The 40 Most Iconic TV Wardrobes
There are some shows that we watch first for the fashion and second for the plot. Can you blame us? There have been many stylish heroines throughout the years. Even when series end, we're left being inspired by outfits of TV shows in the past. So, from the cast of Golden Girls to the designer duds in Emily in Paris, we've got to ask: which TV character's closet would you raid?
Ginger Grant, Gilligan's Island
The movie star was stranded on an island, but still managed to look chic for every occasion thanks to a seemingly endless supply of evening gowns and swimsuits.
Lisa Douglas, Green Acres
The New York socialite defined shabby chic. Thanks to her extensive wardrobe of marabou feather-trimmed negligees, svelte sheath dresses, and glamorous chiffon evening gowns, she brought fashion to her rural country farm in every episode.
Julia Barker, Julia
Whether she was in her nurse's uniform or wearing a chic jacket, Julia Barker always looked polished and elegant. Her wardrobe consisted of envy-inducing outerwear, turtlenecks, and printed silk scarves that we're still trolling vintage stores to track down.
Samantha Stephens, Bewitched
Don't forget, Samantha Stephens had the power to wear anything she wanted with a twitch of her nose. As such, her ensembles were filled with colorful prints and bold silhouettes that were drastically different from the other leading ladies on TV at that time.
Mary Richards, The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Mary Tyler Moore embodied the original working girl, with a wardrobe of pleated mini skirts, shift dresses, and pantsuits to match—don't forget the elegantly-tied silk scarf to complete the look.
Marcia Brady, The Brady Bunch
The eldest Brady sister was always on point with her outfits, even from a young age. Jan and Cindy were lucky that they got to wear her hand-me-downs.
Jennifer Hart, Hart to Hart
Jennifer Hart seemed to have an endless supply of cozy knitwear on Hart to Hart in the 1970s. It wasn't long before the mystery-solving heiress's turtleneck and cardigan combo became her signature look.
Alexis Colby, Dynasty
The queen of snark defined '80s glamour with a wardrobe full of fur, ruffles, lamé, and shoulder pads. A lot of shoulder pads.
Blanche Devereaux, Golden Girls
Bright colors, monochromatic outfits, and lots of bling were what Southern belle, Blanche Devereaux, was known for on Golden Girls.
Denise Huxtable, The Cosby Show
The Huxtable family bohemian, Denise, played with colors prints during her time on The Cosby Show. She was never one to shy away from making a statement.
Kelly Kapowski, Saved by the Bell
With her clashing colors, dizzying prints, and affinity for cropped tops, Kapowski was the poster girl for late '80s and early '90s trends.
Hilary Banks, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
Hilary had a knack for showing of her shoulders. Besides padded jackets, the eldest Banks daughter favored cut-out sleeves and shoulder-baring dresses, usually topped off with a killer hat.
D.J. Tanner, Full House
D.J. Tanner's style truly blossomed in the later seasons of Full House. Not only did she get a sleek new haircut, but she began rocking overalls, flannels, and just about everything else your '90s self was obsessed with.
Donna Martin, 90210
Like Kelly Kapowski, Donna Martin favored the bold trends of the '90s, but with a sophisticated twist—think LBDs, cropped tops, and high-waisted denim in solid colors or subtle prints.
Sabrina Spellman, Sabrina the Teenage Witch
Staying true to her mystical heritage, Sabrina Spellman added a gothic grunge vibe to the typical '90s teenage look. Black tights, mini skirts, and transparent tops are always a good look.
Rachel Green, Friends
Friends'resident fashion fan landed plum jobs at Bloomingdale's, Ralph Lauren, and Louis Vuitton during the sitcom's 10-year run, and her signature haircut inspired women across the country to chop their hair.
Ally McBeal, Ally McBeal
The lawyer with a penchant for day dreaming wore her feminism as a mini skirt. Her short hemlines caused controversy in and out of the courtroom in the late '90s and changed the way women looked at "power suits."
Grace Adler, Will and Grace
Grace Adler's style was packed full of hard-working basic staples. The plucky interior designer loved a neutral palette and opted for tops and straight leg pants more often than not.
Carrie Bradshaw, Sex and the City
With a closet stocked with labels and a penchant for expensive shoes (she's credited with making Manolo Blahnik a household name), Carrie Bradshaw defined the term "shopping addict." Today, her Patricia Field-curated wardrobe still incites lust.
