Our 10 most stylish female TV characters

Natasha Gan 28 Apr 2015 updated the 6 October 2015 à 23:08

1/10
Betty Francis
Mad Men's storyline is just as entertaining as its 1960s costumes. If there were to be one contender in the best-dressed list from the critically acclaimed show, it would be Betty Francis. Played by January Jones, Betty went from wearing nothing but button-up shirts and bouffant skirts that fall under the knees, to embracing her svelte figure with body-hugging midi dresses. Albeit conservative, her style flourishes in the psychedelic vibe of the 60s. She appears in every scene with undue perfection, reminiscent of a Stepford wife.
2/10
Carrie Bradshaw
Pleasantly diverse and inspiringly unpredictable, it's hard not to love Carrie Bradshaw's style. Who could forget the writer's head-turning tutu at the opening sequence of Sex and the City, or her Paris-perfect polkadot dress? As a shoe collector, one would think she has shoes for every occasion but the fashionista also has clothes for every occasion. Apparently every item has only been worn once, with the exception of a few things like the fur coat. Ms. Bradshaw can rock anything, from fanny packs to Manolo Blahniks and still look unequivocally fabulous.
3/10
Serena van der Woodsen
Every episode of Gossip Girl conjures up a dream to have Serena van der Woodsen's wardrobe (and Blake Lively's body). When she's not sashaying in evening gowns for her upscale Upper East events, the stylish New Yorker is usually decked in mini, body-hugging dresses paired with stylish blazers and glamorous jewellery. Serena gets away with creative pairings of outfits, like matching sequins with florals, glitter with tartan, bright colours with even brighter colours. Through it all she radiates with style and has us brimming with envy.
4/10
Blair Waldorf
Serena's counterpart in Gossip Girl who is equally stylish yet relishes a distinct sense of fashion is Blair Waldorf. The brunette elite's personality as a strong-willed woman who is occasionally swayed by romance is reflected by her wardrobe, explaining why she tips more towards the formal side with a princessy flair. She's a hybrid of feminine, preppy and regal as she frequents refined co-ord sets, simplistic headbands, classic designer handbags — think Chanel — and elegant dresses, though she would don on brightly coloured spring outfits from time to time.
Photo: IMDB
5/10
Emily Thorne
Stepping away from the hectic New York City and drifting into the tranquility of the Hamptons, Emily Thorne of Revenge is another TV character who is well dressed. She is effortless, often decked in jumpsuits or ravishing dresses that flatter her slim figure. The gowns she prefers are either one-coloured or feature simple designs. At times she keeps her tousled hair down and other times she would swipe it back to show off her drop earrings that always match her outfit. While the laid back beach vibes of the Hamptons is understandable, we wish Emily takes the chance to trade her subtlety in fashion for something more daring, just like her character.
Photo: Revenge Official Facebook
6/10
Ashley Davenport
Still on Revenge, Emily Thorne's frenemy, Ashley Davenport is also dressed to kill. The ambitious social climber centres all her outfits on the waist down, meaning she frequents colourful ultra tight jeans, print skirts, and playful heels. Much like Emily, the Brit dons on jumpsuits every now and then but she prefers fit-and-flare cocktail dresses to body-con ones. Ashley looks cute in slip dresses and effortless in casual top and belted skirt getups.
Photo: Randy Holmes (left) and Eric Mcandless via IMDB
7/10
Olivia Pope
On the flip side of exuberant clothing, Olivia Pope enthrals with her sharp office wear in monochromatic and muted tones. Kerry Washington plays the crisis manager in the political drama Scandal, where she gets to look fetchingly fashionable and sexy. Her wardrobe owes its stark beauty to suits, pastel-coloured overcoats, blouses in slippery fabric, all living by the "less is more" mantra.
Photo: Scandal Official Facebook
8/10
Hanna Marin
Hanna Marin has got to be the most fashionable out of the Pretty Little Liars bunch. She mostly wears the same classic items we all have in our wardrobes — think black pants, black blazer, a sundress, etc. — with proper styling. Often she's spotted in a ruffled blouse, shirts with embellished collars and the occasional glitter blazer. There's not a boring moment looking at Hanna's outfits.
Photo: Pretty Little Liars Official Facebook
9/10
Jess Day
Another comedy TV series star to steal the fashion spotlight is Jess Day of New Girl, played by Zooey Deschanel. The earnest, entertaining girl relishes in old-school patterns, such as the polkadot and stripes. When not decked in a skirt and a bright top, the specs-wearing character appears on screen in fit-and-flare dresses. She brings back old-school fashion so effortlessly and keeps us glued to the TV screens, anticipating what her outfit would be.
Photo: IMDB
10/10
Wilhemina Slater
Wilhemina, played by Vanessa Williams, is a creative director in a fashion magazine in the TV series ugly Betty. Understandably, the antagonist has to maintain her credibility, reputation and image through what she wears. She lives in skin-tight dresses, oftentimes featuring plunging necklines, and always makes a grand entrance at her fictional office as she doesn't hesitate when dressing in bold colours or animal prints. She dresses like her personality: sharp and fierce.
Photo: IMDB

Sometimes TV is more than just to watch — it could be our (moving) fashion Bible.

When watching shows like Sex and the City and Gossip Girl, it’s understandably easy to blur out what the characters are saying and focus instead on their picture-perfect outfits.

We bet that just like us, you’re envious of your favourite TV characters and how they always have the perfect outfit for every occasion. Carrie Bradshaw, for instance, is effortlessly stylish even during breakfasts in the A.M., while Serena van der Woodsen manages to appear flawless in every Upper East Side cocktail party.

Inspired by these on-screen fashion scenes, we rounded up the 10 most stylish TV characters in no particular order, simply because each style is beautifully distinct and equally crave-worthy! (You wouldn’t mind having both Carrie Bradshaw’s and Mad Men’s Betty Francis‘ wardrobes now, would you?)

Go ahead and flip through our gallery to see if your fictional style icon made it to the list. Once you’re done with that, head over to our picks of fashionably inspiring movies!

Natasha Gan

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Our 10 most stylish female TV characters

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