From the alterna-girls that inspired me as a teenager to the teenagers that inspire me now, television has marked some very special style moments for me. In no particular order, here are the top 10 outfits that have had me glued to the screen over the past 24 years…
Michelle Tanner, Full House
As a child, I never wanted anything more than Michelle’s pigtails. I used to stomp around my house in haughty moods, hair in my most special baubles, systematically pointing at family members and exclaiming ‘how rude!’ Cute huh?
Kelly Bundy, Married with Children
You can deny it as much as you like, but every girl had a Kelly Bundy stage. I used to make my mum plait my hair into a hundred tiny little braids and then I’d go to sleep on them and tease them up in the morning. I also used to wear everything off my shoulder because that’s how Kelly did it, and to be honest, I still don’t mind a little bit of brightly coloured body con action.
Angel Brooks, Home and Away
Shane and Angel; Angel and Shane: the ultimate love story for our generation. Taking surfer girl chic to dizzying new heights, Angel was all about braided hair, sun kissed skin and romantic crocheted dresses.
Charlene, Neighbors
Kylie Minogue as the girl next door. Charlene effectively inspired a whole generation of Aussie girls in oversized overalls.
Anita Scheppers, Heartbreak High
Becoming a teenager for me had a lot to do with trying to be Anita. She had it all; hair mascara, combat pants, midriff tops and of course, the ultimate accessory, Drazic
.
Cordelia Case, Buffy the Vampire Slayer
I know what you’re thinking:
Bad '90s fashion, and hey why isn’t this about Buffy? She was the heroine! Cordelia was always the woman for me. The saucy brunette with a massive attitude problem, but who, at the tender age of 16, wore the kind of shimmering, floor length gowns, mini skirts and leather jackets that I could only dream of.
Rachel Green, Friends
Rachel’s appeal had a lot to do with the hair, but layering aside, the girl had inner-city late '90s, early naughties fashion nailed. Knee high socks, tube dresses and lengthy coats gave Rachel the kind of attainable glamour that made her such a style icon when I was growing up.
Carrie Bradshaw, Sex and the City
What would a best-dressed list be without a nod to good old Carrie? The best thing about Carrie is the times it went horribly wrong. In Carrie land, dressing is an endless experiment and that’s the timeless thrall. Some of my favourite Carrie moments included furry jacket and gold boots when the senator wanted to pee on her, and the magenta and green dress she wore to the baby shower when someone stole her Blahniks.
Blair Waldorf, Gossip Girl
Revolutionizing the school uniform, and teen television, Gossip Girl’s resident Queen Bee left Summer Roberts for dead when she first hit the screen. The epitome of lady-like refinement, doll like beauty and subtle sexuality, Blair Waldorf trumps all in the television stylistas list.
Serena Van Der Woodsen, Gossip Girl
I wasn’t going to put Serena on this list. Fashion wise, she has always paled in comparison to Blair (see above). But come season 3 and we have a whole new S, complete with seething sex appeal and slicked back hair. It was the green dress for election day party that finally won me over.