fashion under the moon, H2O sea inspired styles

from mako island to our moodboards

If you grew up watching H2O Just Add Water, chances are you remember more than just the mermaid transformations and dramatic full moons, you remember the fashion. The show aired in the late 2000s following Cleo, Rikki, and Emma as they navigated teenage life while secretly being mermaids. (Bella replacing Emma in S3) But beyond the supernatural drama, H2O was also a time capsule of beach style, blending casual, everyday looks with ocean inspired elements. 

The Characters and Their Signature Styles

One of the most memorable aspects of H2O was how each character’s wardrobe perfectly reflected her personality. Their distinct styles made it easy for fans to relate to one of them- or even borrow fashion inspiration from all three. (Including Bella)

Cleo Sertori (My favorite!!)

Cleo’s style was soft, feminine, and bohemian. She frequently wore flowy skirts, pastel tops, and layered necklaces, embracing a carefree, beachy aesthetic. Her wardrobe often featured delicate lace, ruffles, and floral prints, making her the definition of an early 2000s “ocean girl.”

Today, Cleo’s look would fit right into the mermaidcore and coquette aesthetics that have taken over social media. Think sheer fabrics, shell-inspired jewelry, and a soft, ethereal color palette—exactly the kind of style brands like LoveShackFancy and For Love & Lemons are bringing back.

Cleo’s style was feminine, perfectly reflecting her personality. She gravitated toward flowy fabrics, delicate patterns, and soft pastel colors, often layering her outfits with bohemian inspired jewelry like shell necklaces and beaded bracelets. Her wardrobe had a natural, almost whimsical quality. Extremely suitable for someone who felt most at home by the water.

One of Cleo’s signature looks was her collection of tiered skirts and lightweight tops, paired with strappy sandals or flip flops. These pieces gave her a relaxed, beachy vibe that captured the essence of early 2000s summer fashion. Unlike Emma’s structured, sporty aesthetic or Rikki’s edgy, rebellious look, Cleo’s outfits always felt romantic- flowing silhouettes, ruffled hems, and soft blues, pinks, and creams.

Her love for light and breathable fabrics like cotton and linen also made her style practical for the Australian heat, further enhancing the “beach girl” aesthetic. Whether she was wearing a floral sundress or layering a crochet top over her swimsuit, Cleo’s fashion choices embraced a free spirited, ocean inspired look. 

With the return of mermaidcore and the rise of ocean inspired fashion, Cleo’s style is more influential than ever. Flowy maxi skirts, iridescent fabrics, and delicate shell jewelry have become staples in modern fashion, proving that her dreamy, sea inspired wardrobe was ahead of its time.

Rikki Chadwick 

Rikki’s style was cool which mirrored her independent and fearless personality. Unlike Cleo’s wardrobe or Emma’s structured aesthetic, Rikki’s fashion choices leaned into a more rebellious, tomboyish vibe. She embraced a mix of edgy and laid back surfer styles, often wearing cargo pants, ripped jeans, graphic tanks, and layered accessories like leather cuffs and studded belts.

Her color palette was noticeably darker than her friends’, favoring blacks, deep reds, and cool toned blues over pastels or neutrals. This set her apart and reflected her tough, no nonsense attitude. Even when she did wear more fitted or cropped pieces, she always styled them in a way that felt effortless and unpolished, whether it was a slightly oversized hoodie thrown over a tank top or a pair of worn in sneakers paired with a denim skirt.

One of Rikki’s most iconic looks included her signature low rise jeans and fitted tops, a combination that has made a huge comeback in today’s fashion world. The return of Y2K and indie sleaze aesthetics has brought back many of Rikki’s signature pieces, from cargo pants to biker jackets. Her style wouldn’t feel out of place in today’s alternative fashion scene, where grunge elements like distressed denim, platform boots, and bold accessories have taken over.

Despite her edgy wardrobe, Rikki’s style still had an undeniable connection to the beach. She often wore cropped tanks, lightweight fabrics, and simple sneakers, making her look perfect for both city streets and the Gold Coast waves. Whether intentional or not, her outfits balanced rebellion with a carefree, sun soaked ease, proving that she was just as much a part of the H2O world as Cleo and Emma, but on her own terms.