Serena van der Woodsen and Blair Waldorf, Gossip Girl
As privileged New Yorkers, this duo spent nearly as much time shopping as they did scheming on the Upper East Side. While Serena favored bright prints and bohemian volume, Blair played the role of perfectly-coiffed prep school beauty queen with pleated skirts, ballet flats, and her signature embellished headbands.
Megan Draper, Mad Men
Though Mad Men earned its fashion cred through the impeccable wardrobes of Betty Francis and Joan Holloway, Megan Calvet's arrival in season 4 heralded the inexorable transition of '60s fashion from prim and ladylike to bold and brash.
Bree Van De Kamp, Desperate Housewives
Bree Van De Kamp had an über conservative sense of style, think pearls and sweater sets. But the Wisteria Lane resident's one accessory that no one can buy was her iconic smirk.
London Tipton, The Suite Life of Zack & Cody
Are we dying to rock London's bold and bouji getups? Not really. But we wouldn't mind having the hotel heiress's limitless budget and mega-sized closet.
Victoria Grayson, Revenge
While Victoria Grayson was always plotting her next move, she managed to do so looking fabulous. The matriarch opted for designer clothes for outings around her Hamptons neighborhood.
Gabrielle Solis, Desperate Housewives
Though she once walked all the major catwalks in Milan, Gabrielle Solis swapped her model status for the role of suburban housewife and the carpool lane—but always in dresses and heels, of course.
Spencer Hastings, Pretty Little Liars
Spencer Hastings had the most traditional fashion style in her group of friends and made a strong case for wearing a blazer to class. Whether she was fleeing from A or cracking the books, she was always wearing something preppy.
Gloria Delgado-Pritchett, Modern Family
Tight, cleavage-bearing, and covered in animal print is the criteria for a killer outfit, according to Gloria Delgado-Pritchett. And it's clear the Colombian stepmom in Modern Family wears it well.
Wilhelmina Slater, Ugly Betty
As an editor at MODE magazine, Wilhelmina Slater was always up to date on the latest trends and designer collections. Somehow, she managed to look equally as chic in a peplum skirt suit as she did in a sequin dress.
Lady Mary Crawley, Downton Abbey
Even when Lady Mary was on a casual outing, the aristocrat managed to look elegant in envious outerwear. From embellished evening gowns to drop-waist dresses, the period drama made us wish we could travel back to the 1920s.
Olivia Pope, Scandal
Olivia Pope keeps controversy at bay in sharp suits and no-nonsense neutrals, always paired with a killer bag.
Camille Saroyan, Bones
When Camille Saroyan isn't in her forensic gear, she has an impressive collection of sheath dresses that are both office appropriate and classically elegant.
Claire Underwood, House of Cards
Mrs. Underwood has a closet filled with impeccably-tailored sheath dresses, blouses, and pencil skirts to uphold her poised demeanor.
Rachel Zane, Suits
The paralegal prefers a neutral wardrobe filled with pencil skirts, button-downs, and stilettos. However, out of the office Rachel Zane is known for wearing cozy knits, as she cradles a glass of red wine.
Alicia Florrick, The Good Wife
We can't imagine anyone objecting to defense attorney Alicia Florrick, as she takes on the courtroom in power suit after power suit. But from peplum suits to belted waists, the former political wife puts her own spin on the look.
Cookie Lyon, Empire
There are too many showstopping outfits in Empire to count, but Cookie Lyon's go-to pieces include statement blazers, huge fur coats, and some major bling.
Dr. Joan Watson, Elementary
Dr. Joan Watson walked the line between playful and intellectual in Elementary, often combining collared blouses with mini skirts.
Elizabeth McCord, Madam Secretary
There's rarely a political sartorial look as flawless as Secretary of State Elizabeth McCord. Modern suits and bow blouses are always in rotation, as is the red, white, and blue color palette.
Jessica Pearson, Suits
The only thing we could love more than Jessica Pearson's suits is her dramatic outerwear moments. We're just saying, there's a reason her name is on the door at Pearson-Spector.
Professor Annalise Keating, How to Get Away With Murder
While Professor Annalise Keating may know how to get away with murder, she also knows her way around her closet. The brilliant lawyer is known for her polished and professional style on the legal drama.
Emily Cooper, Emily in Paris
Emily Cooper may be an American in Paris, but she isn't foreign to a major fashion moment. Thanks to SATC costume designer Patricia Fields returning to the small screen for the Netflix series, people have not stopped commenting on the character's bold looks.
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