How the Year's Biggest TV Shows Have Changed the Way We Dress

If you spend anywhere near as much time as I do watching TV, you'll know how easy it is to get invested in the lives of your favourite fictional characters, and as someone who lives, breathes and works in fashion, what those characters end up wearing can often be as vital to my enjoyment of a series as the plot.

I will admit I have been known to give up on a show after few episodes because of questionable costume decisions (and I shall not name names), so whenever a new series is announced, I feel a mix of dread and anticipation for what lies ahead. Film and television have always had the captivating ability to inform what we wear in the real world in some way, shape, or form, and after a couple of years in lockdowns that confined us to our homes, the small screen’s influence on fashion is now bigger than ever. What starts as a TV show may become part of the zeitgeist, filtering down as references in designer collections and high-street interpretations, and turning into hashtags, movements, and part of our greater consciousness. Imagine a world without the stylish sensibilities of Schitt's Creek's Rose family, Joe Exotic's lurid shirts, or Love Island bikinis? Well, that might be stretching it. But it's fair to say that some of 2022's biggest TV shows had at least one thing in common: some seriously stylish looks. 

By series two, Euphoria managed to capture an entire generation with its darker sartorial take on teenage relationships and self-identity (inspiring a lot of makeup tutorials in the process). Succession gave us the slick, elitist elegance that made us rethink our workwear wardrobes, and the Killing Eve finale marked the end of some of the most influential television styling in recent years. So where do we look for outfit inspiration in 2023? 

I've rounded up some of last year's biggest shows with new seasons in 2023, and some of the most anticipated new shows debuting on the box this year in a bid to look at how their influence extends from the screens to our wardrobes. So, keep scrolling for 8 TV shows about to change fashion in 2023. You might be surprised.

1. EMILY IN PARIS 

It was inevitable that any show with Sex and the City's costume designer Patricia Field attached would cause a stir, but we were quite unprepared for the cultural phenomenon that is Emily in Paris. Like it or loathe it, there is no avoiding the vibrant and eclectic style that the show has brought to our screens, and in the three years since it first launched, the runways have been awash with bold colours and statement prints. A coincidence? Perhaps. Although, Emily would feel entirely at home in Valentino pink.

It's clear that after a lockdown spent in grey loungewear that Emily in Paris was the dose of dopamine dressing that we collectively needed to raise our spirits. This season, channel Emily's high-spirited style in bubblegum pinks, sunshine yellows, and plenty of print, and even devoted minimalists can taking notes from French-girl styling by introducing bouclé jackets, midi skirts and Mary Janes to their wardrobes. Chic, non?

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2. BRIDGERTON

According to trend forecaster and certified TikTok expert Agus Panzoni, Regencycore is now trending as a direct result of Bridgerton's Georgian styling, and honestly, anything that inspires Gen Z to start donning lace gloves and corsets has to be taken into consideration. Although we might not be rushing to fill our wardrobes with crinoline gowns quite yet, it's clear from the S/S 23 runways that the tides are turning towards a hyper-feminine take on dressing that celebrates all things puff sleeved and full skirted—just ask Simone Rocha, Molly Goddard and Louis Vuitton.

The pastels, airy fabrics and sweeping skirts lend themselves perfectly to the sunnier seasons ahead, and if the success of the original season is anything to go by, 2023's spinoff Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story means we'll be seeing a lot more of romantic, Regency dressing in the year ahead. 

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3. THE CROWN

It's been quite a year for The Crown (both fictional and real), and given the amount of controversy surrounding the series, it was more important than ever for the show's portrayal of its leading characters to feel properly considered. At the centre of it all was, of course, Princess Diana, and nailing her unforgettable style played an important role in depicting the '90s in all of its low-heeled, loose-fitting, high-waisted glory—something that her iconic "revenge dress" blew entirely out of the water.

As fashion's penchant for nostalgia is currently focusing on two camps, '90s minimalism versus 2000s maximalism, The Crown reminded us of the very best sartorial moments of the 1990s, including Diana's boxy blazers, straight-legged jeans and tonal knits. Sound familiar? That might be because it's the easy outfit formula we've been consistently relying on for the last year.

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4. AND JUST LIKE THAT…

It started with a thrift-store tutu skirt and ended with a pigeon clutch. Carrie Bradshaw's on-screen style evolution has been one for the ages, and in fact, all four lead characters from Sex and the City became so synonymous with their fashion that, just like star signs, everyone has a style profile that they strongly identify with (and I say this as a Miranda with Samantha rising). After costume designer Patricia Field made household names of Manolo Blahnik's Hangisi pumps and Fendi bags (pardon, "It's not a bag; it's a baguette."), the spinoff series And Just Like That… was handed over to stylists Molly Rogers and Danny Santiago, and so far, the series has reached experimental new heights. Let's just say that Carrie has come a long way from naked dresses and strappy sandals.

