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A Definitive List of the Most Fashionable TV Icons Ever
Television characters can offer us many things: glimpses into worlds we could only hope to inhabit, the feeling of being seen and understood, catch phrases that we can use until the end of time and endless fashion inspiration.
In fact, fashion can often act as a secondary character in our favourite television shows (think Blair Waldorf’s headbands or Moria Rose’s wigs) making us fall equally in love with the threads and the actor or actress wearing them.
Here, we celebrate ten of the most fashionable TV icons of all time.
David and Moira Rose, Schitt's Creek
Absolutely no disrespect to any of the other characters on Schitt’s Creek, especially Alexis with her glamorous bohemian get-ups or Jocelyn who could easily be the next Kath and/or Kim, but David and Moira take the cake.
Always clad in something monochromatic, edgy and highly impractical for their lives in a small town, this duo were the epitome of high fashion, and have inspired countless Halloween costumes as a result.
Deb Hanson, who deservedly won an Emmy for her costume design work on the rags-to-riches sitcom has previously explained that due to the show’s limited budget in its early days, she would scour the internet for good finds that would remain loyal to Dan Levy’s vision without breaking the bank.
Camille, Emily in Paris
Much has been said about Emily Cooper’s bold fashion choices — she is basically this generation’s Carrie Bradshaw after all, thanks to Patrica Field’s impeccable wardrobe design. However, for all of Emily’s print mixing and brand-name flaunting, it’s really Camille who steals the show with her understated and oh-so-cool Parisian looks.
Played by French actress and model Camille Razat, Camille’s style is an effortless blend of clean, structured lines, staple items and carefully chosen accessories. Whether she’s rocking a bit of denim on denim, pairing a 90’s inspired tartan dress with the visual interest of a puffed sleeved shirt capped off with a chunky soled boot, or donning a perfectly chic oversized blazer, Camille is always flawless and aspirational.
Fran Fine, The Nanny
Fran Fine’s maximalist style has withstood the test of time, with her over-the-top prints and larger than life colour palettes still celebrated today. There is even an Instagram account dedicated to documenting her most iconic looks, if ever you need some inspiration.
Thanks to series creator Fran Drescher and costume designer Brenda Cooper, Fran’s penchant for skin tight mini skirts, brash animal prints and quirky accessories by day and jaw dropping sequined gowns by night made her irresistible not only to Mr Sheffield, but to aspiring fashionistas everywhere. She also rocked a headband or two before Ms Walfdorf made it a global phenomenon, just saying.
Jess Day, New Girl
Jess’s style was quirky and girly, making her an instant favourite with her fans.
Zooey Deschanel’s character was never one to shy away from bold patterns and retro inspired pieces that gave her wardrobe a personality as bubbly as her own.
Whether she was heading out in an adorable romper, 50’s style gingham dress, or a fabulous pair of high waisted shorts, Jess was always the picture of that enviable blend between super cool and super casual.
She also gets so many points for preferring flats over sky-high stilettos because, honestly, heels are just impractical half the time!
Literally Every Character, Younger
It should be no surprise that three of Patricia Field’s shows have made our list as she is undoubtedly one of the most talented and prolific costume designers of our time. Case in point, Younger, in which every single character has a wardrobe you just want to pillage.
From Liza’s playful, hipster ensembles that tend to be a little more modest, to Kelsey’s daring, runway inspired looks to Diana’s endless supply of statement necklaces (and we mean statement), the women (and men) on this show are always ones to watch.
Claudia Kishi, The Baby-Sitters Club
If you’ve read any of the books from Ann M. Martin’s seminal series The Baby-Sitters Club, you’ll remember that Claudia Kishi was always the style icon of the group.
Sure, Stacy hailed from New York City and Dawn embodied the spirit of “California Casual” (whatever that is) but it was Claudia who had the fashion individuality to put her on the map.
This is reflected in Netflix’s 2020 version of the book-turned-TV show, in which artist Claudia somehow makes oversized pants and sweaters look painfully chic.
Our girl also experiments with colour blocking, mismatched earring, combat boots and rainbow stripes to create outfits that are not only unique, but age appropriate.
Tahani Al Jamil, The Good Place
Floral, feminine and fancy are three words that come to mind when imagining Tahani’s style choices in the afterlife and on earth.
Never one to look anything but polished, Tahani favours glamorous dresses that are often strapless or off the shoulder. Thanks to her height, the deceased socialite can wear flouncy ruffles and layers without them overwhelming her frame.
Blair and Serena, Gossip Girl
These friends shared more than just the odd boyfriend, they also shared a serious love of expressing themselves through style.
Blair opted for more preppy, almost regal looks that incorporated plaid, lace, florals and tweed and that were always topped off by a picture perfect accessory whether it be a beret, wide belt, pea coat or, yes, a headband.
Serena, meanwhile, preferred a more Bohemian vibe that was said to be inspired by Kate Moss. For S, it was all about layering jewellery, Grecian-inspired gowns and trendy blazers paired with jeans and boots, with splashes of stripes or sequins occasionally thrown into the mix.
It’s no wonder that these two are still regarded as some of the most influential style icons to date, with outfits that we’d honestly still wear today.
Villanelle, Killing Eve
Killing Eve’s Villanelle may be murderous and a little deranged, but what’s really crazy is how stylish she is! Look, we are most definitely not saying that crime pays, but we are saying that if you’re going to make money in nefarious ways, you might want to use your spoils to invest in a Burberry trench.
Villanelle, aka Oksana, has a flamboyant style that leans towards splashy prints and a mix between old and new and is almost always designer. The character’s sartorial choices often blur the lines of masuline and feminine — as demonstrated in her most iconic look: that candy pink Molly Goddard dress with a pair of black Balenciaga boots.
Carrie Bradshaw, Sex and the City
Did you really think we were going to leave Carrie off of this list?! Of course not, she was and is the stuff of fashion folklore.
Another of Pat Fields’ brainchildren, Carrie’s style helped to catapult several designers into superstardom (Manolo Blahnik, for example) and is still the fuel for arguments that one could never afford such a closet on a writer’s salary (I can confirm this).
Controversy aside, Carrie inspired millions of people all over the world to have fun with their fashion choices, to not be afraid to try new things and to really lean into style as a form of art and self expression.
Whether you dipped your toe into the pond with a carefully selected corsage, maybe you splurged on a fabulous pair of statement heels, or maybe, like me, you said “to hell with it! I’m buying a tutu!”, it must be said that Carrie and her love of all things vogue, irrevocably changed the face of fashion as we know it.