TV Inspiration: Top 10 Most Stylish Characters

To finish out this TV-inspired week, I've put together a list of MY Top 10 Most Stylish (Female) Characters of all time. It was not easy to narrow it down, but I'm pretty happy with the results:

10.) DonnaMartin, Beverly Hills 90210:

While Kelly and Brenda were busy wearing the exact same dress (gasp!) to prom, Donna was making her own fashion statement. And that's pretty much true for the entire series. 

9.) Addison Montgomery, Grey's Anatomy/Private Practice:

It seems awfully unreasonable that the doctors of Seattle Grace Hospital and Seaside Wellness would all not only be so unbelievably attractive but that they would all also have the most impossibly tragic lives ever. In light of that, I found Addison Montgomery's wardrobe to be a welcome distraction from the mental illness, psychotic stalkers and unrelenting tragedy that seemed to haunt the entire cast of characters of not one, but two Thursday night dramas. In fact, I would go so far as to say that her wardrobe in combination with Violet Turner's hair was what kept me watching as long as I did. I am not proud of this, it's just the truth. 

8.) Lisa Turtle, Saved by the Bell:

Lisa Turtle is the original "it" girl, if you ask me. Her clothes brought a spark to Bayside High that were so fabulous, they were able to steal the spotlight from Zach and Kelly's on-again-off-again romance week after week. Thank you, Lisa for adding another profound level of sophistication to this rich and complex drama. It is no wonder Screech loved you so. 

7.) Denise Huxtable, The Cosby Show:

Denise not only had her own unique, over-the-top style that her dad seemed to take so many issues with, but she influenced her on-screen siblings as well. Remember the Gordon Gartrell episode? Epic. Simply epic. 

6.) Emma Pillsbury, Glee: 

Having been a public school teacher, I understand first hand how difficult it is to look this adorable, so I personally appreciate this character more than you know. Her sweaters, vintage brooches, bright colorful combination- I love it all! Of course, it doesn't hurt to be as adorable as Jayma Mays. 

5.) Laura Petrie, The Dick van Dyke Show:

Did you know Mary Tyler Moore made certain that Laura Petrie was often seen wearing her signature cigarette pants? Prior to that, most housewives portrayed on TV wore full-skirted dresses 99% of the time. Thank you, MTM for breaking new ground in black & white TV. You were an innovator! 

4.) Rachel Green, Friends:

It doesn't seem that far-fetched that Rachel Green would end up finding a job working in the fashion industry. After all, she lives in Manhattan and she's got great taste. Plus, pretty much anyone can stand next to Phoebe and look stylish. 

3.) Betty Draper, Mad Men:

I already mentioned it in a post earlier this week, but Betty's style definitely has the most range of any character on Mad Men. Fortunately, the character is all over the place as well- she makes for great TV and her wardrobe makes for excellent eye candy. Two thumbs up, producers. 

2.) Serena Van Der Woodsen, Gossip Girl: 

I don't even watch this show, but I still know how stylish this character is. It's almost as if the CW doesn't want a single living soul to not know about these uber-stylish characters. It's obnoxious, really. 

1.) Carrie Bradshaw, Sex and the City

I think it goes without saying that Carrie Bradshaw wins the title of "Most Stylish Character of All Time." If you need me to explain why, you probably shouldn't be reading this blog.

Thanks for reading, everyone! I hope you enjoyed this lighthearted post that will wrap up my TV-inspired week of blogging. Let me know in the comments if there's anything specific you'd like to read about. Have a great day! 

TV Inspiration: Sex and the City

I think it goes without saying that far and away the most fashionable TV show of all time is Sex & the City. Every group of girlfriends from Manhattan to Minsk can now define themselves as a Carrie, a Samantha, a Charlotte or a Miranda. (Heaven help you if you're a Miranda.) Everyone wants to think that they are the Carrie of their particular circle of friends as she is truly unique, but the trick to being Carrie isn't to copy her style. It's to be unequivocally true to your own quirky style, regardless of what is in fashion at the moment. In that sense, we can all be the Carrie of our group of girlfriends with just the right mix of Charlotte, Miranda and Samantha added in when the occasion calls.

