Netflix recently announced that Sex Education, one of its top-ten shows, will have a third season, and fans are chomping at the bit to find out what happens in the next eight episodes. Our favorite characters are all expected to return, including Otis Millburn (Asa Butterfield), Eric Effiong (Ncuti Gatwa), Dr. Jean F. Milburn (Gillian Anderson), and Maeve Wiley (Emma Mackey).
While the main characters shine due to their complex personalities, relatable challenges, and likability, they are also memorable for their incredible wardrobes. (Seriously, whoever dresses Ncuti Gatwa in those amazing outfits deserves a medal.)
But these costume designs weren’t created just to make the characters pop. In an interview with GQ Magazine, show creator Laurie Nunn and director/executive producer Ben Taylor revealed that they wanted the character’s outfits to blend British and American culture.
“It’s almost like it comes from a comic book, you know?” Nunn explained.
“I think that’s a good way of putting it,” Taylor added. “Your dream is to create an iconic look that people can just remember somebody from just one jacket or Eric's shirts or something that represents a character, so that really fit the aesthetic. I think the comic book comparison is a good way of looking at it and it's definitely how I spoke to our art design team.”
Were the showrunners for Sex Education successful in creating that comic-book style with memorable outfits? Most fans and critics would argue a resounding yes.
In fact, some of the outfits seen on the show have become so popular that copycat clothing is being sold online. Maeve Wiley’s fashion pieces in particular have garnered quite the buzz.
Maeve Wiley’s Best Outfits in Season 1 of 'Sex Education'
From her light pink hair down to her black laced-up boots, Maeve Wiley has some of the best outfits on Sex Education. Her grunge style is on full display throughout Season 1 and reflects her personality, or rather, what she wants people to see as her personality: cool, different, and “bad girl.”
It isn’t until later in the season that we start to see Maeve’s outfit choices as a form of armor. She uses her clothing as a front to protect herself after being ostracized by other students at Moordale Secondary School.
Maeve’s outfits also signify her strength and ability to ignore the pressures of dressing like everyone else. Still, her smudgy eyeliner, nose ring, and multi-layered jewelry all point to a teenager who cares about her exterior.
Maeve’s Best Outfits in Season 2
Maeve comes back in Season 2 in her signature style, complete with her bleached hair and pink ends. However, she dyes her hair dark brown in the middle of the first episode after seeing her estranged mother at the local mall where she works.
The stark change symbolizes Maeve’s desire to be anything but her mother. She also wants to be taken seriously and sets her goal on getting back into school.
Throughout the season, Maeve’s style is much the same. She wears her signature fringe jacket, black leather, and fishnet stockings with confidence. She wants to look different and she is comfortable with looking different, too. With this in mind, Sex Education fans can assume that Maeve will always be unapologetic in her approach to fashion, even as her character evolves.