How TV Characters Quietly Changed the Way We Dress in 2025
If you grew up in the 2000s, your real style icons weren’t in glossy Vogue spreads or at Fashion Week—they were on your TV screen right after school. These characters weren’t just plotlines; they were style mentors in disguise. They shaped the way we thought about clothes, how we experimented with trends, and in many ways, how we saw ourselves.
Looking back, it’s clear that TV wardrobes weren’t just costumes. They were blueprints. They taught us that clothes could be fun, aspirational, messy, transformative, and most importantly—personal. And even in 2025, the echoes of those outfits are still in our closets. Here’s how the characters we loved growing up continue to influence the way we dress today.
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Raven Baxter (That’s So Raven)
Raven didn’t just wear clothes; she performed in them. Her style was loud, fearless, and bursting with personality. Oversized jackets, layered prints, sequins on a Tuesday—Raven Baxter made maximalism feel accessible to every teenage girl trying to figure out her look. She wasn’t afraid of color, and she definitely wasn’t afraid of going “too far.”
For so many of us, Raven gave permission to be unapologetically playful. She made getting dressed feel like art class: grab everything you love and put it on the canvas. And honestly? That’s why Gen Z’s love affair with clashing patterns and “dopamine dressing” doesn’t feel new—it’s Raven energy recycled.
Even now, when I reach for a bold patterned jacket or pile on chunky jewelry, I know that part of me is still twelve years old in front of the TV, thinking: “Raven would wear this.”
Carrie Bradshaw (Sex and the City / And Just Like That)
Carrie Bradshaw didn’t always make practical fashion choices—but that was the point. She taught us that clothes don’t have to be rational; they’re emotional. A tutu at the bus stop? Why not. Vintage fur for a night out? Absolutely. Carrie wore her feelings, her mistakes, and her joy in fabric and sequins, and that made us believe fashion wasn’t about rules—it was about storytelling.
As millennials, we watched Carrie navigate breakups, breakthroughs, and brunches with outfits that made everything feel bigger, brighter, more cinematic. She made us want statement shoes even when we were broke. She made us fall in love with the drama of dressing. And that idea—that your clothes can say something about your life—still lingers today.
Every time I put on a pair of heels “just because,” I know I’m carrying a little bit of Carrie with me. And honestly? That’s the fun part. She wasn’t perfect, but she reminded us that fashion never has to be either.
Hilary Banks (Fresh Prince of Bel-Air)
Before Hilary Banks, preppy style didn’t feel like it belonged to Black girls. It was polos, country clubs, and East Coast catalog models. Then Hilary walked into the Banks’ living room in Chanel, blazers, and designer belts, and suddenly the game changed. She made preppy chic aspirational but also accessible, proving that luxury and polish could look at home on a young Black woman.
And here’s the thing—preppy never left. Fast forward to 2025, and old-money aesthetics, plaid minis, and blazers are everywhere again.
Toni Childs (Girlfriends)
Let’s be real: Toni Childs wasn’t just a character; she was a lifestyle. She lived in labels, leather, and lip gloss, and she never apologized for it. Toni was the first TV character I saw who treated luxury as a baseline, not an exception. And that message stuck—especially for millennial women learning to set their standards in work, relationships, and yes, wardrobes.
She wasn’t just about having nice things. Toni embodied a mindset: you deserve polish, you deserve quality, and you don’t need to shrink yourself to be likable. Watching her taught us that fashion could be a form of self-respect.
Today, we call it “quiet luxury” or “investment dressing.” Back then, it was just Toni showing up in another flawless look. And honestly? She’s the reason I still believe a structured leather bag is never optional.
Gossip Girl Crew (Blair & Serena)
Gossip Girl wasn’t just a show—it was an era. Blair Waldorf with her headbands and bow-tied blouses. Serena van der Woodsen with her boho-chic chaos. Together, they made getting dressed feel like theater. Suddenly, brunch was an event, and every outfit was a statement.
For millennials, Gossip Girl was the show that made us believe in “outfit formulas.” Blair’s polished prep versus Serena’s effortless cool—two totally different styles, both iconic. And the best part? We could pick our team and run with it. (I was a Blair girl with a Serena scarf collection—don’t judge.)
Now, in 2025, Gossip Girl’s DNA lives on in the way we over-style for casual things. That headband you wear to Target? Blair. That oversized scarf with a mini dress? Serena. We’re all still playing their game.
Spencer Hastings (Pretty Little Liars)
Spencer was the girl who looked like she had an exam at 8 a.m., a lacrosse game at 3, and a dinner date at 7—and she dressed for all of it. Her wardrobe was polished prep with a practical twist: blazers, cardigans, riding boots. She made “smart-girl chic” aspirational, and she’s the reason so many of us dabbled in equestrian boots with no horse in sight.
Looking back, Spencer’s style basically laid the groundwork for dark academia. Bookish, classic, put-together, but never boring. She gave us the confidence to look intellectual and stylish at the same time.
And while Pretty Little Liars was chaos, Spencer’s closet was consistent. That’s what made her stand out—she showed us that having a defined personal style is power.
Issa Dee (Insecure)
Issa’s style wasn’t flawless—and that’s what made it perfect. In the early seasons, her outfits were awkward, mismatched, and sometimes questionable. But that was real. Watching her style evolve over the years felt like watching a friend glow up in real time.
She taught us that style is supposed to evolve with your age, paycheck, and confidence. It doesn’t have to start perfect. It just has to start. Issa’s character mirrored so many of us millennials figuring it out—trying bold prints, experimenting with color, and slowly landing on a look that felt like home.
Every time I take a risk with something colorful or step out in a look that doesn’t feel “safe,” I think of Issa. Because she showed us that even fashion missteps are part of the journey.
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These weren’t just TV characters—they were style teachers. They taught us to take risks (Raven), to romanticize our wardrobes (Carrie), to redefine prep (Hilary and Cher), to set standards (Toni), to treat outfits like theater (Blair and Serena), to trust a signature style (Spencer), and to embrace the glow-up (Issa).
The best part? Those lessons are still alive in the way we dress today. TV didn’t just entertain us—it quietly dressed us, one episode at a time.
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