First, let's take a look at each of these ladies in turn and figure out what defines each of their styles.

Let's just go ahead and get Miranda out of the way, shall we? Her hair was so unfortunate the first season, that I will not even go there in this post. As a corporate lawyer, her wardrobe mostly falls into two extremes: frump central and boring power suit. Yes, there are some looks for going out or hanging with the girls that aren't nearly as unfortunate, but typically, Miranda keeps it remarkably simple until later seasons when she finally starts to have a few decent looks:

The absolute best Miranda looks typically come from one of the movies, like the yellow dress in the last picture. When speaking of her best outfits, they tend to be simple silhouettes with one focal point or statement accessory, but nothing over-the-top. Her jewelry is never too big and usually compliments her outfit in an understated way. Bags and shoes tend to be fairly neutral and while in later seasons she looks polished and put together, at best, she's the last one you think of when it comes to mimicking SaTC style. 

Samantha, on the other hand, is also a business woman, but given her position in PR, she makes sure to stand out whenever possible. She is the originator of "Statement" accessories, as evidenced by several of the photos below. 

Samantha's style always incorporates bold colors and patterns and unlike most people, she will often combine both, as you can see in the first photo. Most style gurus would suggest that a bold red top OR leopard print skirt should be the focal point, but Samantha has no qualms about combining the two into something overt-the-top and fabulous. Her idea of understated is... actually, she doesn't know the meaning of the word and believes more is more. More color, more pattern, more glitter and glam, more, more, more! Despite the colorful, quirky combinations, all of her outfits are also extremely sophisticated, modern and all of them have a sexy edge. She's not afraid to show some skin with a plunging neckline or strategic cut-outs and everything she wears looks like it came off the runway five minutes ago. 

Charlotte, on the other hand is the epitome of classic elegance and preppy chic. None of these ladies are afraid of color, but Charlotte's choices are extremely feminine and often borderline girlie. Where Samantha loves clothes that drape and cling, Charlotte prefers structure and tailoring. 

When I think of Charlotte, I think of Kate Spade or Ralph Lauren. I think of feminine prints like delicate florals and pink seersucker. I think of hearts and bows and ruffles and lace. The girlie-girl in me is mildly obsessed with everything Charlotte ever wore. Charlotte is the fashion equivalent of crossing all your "t's" and dotting all your "i's." Nothing is every improperly creased or stained (except her wedding dress, of course). While there is literally nothing Samantha ever wore that could be described as "cute," Charlotte makes up for that by never appearing in an episode without being perfectly adorable. 

And finally, there's Carrie. I could write multiple blog posts about Carrie- any decent fashion blogger could and most have. Carrie's fashion is so in-the-moment, that at times it's practically a costume. She's quirky and bold in her choices, but unlike Samantha's runway flair, Carrie's clothes always have a vintage flair to them. Whether it's vintage Dior or a $2 no-name scarf, she always puts together an unexpected combination. Her outfits are surprising, fresh and light. Here are some of my all-time favorites: 

So which one are you? A Miranda? A Samantha? A Charlotte? Or a Carrie? I hope you've enjoyed this blast from the past and that maybe a few of these photos have reminded you of some of your favorite SaTC outfits from years ago. Leave a comment if you like and as always, thanks for reading! 

TV Inspiration: The Brady Bunch

This week, I've been writing TV-inspired posts and today is no different, except that it's also my birthday and so I've decided that I get to be a little self-indulgent with today's post. I've always been a huge fan of The Brady Bunch. I love that quirky family and I especially love their 70's style.

