Dress to impress: 20 female TV characters known for their incredible style

Serena van der Woodsen is, for all intents and purposes, synonymous with Gossip Girl , thanks to her incredible style. We knew Serena was a fashion icon from the moment we saw her irreverent take on school uniforms, and she continued delivering beyond graduation. It helps that the actress who played her, Blake Lively, is also a fashion icon in real life. 

Not all heroes wear capes. Some of them wear headbands and throw yogurt on people they’re unhappy with. Blair Waldorf didn’t always get the recognition she deserved, but there was one part of her no one could take away, and that was her fashion sense. She may live in Serena van der Woodsen’s shadow, but real Gossip Girl fans know Blair is just as much a fashion icon as her best frenemy. 

Television fashion icons came before and after her, but talking about TV characters known for their style without mentioning Carrie Bradshaw would be like discussing popular sports and failing to mention soccer. Just about everything that can be said about Carrie’s style already has been, so we’ll keep it simple: Carrie Bradshaw is to TV fashion what soccer is to sports. 

All the ladies on Sex and the Cit y had style, but there was something special about Samantha Jones. Fiery and unapologetic, Samantha’s style did what everyone’s style should do: it showed her personality. While we wish Kim Cattrall would’ve joined And Just Like That… for more than a 70-second cameo, we’re grateful for the Samantha fashion we were given. 

Considering Fran Fine’s iconic fashion, she sure doesn’t get talked about enough. Colorful, bold, and progressive, Fran Fine wore Betsey Johnson and Moschino like it was her job, giving life to designers that were relatively new at the time. If you want inspiration for rocking a patterned miniskirt, look to none other than Fran Fine. 

Another ‘90s fashion icon, Rachel Green had a casual, laid-back approach to style. Although she’s arguably better known for her haircut than her style, Rachel will forever be known for outfits like her green dress, plaid skirt, white turtleneck, and non-uniform uniforms she wore to waitress at Central Perk. 

She wasn’t on our TVs for long, but while Marissa Cooper was a main character on The O.C., she made a lasting impression. Marissa embodied early aughts style, and she influenced us to make our own style choices that we undoubtedly regret today. Even still, the girl had style. 

A little dramatic but totally boss: those descriptions could be used for both Cookie Lyon as a character and a fashion icon. While lots of what she wore was over-the-top, everyone admired her and wished they had the confidence to pull off her fabulous furs. 

After the internet learned that the ladies who starred in The Golden Girls were the same age at the time of filming as the ladies in And Just Like That…, we needed some time to process the information. But that bit of knowledge shouldn’t take away from the fact that Blanche Devereaux was a stylish character. She knew what she liked, and she always committed to her outfits. 

Who among us watched Scandal and didn’t want to raid Olivia Pope’s closet? Whether she was fighting injustice, having an affair with the president, or having her signature dinner of popcorn and wine, Olivia Pope was doing it with style. 

We would wear today just about anything that Hilary Banks wore on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Sure, she had to incessantly pester her father to fund her fashion, but we’d do the same if it resulted in looking as fabulous as Hilary. 

Given the increasing popularity of ‘90s fashion, it’s amazing Kelly Kapowski isn’t talked about more. If you’re looking for inspiration for an outfit that bares your midriff, Miss Kapowski is the gal to Google. 

Betty Draper was dressed so well in Mad Men it made women everywhere momentarily wish they had lived in the 1960s (that wish was over when they remembered that Betty’s life wasn’t all that great). At least she had pretty clothes? 

Emily Cooper of Emily in Paris has certainly divided fans with her unique fashion sense, often drawing criticism for mixing patterns most wouldn’t even consider mixing. But if millions of Netflix subscribers debate whether they’d wear your outfits, you must be doing something right. 

London Tipton of The Suite Life of Zack and Cody fame doesn’t get widespread recognition for her fashion because it was mostly seen by children. If you’ve never seen the show, London was a high school-aged heiress with a remarkable sense of style for her age. She was well-accessorized, took risks, and always owned what she wore. 

Has any television character before or after Alexis Colby looked as good as she did in hats? The woman knew how to rock a headpiece. Though always scheming for revenge, she looked good doing it.  

Mary Tyler Moore always looked sharp on her eponymous television show. Dressing to accommodate the unpredictable Minneapolis weather, Mary Tyler Moore was a working woman who made dressing up to go to the office look fun. Usually smiling and often cracking a joke, Mary Tyler Moore’s onscreen style was smart, just like her. 

Lucy Ricardo from I Love Lucy epitomizes 1950s fashion. No, she wasn’t wearing poodle skirts and rollerblades every chance she got, but she was routinely in A-line dresses, soft patterns, and Peter Pan collars, often accessorizing with pearls and donning cat-eye glasses. She was a fashion icon through and through. 

Another TV character with great style who doesn’t get the credit she deserved, Mindy Kaling got to imbue her personal love of fashion into her eponymous character on The Mindy Project. We knew Kelly Kapoor cared about style in The Office, but this time, Kaling had the autonomy to fully commit to the looks, resulting in bold, colorful, memorable ‘fits of fashion icon status. 

A ‘70s legend with great hair, Farrah Fawcett hardly played Jill Munroe on Charlie’s Angels, but she left an indelible mark on fashion and beauty while she did. Jill Munroe was proof that you don’t have to be totally decked out to look great. A casual look can be just as stylish.