Emma Gilbert 

Emma’s style was polished, practical, and timeless. As the most disciplined and responsible of the trio, her wardrobe reflected her organized personality. Emma embraced a clean, structured aesthetic that leaned into preppy and sporty influences.

Her go-to outfits often included fitted polo shirts, structured shorts, and sleek swimsuits, making her look both put together and ready for the beach at any moment. She preferred classic colors like white, navy, and light blue, which added to her refined, almost minimalist approach to fashion. Unlike Rikki, who layered accessories to add edge, Emma kept things simple, opting for delicate stud earrings or a single pendant necklace rather than bold statement pieces.

One of Emma’s most recognizable looks was her collection of sleeveless button ups paired with neatly tailored shorts or skorts. She also loved lightweight knit sweaters and cardigans, which she often threw over her outfits on cooler days. This coastal inspired wardrobe gave her an elegant vibe that wouldn’t feel out of place in today’s old money or quiet luxury fashion trends.

As a competitive swimmer, Emma’s sporty side also showed in her activewear. Her one piece swimsuits were sleek and functional, prioritizing performance over trendy cuts. This practical approach to fashion reflected her determined and responsible nature as she always dressed for both comfort and confidence.

Emma’s style aligns with the resurgence of polished, classic fashion. With brands like Ralph Lauren and Lacoste embracing sporty aesthetics, her structured yet relaxed wardrobe remains just as stylish now as it was in the early 2000s. 

Bella Hartley (I love her but S3 doesn’t exist to me)

Bella’s arrival in season three (😞🙁) introduced a new style. It was a mix of bohemian and indie influences that set her apart from the rest of the group. Her wardrobe had a free feel, embracing loose silhouettes, earthy tones, and layered accessories. She often wore crochet tops, patterned maxi skirts, and flowy tank tops, favoring warm neutrals, deep blues, and burnt oranges over bright pastels or stark monochromes. Accessories were a key part of her aesthetic. Beaded necklaces, stacked bracelets, and leather sandals completed her laid-back, beachy vibe. Compared to Emma’s polished ensembles, Bella’s outfits always had a slightly undone quality, reflecting her easy going nature.

Her musical background played a huge role in shaping her style. As a singer and songwriter, her outfits often resembled the indie music scene’s festival ready looks, blending casual elegance with a touch of artistic edge. Peasant blouses, layered camisoles, and relaxed denim became her main choices, embodying the kind of effortless cool that brands like Free People and Spell are known for today.

The matching necklaces

The matching necklaces worn by Cleo, Rikki, and Emma in seasons 1 and 2 of H2O were a symbol of their connection to the ocean and their mermaid identities. Each necklace reflected the essence of the character it represented: Emma’s clear stone symbolises purity and clarity, aligning with her level headed and disciplined nature; Cleo’s blue charm mirrored her calm, oceanic energy, fitting her dreamy and gentle personality; while Rikki’s red necklace echoed her fiery, bold spirit, perfectly capturing her rebellious and independent vibe. Together, the colors of the necklaces subtly linked each girl to the ocean, serving as a visual reminder of the transformation they underwent and the magical world they shared. (We don’t talk about the necklaces in S3 when they replaced Emma’s. I will never get over that.)

Rise of Ocean Inspired Fashion

Beyond the individual styles of the characters, H2O also embodied a larger aesthetic, one that has resurfaced in a big way: mermaidcore.

Mermaidcore is all about channeling an ethereal, ocean inspired look through shimmering fabrics, iridescent textures, and sea themed accessories. In H2O, this aesthetic was most obvious in the girls’ mermaid transformations- glittering golden tails, wet look hair, and sun kissed makeup. But even in their human forms, elements of mermaidcore appeared in their fashion choices. 

Today, mermaidcore is everywhere, from casual summer outfits to high fashion. Designers like Versace and Blumarine have incorporated oceanic elements into their collections, while social media trends have made shell jewelry, wet look hairstyles, and pearl studded accessories must haves. It’s clear that H2O was ahead of its time in setting the stage for this aesthetic.

So, the next time you slip into a crochet beach cover up, layer on some shell necklaces, or rock a pair of low rise jeans, just remember that you might be channeling the very essence of H2O’s iconic mermaid style, drawing on that effortless beachy vibe that connects both the characters and the ocean.