Selena Gomez's Style In 'Only Murders In The Building' Is Just As Clever As The Cases

When Only Murders in the Building first came out, it wasn’t the witty dialogue or the murder mysteries that grabbed people’s attention; it was Selena Gomez’s wardrobe that stole the spotlight, too. As Mabel Mora, she plays a millennial detective whose fashion choices are as compelling as the clues she follows. Her oversized coats, statement boots, and laid-back streetwear aren’t only about style; they reflect her moods, her guarded side, and her growth, showing how identity can be stitched into every layer of clothing.

From the very first episode, Mabel’s style feels intentional. Her oversized mustard faux-fur coat instantly set her apart, a bold, almost theatrical choice that marked her out in the Arconia as someone who had no interest in blending into the background. But it wasn’t only a fashion statement; it worked like armour.

For a character who is mysterious, reluctant to open up, and carrying painful memories, her outerwear literally became an outer layer of protection.

As the show progresses, Mabel’s coats change in texture, cut, and colour. Sleek leather jackets and plaid shackets reveal different sides of her, rebellious at times, nostalgic at others, and even playful. It’s storytelling through clothes, with each outfit offering viewers a small clue about who she is becoming.

From Dark Coats to Bright Confidence

What makes Mabel’s fashion so refreshing is how it mixes everyday millennial streetwear with the flair of a detective’s uniform. Sneakers, ripped jeans, and hoodies keep her firmly grounded in her generation, while her bold coats and accessories make her impossible to miss in the world of sleuthing.

Next to Charles in his classic, buttoned-up sweaters, and Oliver with his flamboyant scarves, Mabel’s style modernises the detective trio. She’s the cool millennial who solves crimes without losing her cultural authenticity.

Her wardrobe is a reminder that solving mysteries doesn’t have to mean trench coats and fedoras; it can mean Doc Martens and a beanie.

What really stands out about Mabel’s wardrobe is how it mirrors her emotional journey. In Season 1, she’s grieving, haunted by the loss of her friend, and unsure of where she fits in the world. Her outfits lean on darker palettes, muted plaids, black turtlenecks, and rich, deep tones that seem to reflect her inner state.

In later seasons, Mabel starts to open up to herself and to her quirky neighbours-turned-friends. Her wardrobe follows suit. Bright yellows, jewel-toned coats, and patterned layers mark a new chapter of confidence and connection. Each outfit feels like a little milestone in her personal growth, showing us that fashion is never only about what she wears; it’s a reflection of how she feels.

How Mabel Mora Became a Style Icon

Mabel’s coats and outfits have grabbed everyone’s attention online. From fashion blogs to Instagram reels and edits, fans are constantly recreating her most iconic looks. The mustard faux-fur coat, in particular, went viral, earning her the label of ‘millennial fashion icon.’ She’s not just dressing for the show; she’s shaping real-life wardrobes.

Mabel’s style also shows the generational differences in the show. While Charles sticks to classic, buttoned-up sweaters and Oliver goes all out with flamboyant scarves and hats, Mabel brings full millennial and Gen Z energy.

The contrast makes her more than just fashionable; she’s the voice of a younger generation, solving mysteries alongside two men twice her age. Her outfits highlight that difference and give her a real presence in the trio.

Streetwear Meets City Survival

Mabel’s fashion shows what life is like for young women in the city. Her streetwear is practical, comfortable, and full of personality. It reflects how many urban women use fashion to stay independent while still expressing themselves, carving out their own identity in a world that can sometimes feel isolating.

Fashion with Power and Purpose

Mabel’s fashion silently carries feminist power. Detective attire in pop culture has long been coded as masculine: trench coats, fedoras, dark suits. Mabel throws that out the window. Her coats have personality, her streetwear speaks to her generation, and her every outfit communicates style and agency. Her wardrobe is a reminder that fashion isn’t vanity, it’s expression, power, and even survival.

Women’s clothes, Mabel proves, can tell stories just as compelling as any dialogue.

What makes Mabel’s style resonate is that it never feels like “fashion for fashion’s sake.” Her clothes are inseparable from her story. The oversized coats, the chic streetwear, the careful balance between comfort and flair, they all reveal who she is and what she’s going through.

In Only Murders in the Building, fashion isn’t only background; it’s part of the narrative. And Mabel Mora, with her closet full of unforgettable coats, reminds us that sometimes the boldest clues aren’t in evidence bags, they’re hanging right there in her wardrobe.

Views expressed by the author are their own.