Top 10 Fashion & Beauty Trends Started By TV Shows

Set in Regency London, “Bridgerton” captured Netflix viewers’ hearts when it was released at the end of 2020. After a tumultuous year, we were all ready to escape to another era, and the flouncy gowns that the Bridgertons and Featheringtons wore were just the eye candy we needed. The empire-waisted dresses and lightweight materials have been reimagined for the modern-day, and are now available from both high-end and high street designers. The pastel hues and ultra-feminine style feel like a departure from the stark neutrals we’ve seen in recent years, making these styles a breath of fresh air.

“Euphoria” is a teen show like no other, taking a darker and grittier look at the high school experience. Despite the serious subject matter, it’s easy to get distracted by some of the characters’ eye-catching makeup looks. Doniella Davy, who works as “Euphoria’s” head makeup artist, says, “There's subliminal emotional messages always in all the makeup.” She goes on to say that cosmetics signify character development and always mean more than meets the eye. On top of all that, the looks (especially Maddy’s) are just pure fun, which is why so many beauty YouTubers have painstakingly recreated them.

Bell-bottom pants began to kick off as a trend in the ‘60s, but after Sonny and Cher wore them on their variety show, they gained even more widespread appeal. The flamboyant pant style has become emblematic of the ‘70 and was available in denim, cotton, polyester, and more. The series ran for four seasons, from 1971 to 1974, wrapping when the couple got divorced. Luckily, they brought their well-coordinated fashion stylings into their follow-up program, “The Sonny & Cher Show,” which ran until 1977. Can you believe these are coming back in style?

It’s easy to romanticize the ‘60s, even though it’s kind of the opposite of what “Mad Men” intended. Still, the show put a major focus on the era’s retro aesthetic through their costuming and production design. Questionable politics aside, who wouldn’t want to live in an era where men dress in dapper suits and women wear full-skirted, cinched waist dresses to work every day? The crew worked hard to stay true to the fashions of the era, and in the process introduced a whole new generation to mid-century style and design.

When you think of ‘80s fashion—and massive oversized shoulder pads—it’s hard not to think of “Dynasty.” The primetime soap’s costume designer, Nolan Miller, was credited in a 2012 New York Times piece by Eric Wilson as having kicked off the shoulder pad trend. His weekly wardrobe budget was $35,000, which was pretty significant in the ‘80s. Joan Collins, Linda Evans, and Diahann Carrol’s costumes even inspired a series of high-end designs called "The Dynasty Collection.'' The show also spawned a menswear collection, proving that the costumes provided widespread appeal to a variety of viewers.

For years, headbands were relegated to childrenswear, but after the first episode of “Gossip Girl” aired, people of all ages were clamoring to look as preppy and chic as Blair Waldorf. She and her minions (and even Serena) all sported headbands throughout the show’s run, with options running the gamut from simple and elegant to over the top and show-stopping. The trend kicked off quickly in 2007 and interestingly enough is back today, just in time for the “Gossip Girl” revival in 2021 on HBO Max.

The original “Charlie’s Angels” TV show aired from 1976 to 1981 and epitomized late ‘70s fashion. Starring power trio Kate Jackson, Farrah Fawcett, and Jaclyn Smith, every episode of the show provided an opportunity to show off the latest trends. The women had big feathery hair and often wore bell-bottom pants. Plaid and fringe were also major players. They often coordinated their looks, showing off major girl gang vibes. The fashion legacy of “Charlie’s Angels” lives on today, with many ‘70s styles coming back into fashion.

People love to say that the fifth character in “Sex and the City” is the city of New York, and if that’s the case, then the sixth character is absolutely the fashion. Costume designer Patricia Field outfitted the four women in over-the-top stylish outfits for the show’s six-season run, but the biggest influence had to do with footwear. Carrie famously spends the equivalent of a down payment on an apartment on her designer shoes, with Manolo Blahnik being a frequently-dropped name in her vocabulary. Did regular women lust after luxury footwear this much before “SATC” aired? Probably not.

Menswear just doesn’t get the attention that womenswear does, but “Miami Vice” is a prime example of a show that inspired men to have a little bit of fun with fashion and dress outside their comfort zones. While today the sock-free loafers and t-shirts underneath designer blazers look pretty silly, at the time they had a major influence on the world of men’s fashion. The show features undercover Miami Police officers James Crockett and Ricardo Tubbs (played by Don Johnson and Philip Michael Thomas, respectively) who definitely weren’t afraid to blow their own cover by dressing in this eye-catching manner.

One of the most popular hairstyles of the ‘90s can be directly traced back to a particular TV show. Jennifer Aniston sported the hairdo known forever as “The Rachel” in her role as Rachel Green in the early seasons of “Friends.” Created by hairstylist Chris McMillan, it featured chunky highlights and a signature cut with choppy layers that created a voluminous bob. Reasonably enough, Aniston has been vocal about the fact that she doesn’t love being associated with the look. Considering how many questionably executed copycats there have been over the years, we can’t say we blame her!