There were a lot of notable moments from season one, including the introduction of chic new characters Lisa Todd Wexley and Seema Patel, but what makes us particularly excited for season two are the behind-the-scenes pictures revealing some highly anticipated accessory appearances from Jimmy Choo, Valentino and, of course, JW Anderson. Whether you're a SATC devotee, starting with AJLT, or haven't watched either, the sartorial message for 2023 is clear: More is most definitely more. 

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5. THE WHITE LOTUS 

It's almost impossible to pinpoint just one character's standout style in HBO's The White Lotus, as each superbly designed personality profile is so entirely different from the last that the show feels like a collective of the most bizarrely placed people possible, and I suppose in many ways, that is the point. Jennifer Coolidge's Tanya McQuoid is the ostentatious American abroad, often dressed head to toe in chichi prints and logos; Daphne and Harper are the polished and elegant 30-somethings whose holiday wardrobes I can only aspire to; and dynamic duo Mia and Valentina are the Italians making their presence truly felt in vibrant brights and playful minis. But the most discussed wardrobe of the season? Haley Lu Richardson's unassuming Portia.

In many ways, she stands out as being one of the show's least "put together" in a confusing jumble of skatewear, surf culture and '90s pop references, but as it turns out, this mix-and-match, Gen Z aesthetic is actually what Diesel, Blumarine, and Dsquared2 predict we will be all be wearing this spring and summer. If The White Lotus has taught us anything, it's the importance of celebrating the joy in dressing up. Whether at home or abroad, embrace the colour, print and textures that evoke memories of the free-spiritedness that comes from being on holiday. After all, no one ever had the time of their life in a grey suit.

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6. PAMELA, A LOVE STORY

It felt like Hulu's Pam  Tommy came at exactly the right time. In the midst of the '90s and noughties renaissance last year, old brands we relaunching (who knew we'd missed Juicy Couture and Tammy?), platforms were beating flats, we were once again wearing micro minis, and Bella Hadid was convincing us all that pencil thin eyebrows were back. Other than the thought of another Spice Girls reunion, there was only one iconic throwback that we did not see coming—that of Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee. I'm not ashamed to admit I was glued to the series (and if you haven't seen it, I urge you to see it, if not just for Lily James's transformation), and, yes, although the red swimsuit does make an appearance, the real star of the show is everything Anderson wears in her downtime.

Costume designer Kameron Lennox includes everything from lamé mins to baby tees and some of the best-fitting jeans and leather trousers I've ever seen in reference to the '90s icon. However, the show did not go unnoticed by Anderson, who spoke out against its inaccuracies and is now launching Pamela, a Love Story on Netflix at the end of the month, giving us an unfiltered and real look into her life and wardrobe. So dust off your crop tops and flatforms in preparation. Until then, we'll be enjoying Anderson's current spell as the new fashion darling.

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7. WEDNESDAY 

It's creepy, and it's kooky, mysterious and spooky, altogether ooky, and now trending on TikTok. Yes, another aesthetic that has taken over the small screen and racked up tens of thousands of views on social media in the process is #EmoGirl. Thanks to Jenna Ortega's fashionable reinterpretation of Wednesday Addams, the gothic, emo girl is back. (Although, she's probably not happy about it.) It's not the first time all things dark and spooky took a turn on the runway, and in fact, Prada's A/W 19 show paid homage to Wednesday Addams with models in black, stripes, Frankenstein motifs, and their hair in two plaits, so it was only a matter of time before this stylised Wednesday would make it to our screens. Now everyone from Alexander McQueen to Versace is providing the antidote to the sugary sweet dressing we expect from spring and summer.

If Regenycore leaves you cold and Y2K is a little more "Why? No way," this is your opportunity to layer up in head-to-toe black for minimum effort and maximum impact. It's one of the few trends that look better the less work you put in. 

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8. YELLOWJACKETS AND STRANGER THINGS

It's no coincidence that two of the biggest TV hits in recent years are both set in America's golden age. No, not the 1950s, but the sun-drenched '80s and '90s that set the tone for some of the TV formats we still watch today. If there were any time period to look back on fondly, it would surely be Stranger Things' bubblegum '80s and Yellowjacket's optimistic '90s, so when things take a dark turn in both series, it's the perfect backdrop to create a stark contrast—after all, you'd never expect to see anyone engaged in hand-to-hand combat while wearing a neon scrunchie. That is, until now.

If you were to take all of the best bits of Saved by the Bell, A Nightmare on Elm Street and Urban Outfitters, you might have something close to the pop-varsity look of both shows that manage to combine school uniforms, distressed denim and tracksuits into one heady mix. It might sound like something better left to the kids, but this look has actually inspired some of the better athleisure and workout wear on the market now. If you're done with boring sweats and looking for something a little more motivating, shake up your gym bag (and your weekend wear) with something a little preppier. Go, team!

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Up Next, Spring/Summer 2023 Fashion Trends: 21 Expert-Approved Looks You Need to See