In 2021, Hey Alma contributor Emily Burack brilliantly proposed a new seasonal tradition: Nora Ephron Autumn. “I want romance in bookstores,” she wrote. “I want chunky knits. I want long walks filled with good conversation. I want to lunch with my friends outside in the crisp, cool air. And nowhere are all these feelings encapsulated better than in the Nora Ephron Cinematic Universe. The NECU, if you will.”
It’s a sentiment shared by many of us in the Perpetually Yearning community. I thus took it upon myself to answer a critical question: If, for whatever reason, we cannot simply manifest living in our own Jewish-coded romcom, can we at least conjure the NECU through our wardrobe?
Below, you’ll find everything you need to start building a closet inspired by Nora Ephron’s films, and the late Jewish writer and filmmaker herself. (If you’re here solely to get your hands on Billy Crystal’s legendary “When Harry Met Sally” cable-knit sweater, I empathize and can also assure you that you’re in the right place).
So without further ado, take a look through the swoon-worthy vintage and menswear-inspired items below — they’ll have you channeling your inner Meg Ryan in no time. Stay warm, and a happy Nora Ephron Autumn to all who celebrate!
A Humble Request for the New Year: You can help keep Hey Alma's radically inclusive Jewish community free and open to all. Your gift means someone, somewhere, feels a little less alone this holiday season.
Everything we recommend below is independently selected by Hey Alma’s editors. If you buy a product through our links, Hey Alma may earn an affiliate commission, which goes to support our nonprofit media organization.
Sweaters and Tops
This is about as close as any of us will ever get to owning the legendary Harry Burns sweater.
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An option that's easier on the wallet but still looks like it would say, "Waiter, there is too much pepper on my paprikash!" if it could speak.
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Harry rocks this sweater vest when he's seated next to Sally on a flight. Now, you can wear it anytime, anywhere.
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This tee isn't faking it; it really is 100% cotton.
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Another iconic Sally fit! Pair this with any black mini skirt and tights, then shamelessly order something hyper-specific at a cafe.
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The foundation of any Nora Ephron Autumn look is vintage-inspired denim. You'll also catch her protagonists in a dark wash.
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I also recommend investing in a solid pair of trousers.
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This is a great dupe for the dress Kathleen Kelly wears over a black turtleneck in "You've Got Mail."
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Plaid Midi Skirt (Old Navy)
Put this on and bam! Immediately ready for your own meet-cute.
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This dress screams, "Confess your feelings for me on New Years Eve via the most romantic monologue in the history of romantic comedies, never to be replicated in media or film again!"
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Percy Coat (Sézane)
Okay, this trench is a splurge. But it's gorgeous and I'm getting the urge to sprint to the Empire State Building on Valentine's Day just looking at it.
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The more menswear-inspired the jacket, the better.
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The perfect blazer to wear on a walk where you admire the foliage and engage in witty conversation with a date who doesn't deserve you.
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Pajamas and Loungewear
You do have to buy the top and bottom separately (I'm always kvetching about this). But on the plus side, you'll look exactly like Meg Ryan in "You've Got Mail" while you bedrot!
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If Ephron's 1993 film is your personal favorite, this sweatshirt might just be your bashert.
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Nora once said, "I thought [New York] was going to be the most magical, fraught-with-possibility place; a place where if you really wanted something you might be able to get it; a place where I’d be surrounded by people I was dying to know. And I turned out to be right.”
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Another adorable pajama option that embodies Nora's love of NYC.
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Fleece Bathrobe (Amazon)
Wear this when you're in the mood to stay home and cry about being difficult (er, challenging).
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Strut across the streets of Manhattan in these beauties!
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A pair of Oxfords will complete every single NEA look.
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This is a serious hat. It requires full commitment to Nora Ephron Autumn, and is definitely what one might call a "statement piece" plucked straight out of "When Harry Met Sally." But if you do choose to wear it out, I will have nothing but the utmost respect for you.
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A cute, lower-commitment hat. (I do actually own this in dark green and wear it religiously.)
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There's a portrait of Nora sitting wearing a striped scarf while seated at her gloriously chaotic desk (Google it). Take a page out of her book and give this one a try.
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It's giving "Someone is staring at you in Personal Growth."
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A great bag option that also indirectly references the Temple of Dendur scene in "When Harry Met Sally"? Dayenu!
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And another! Schlep whatever you purchased from The Shop Around the Corner (or any independent bookstore).
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