Most TV shows favor the women when it comes to bold fashion, but not this one. Nope. Check out Greg in that print shirt and cream pants. Now that's a bold look! Even Peter with his rainbow stripes and Mike in his not-so-subtle patterned shirt outshine poor Alice with her basic blue maid's uniform. I think Jan's dress is my favorite in this photo, but typically Marcia takes the cake when it comes to style. 

I believe this is from the Davy Jones episode (a personal favorite), but isn't that outfit just adorable? I would absolutely wear something like that today- it's not nearly as dated as you might think. In fact, to prove that her style isn't nearly as wacky as you might think, I've put together a polyvore set with four different looks all inspired by the one and only Miss Marcia Brady: 

Marcia Brady Inspired by rtboo featuring high heels

My personal favorite is the green dress with the mustard tights and tall gogo boots. To channel Marcia, all you really need to do is focus on bold color AND print along with slim silhouettes and shorter hemlines. It's a cinch, really. 

Ok, that's enough self-indulgence for the day. I'm off to get my hair chopped off, followed by dinner and a Facetime date with my boyfriend. It's a low-key birthday, but that's how I like it. Have a great day, everyone and as always, thanks for reading! 

TV Inspiration: Downton Abbey

Yesterday, I posted a blog inspired by the fashion of the leading ladies in Mad Men. Today, I'm taking you back a few more decades to the 20's and 30's styles of Downton Abbey. For anyone who hasn't seen this show, do yourself a favor and go watch the first season. You'll be hooked immediately. Even if the melodrama of uppity British aristocracy wasn't enough, the clothes on this show are absolutely to die for! Beaded sheaths, stunning jackets, fascinators and hats galore- it's a fashion dream!

My favorite part of getting dressed every day is accessorizing, so let's look at some stunning Downton Abbey-inspired accessories to make every outfit just a little more glamorous:

Acacia Bracelet, Jenny Packham

Can't you see this bracelet with  fabulous party dress? Something completely luxurious, of course. 

Style My Sunshine Hat, Modcloth

It's hard to picture yourself strolling through the grounds of a British estate on a warm, sunny, spring day, but this hat certainly helps me imagine it. 

Natasha Couture Multistrand Necklace, Nordstrom

I love how the ladies of Downton layer long beaded necklaces over their stunning beaded dinner dresses. Watching the show, you can hear the sound they make when the beads bump against each other. No matter what crisis is being discussed, I'm always distracted by that sound. 

Nina Ricci Leather Gloves, Barney's

What Downton Abbey-inspired post would be complete without a stunning pair of long, elegant gloves? This show makes me want to wear gloves all the time. It also makes me want to wear evening wear to dinner every night, but that's another issue.... 

Speaking of evening gowns... 

Downton Abbey Inspired by rtboo featuring a slip dress

Do you have a TV show that inspires you? Whether it's for the fashion, the scenic design, the music- leave a comment and tell me what you love about it! 

TV Inspiration: Mad Men

Lately, I've been watching a lot of older episodes of Mad Men on Netflix and while the drama is certainly riveting, it's the clothes that always get me. At first, I thought I'd put together a simple set inspired by the leading ladies:

Mad Men Inspired by rtboo featuring a v neck dress

But that wasn't enough. I had to put together a set for each of them to feel like I'd really done them justice.

Betty makes me cringe- the way she treats Sally, her quiet desperation, her sudden explosions- she's a complex character, no doubt. She seems to have the most variety, too- evening dresses, day dresses, even pants and maternity wear.

Betty Draper Inspired by rtboo featuring a green dress

Peggy is hands-down the most drab of them all, but it suits her personality:

Peggy Olsen Inspired by rtboo featuring high heels

Trudy is just so light-hearted and fun- I always love her dresses with their full skirts and fun prints:

Trudy Campbell Inspired by rtboo featuring short heel pumps

Joan and her wiggle dresses are always so stunning. So fitted, elegant, form flattering, and always in bold colors:

Joan Holloway Inspired by rtboo featuring patent leather pumps

What TV show characters inspire your daily fashion? Check back soon- this week I'm focusing on TV-inspired fashion!