Riverdale’s Lili Reinhart Wouldn’t Be Caught Dead in Betty’s Cardigans

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As the prim and proper Betty Cooper on Riverdale, The CW’s Twin Peaks-esque take on the lives of Archie Comics characters, Lili Reinhart spends most of her time in pastel sweaters and a rather severe ponytail. But as it turns out, the actress’ own personal style couldn’t be more different: While still decidedly all-American in her tastes, Reinhart prefers denim and moto jackets to Betty’s preppy collared classics.

Reinhart got to embrace her comfier, more casual side for her new Bongo campaign, which she shares with her costar and real-life BFF, Camila Mendes, who plays Veronica on Riverdale. Below, Reinhart discusses her beauty routine and favorite products, the ankle boots she can’t live without, and why she argued for Betty to take down her signature ponytail for season 2 of the hit show.

Congrats on your new campaign, Lili! I love that you and Camila are wearing coordinating outfits in the shots — are your styles pretty similar?

They’re actually very different! But being able to shoot this campaign with her was really special; we’re super close, which is something I’m really thankful for. She’s like my partner in crime.

We do always try to show each other our outfits before events, though, more to make sure that we’re not wearing the same colors than anything else. It’s funny — I’ve only been doing red carpets and events for a little over a year now, so I’m only just starting to really experiment. The same goes for her. And I think we’re both kind of just figuring it out together.

What was your favorite look from the shoot?

I loved the patchwork jeans I wore; there are a few shots where Cami and I are both wearing bandanas in our hair, and I’ve got on these light jeans with a dark patch over the knee. I’m such a jeans-and-T-shirt girl; I’ve always been big into denim. I’ll even wear jeans when I’m going out!

I definitely keep it pretty casual on the day-to-day, too. I’m usually more concerned with being comfortable than anything else; comfort is my biggest thing. It’s getting cooler in Vancouver right now, so I’ll throw on a classic pair of jeans and a white T-shirt with a good leather jacket and a pair of black booties. I just realized this yesterday, but I own at least seven pairs of black booties; like, how many does one person really need? I have quite a variety.

Photo: Bongo

What’s your absolute favorite pair?

Oh gosh, let me think — I actually just bought a bunch of new ones, so this is hard! Since I’m a practical girl, probably my Sorels. They’re not snow boots, just plain black leather booties. It’s so rainy in Vancouver, and they’re weather-proof, which is great. Also, I don’t like to wear heels on a daily basis, [but] they’re got a nice small heel. I’m always walking around downtown, so they’re practical, that’s for sure.

I can’t even picture Betty Cooper in a leather jacket and boots.

Betty and I have very different styles. Like, the number of cardigans and Peter Pan collars that she owns is mind-boggling. I prefer an oversized sweater, personally. My style’s a lot less prim and proper and put-together than Betty’s; I’m just much more casual. Also, Betty’s colors are all these pinks and baby blues, whereas I wear a lot of black and white and gray.

Is there anything you’ve worn on Riverdale that you’d actually wear in real life?

Oh, for sure! Betty wears some overalls in season 2, and I definitely went out and bought myself a pair from Free People after we shot that episode. The straps were a little long, so I had them tailored by our lovely wardrobe team — they help us out!

I also loved the pink trench coat Betty wears in the season 1 premiere; it’s so cute, and I really wanted to take it home. Sadly, we’re not allowed to keep anything from the wardrobe, because they might need it for a flashback scene or something down the line. But I love a good trench coat, and that one in particular was really sweet.

And I’ve been doing a lot of online beauty shopping, picking out new products I want to try. I love trying beauty products — I own so many at this point, but I don’t plan on stopping anytime soon.

What are a few of your favorites?

I’ve always got to have my Beautyblender. I’ve been using the blonde Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Powder for years to fill in my brows, but I just started using her concealer and I love it. It’s kind of a lifesaver because I have really dark under-eye circles. And also my under-eye area gets really dry, so I have this Smashbox Hydrating Under-Eye Primer, and it’s something I use every single day and take with me everywhere.

I’ll use my Tom Ford Foundation Stick if I’m going out and want more coverage, but day-to-day, I keep it pretty simple. I just cover up any pimples, do a little powder, cover up my dark circles, fill in my brows, and that’s about it. I’m actually doing my makeup right now as I’m on the phone with you! [Laughs]

I have to ask about Betty’s ponytail, which I’m assuming is a style you prefer not to wear unless you’re shooting...

I actually do wear my hair up a lot, but it’s usually in a messy bun, not a ponytail. Betty doesn’t really do messy buns! But for season 2, I actually went to the crew and was like, “Okay, we need to expand Betty’s hairstyle world a bit.” So in the new season, you’ll notice she has her hair down a lot more.

Photo: Dean Buscher/The CW

It’s something I’m constantly fighting for, honestly. But I do get that it’s her look, her signature — just like Veronica and her pearls. It’s always going to be there, and that’s just something I have to live with!

You’ll also notice that my ponytail in season 2 is different: It’s a lot looser, more tousled, and messier. It’s not as slicked-back and severe. I didn’t really like the way it looked in season 1 — it was kind of unnatural-looking. We used a lot of water and hairspray to get that slicked-back look, whereas in season 2, we gave it more texture so it wasn’t as flat. We didn’t use as much product — just some Bumble & Bumble Volume Spray and some Davines OI Oil for a little shine. The ponytail has definitely evolved!

Riverdale season 2 premieres on Wednesday, October 11th at 8 p.m. EST on The CW; stay tuned for Racked’s interview with Camila Mendes tomorrow!