give us three:

Rachel did have her fair share of blazers, but red and purple? Not even Gunther pulled this nonsense:

And who are these frumpy dresses for? Because it’s not Monica, Rachel, Phoebe or Janice:

Just when you think it can’t get any worse, we reach menswear, which, if it’s possible, makes even less sense.

I don’t recall anyone in Friends working on Wall Street, or going to a young Republicans convention, but still this somehow made it to the collection:

As did these, which might have been inspired by the stuffy old professors Ross worked with, but still seem like an odd choice:

The less said about this weird teddy bear sweater, the better:

Finally, and worst of all: WHO THE HELL IS THE INSPIRATION FOR THESE HIDEOUS MOUNTAIN CLIMBER PANTS?!

I am aware that the Ralph Lauren Friends collection is a very silly thing to be annoyed about right now, but it is particularly frustrating to me, since last year I wrote an article titled “All the Friends Outfits We Should Bring Back.” It included Monica and Rachel’s “Girls” shirts, Phoebe’s Santa pants and a variety of other things Ralph Lauren didn’t want to give me.

I’d have settled for Joey’s man-bag, Ralph. I’d have settled for Joey’s man-bag.