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10 Female TV Characters Who Changed Our TV Screens
Words Jennifer Engmann
What a year it’s been for females in television, in this past decade many leading ladies have graced our screens not only dazzling us with their acting skills but also with their popular styles. The costumes of their characters have not only been iconic but also a way to make a statement which over the years have inspired a generation. Some looks are now more relevant for the woman of today than ever before. Below is a list of the most stylish characters which left a lasting impression on viewers and fashionistas alike.
Rainbow Johnson (Blackish)
The mother of four played by Tracee Ellis Ross, who has been a fashion icon on and off-screen, has given us consistent looks throughout the series. Anaesthesiologist by day, you would expect her character to play it safe with her out of work outfits. Yet Rainbow keeps her looks fun and comfy with several colourful patterns and oversized fits. Even with an all-black look, a bright lip or a pair of gold hoops are usually paired, to add just the right amount of personality. Besides the clothes ‘Bo keeps her makeup simple allowing the looks to do all the talking. Not the conventional-looking mum, her character attests to women owning their style, no matter their profession.
Villanelle (Killing Eve)
An assassin with an undeniable fashion sense may have been the last thing one would expect from Killing Eve character Villanelle. Outside of her profession, which is quite plainly: to kill people. As a viewer with an eye for fashion, you can’t help but be in awe of the perfectly chosen looks which seem to complement each scene. Stepping away from the predictable notion that an assassin must be dark and mysterious, this is far from the case with Villanelle, with every alias deserving of a new outfit. As the season progresses her style becomes more pronounced, leaving us wondering what she will wear next, every episode.
Carrie Bradshaw (Sex in the City)
The legendary show that took over the streets of New York, having women across the world glued to their TV screens to follow the eventful storylines of the trendy foursome. Even if you were not a regular viewer of the show, you certainly knew who Carrie Bradshaw was and one of her many memorable outfits may come to mind. One thing about Carrie is that her outfits, unlike her love life, were very unpredictable. Her expensive taste coupled with her inability to make good decisions could only be remedied with a new pair of Manolo Blahnik’s. Carrie Bradshaw was the epitome of what living the dream in a big city while working your dream job, being single and living loudly in New York while looking for love looked like.
Olivia Pope (Scandal)
When you think of Olivia Pope, several things come to mind such as her love for red wine, her infamous line “it’s handled” or of course her affair with the president of the USA. But one thing that made Miss Pope create a long-lasting impression on viewers was her dress sense. Think tailored trench coats, tweed blazers, neutral-coloured suits or her many Prada bags. Though her storyline was laced with, no pun intended, a rather scandalous love story, her outfits always gave off a more conservative and modest personality. Still, conservative or not, it is undeniable that Olivia Pope is one of the first people that comes to mind when you think of looking your best at all times. Her ability to still command respect in any room she’s in, dressed effortlessly in the chicest smart wear.
Mindy Lahiri (The Mindy Project)
Have you ever seen a TV doctor dress so colourfully? Mindy Lahiri played by Mindy Kaling is far from ordinary when it comes to her outfits. The show’s costume designer (Emmy nominated) Salvador Perez, alongside Kaling, designed many of the character's looks. Some of which were customs, designer pieces that had been reconstructed to create her unique looks. Seeing a second-generation Indian woman, who is not only an OB-GYN but drops hilarious lines on par with Seinfeld, all while being dressed in Dolce and Gabbana. Now, you would rarely catch Dr Lahiri in a black ensemble as the fashion-obsessed New Yorker, she lives to stand out. So, whether it was wearing an embellished sari or a pair of her favourite pyjamas, it is safe to say there has been no character like her on TV.
Cookie Lyon (Empire)
The Lioness of the Lyon empire went from an orange jumpsuit to sequin gowns and stiletto heels. Rocking everything from colourful fur pieces to head to toe animal print outfits. Cookie Lyon is not is shy! Of her most daring looks, there were some hit and misses and the flamboyant nature of her outfits was not just as a result of being the Queen of an empire but symbolised a rejection of the label society placed on her as an ex-con. After all, she had sacrificed for the sake of her legacy, so why not dress in the finest things money can buy. The boldness and fierceness that only Cookie could exude, was embodied in the animalistic terminology used to describe her and her family, so it was only right that that same characteristic was shown through her style.
Rachel Green (Friends)
Rachel not only worked in fashion, but her girl-next-door looks captured the attention of viewers and fashion lovers alike, as well as her fun-loving personality. Throughout the series Rachel’s love for fashion would have her waiting in line for sales, maxing out her credit cards or stealing her roommates’ clothes. So, what’s the signature Rachel Green look? A knitted turtleneck, tucked into a pleated miniskirt, with knee-high black leather boots which sat fitted perfectly with her petite frame. Yet her style became more mature as the seasons went on, as Rachel went from coffee girl to Ralph Lauren, it was only right that her wardrobe matured as well, so miniskirts turned into midi leather skirts and wide-leg trousers.
Blair Waldorf (Gossip Girl)
Gossip girl is undoubtedly a show that is constantly referenced for its fashionable young characters as being an inspiration for its popular fashion choices to young women around the world. Blair Waldorf’s iconic headbands and ability to make her preppy uniform less boring and chicer by adding a pair of her colourful tights, are just a few of the ways the infamous character kept us hooked on what she would wear next. Rarely in black, her colour coordination shone brighter than her insecurities. One of her most memorable looks was a red Oscar de la Renta gown she wore in an episode set in Paris. Though the majority of teenagers may not have access to designer gowns, many alternatives can be implemented into your wardrobe today.
Cher Horowitz (Clueless)
Think plaid skirts, knee-high socks, sweater vests and black beret’s. The Cher Horowitz look is one of the most memorable styles of ‘90s television. Though her storyline was far from exciting, her outfits were just the right amount of preppy and cute, which was just what the show needed to compliment Cher’s ditsy, playful personality. Her looks are just as relevant in today’s fashion as it was when the show first aired.
Hilary Banks (The Fresh Prince of Bel Air)
The definition of TV’s top shopaholic’s would most definitely include the Fresh Prince of Bel Air’s Hilary Banks as one of the most notable candidates. As the eldest of the Banks family, the daddy’s girl never failed to make her shopping obsession known when it came to spending her father’s money. So it was only right that she would be the best dressed on the show as well. Nevertheless, her ‘90s fashion looks would include her infamous blazer looks, not shying away from the extra shoulder padding as well and often paired with a matching bowler hat nestled on top of her curls. Conveniently, she would almost always be carrying a small shoulder bag but only just about big enough to hold the weight of her father's credit card. Often accessorising with chunky gold necklaces or earrings, Hilary’s style was the epitome of a Beverly Hills princess.
Though these characters don’t have a lot in common in terms of their storylines, one thing that is clear is that no matter the era, whether the ‘90s or the present times, the right looks can create a conversation bigger than even the character themselves. Whether these female characters aroused or provoked dialogues off the screen, it is clear the impact that they have had on a generation.