Long before Pinterest made it possible to save a dozen outfit ideas, television was one of our biggest sources of fashion inspiration. We watched Carrie Bradshaw throw on another impossible-to-replicate outfit, studied Blair Waldorf’s headbands and coats, and took notes on Rachel Green’s ’90s wardrobe.
It turns out we’re still looking to our favourite TV characters for style cues.
A new analysis of Pinterest data by fashion retailer Monsoon has revealed the TV characters whose wardrobes continue to inspire the most interest. And while some of these shows ended years ago, their fashion influence clearly hasn’t gone anywhere.
Blair Waldorf
Topping the list is Gossip Girl’s Blair Waldorf. Her wardrobe remains a masterclass in polished preppy dressing, from feminine dresses and tailored pieces to statement headbands and classic accessories. Blair’s particular brand of Upper East Side glamour has proved remarkably easy to revisit, particularly as preppy fashion continues to cycle back into the conversation.
Her Gossip Girl counterpart Serena van der Woodsen also makes the top 10, coming in at number eight.
Carrie Bradshaw
Coming in second is Sex and the City’s Carrie Bradshaw. Unlike Blair’s carefully polished approach, Carrie’s style has always been about experimentation. Bold prints, unexpected combinations, statement accessories and plenty of designer fashion made her wardrobe feel personal rather than prescriptive. Her Vivienne Westwood “Cloud” dress remains one of the character’s most recognisable fashion moments, but it is arguably Carrie’s willingness to take a fashion risk that has kept people coming back to her wardrobe.
Rory Gilmore
Then there’s Rory Gilmore, whose style proves that TV fashion doesn’t have to be particularly loud to leave an impression. The Gilmore Girls character ranks third, thanks to her understated mix of knitwear, skirts, jeans, coats and preppy staples. Her wardrobe has also become closely associated with the cosy, autumnal aesthetic that resurfaces every year.
Her mother, Lorelai Gilmore, makes the top 10 too, landing in sixth place.
Rachel Green
Rachel Green takes fourth place, which feels particularly fitting given the ongoing revival of ’90s fashion. Across Friends, Rachel’s wardrobe evolved from simple denim and T-shirts to slip dresses, tailored separates and some of the most memorable ’90s hairstyles on television. Her outfits still feel surprisingly wearable, which may explain why her style continues to be referenced decades after the show first aired.
Jessica Day
And then there’s New Girl’s Jessica Day, who rounds out the top five. Her wardrobe sits at the opposite end of the spectrum to Rachel’s pared-back ’90s looks, favouring colourful dresses, playful prints, feminine silhouettes and bright accessories. It’s proof that nostalgia doesn’t have to mean one particular aesthetic.
What connects these characters is less about having a perfect wardrobe and more about having a recognisable one. Blair is preppy, Carrie is experimental, Rory is understated, Rachel is effortlessly ’90s and Jessica is unapologetically playful. Their clothes became part of who they were on screen, making their wardrobes almost as memorable as the characters themselves.
“Television has always played a huge role in shaping the way we think about fashion,” says Caroline Jackson, Creative Director at Monsoon. “What’s particularly interesting is how styles from different eras keep coming back around. For example, Rachel Green’s effortless ’90s looks feel just as relevant today as they did when Friends first aired.”
And perhaps that’s the real reason we keep returning to these characters for outfit inspiration. Trends come and go, but a good TV wardrobe gives us something more lasting: a fully formed point of view.
Whether you’re after Blair’s polished preppy look, Carrie’s maximalism, Rory’s quiet classics or Rachel’s ’90s ease, sometimes the best fashion inspiration is still hiding in an old episode of your favourite show.
Recent stories by:
Lethiwe Nhlangothi
A trip down memory lane to GLAMOUR's 2025 Hair & Beauty Masterclass
How South African matric dance culture has become bigger, bolder and more public
Painted by Esther did Beyoncé’s makeup, but she’s worked with these stars too
Celebrating melanin: Why skincare should reflect South Africa's diverse skin needs
