Images by Eryn Johnstone from Wikimedia
Some outfits go beyond the screen, these iconic fashion moments from film and TV characters didn’t just define a look, they defined an era. Whether it was a red ribbon, a pink wardrobe takeover, or butterfly clips that took over middle schools everywhere, these style choices are burned into our pop culture memory.
Here are our top five picks for unforgettable character outfits that continue to inspire our wardrobes to this day.
1. Matilda’s Red Ribbon – Matilda (1996)
The look is simple, a floral dress, Mary Janes, and that bright red hair ribbon. But Matilda Wormwood’s outfit became a symbol of intellect and rebellion. Her understated style reflects her bookish nature and that red ribbon (sometimes blue) Instantly iconic.
2. Sharpay Evans’ Pink EVERYTHING – High School Musical Series
Say what you will about Sharpay, but the girl had an aesthetic that couldn’t be questioned. All pink everything, rhinestones, fur trims, sunglasses, boots and even her car. She had an influence that is still present today with the rise in Y2K fashion that matches Sharpay’s style.
3. Lizzie McGuire’s Butterfly Clips and Layered Looks – Lizzie McGuire
No early-2000s teen could escape the Lizzie Effect. Layered tank tops, cargo pants, butterfly hair clips, sparkly eye shadow—it was chaotic, colorful and ultimately iconic.
4. Wednesday Addams’ Gothic Collar – The Addams Family Franchise
Wednesday’s signature black dress with the white Peter Pan collar is the very definition of goth-chic. It’s minimalistic but effective and it’s never gone out of style. (Just ask Wednesday’s latest Netflix revival.)
5. Daphne Blake’s Purple Ensemble – Scooby-Doo
The go-to Halloween costume, Daphne’s head-to-toe purple look and green scarf gave us mystery-solving realness. It encapsulated the late-60s glam, and it’s been endlessly reinvented across decades of Scooby-Doo reboots.
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