How TV Career Women Influence Real At-Work Style

Ann Marie, played by Marlo Thomas, was an aspiring actress/model who worked temp jobs to pay the bills--but she had no shortage of adorable mod outfits. The powder-blue suit and white quilted purse she wears at left were the height of 1960s chic.

Mary Richards lived in wintry Minneapolis and therefore had no shortage of cute cold-weather staples, including double-breasted coats, knee-high boots, and that famous blue tam. But it was her '70s work-wear that most women sought: colorful scarves, two-piece suits and bright, office-appropriate dresses.

Okay, so the Carrington women weren't exactly your typical 9-to-5ers. Nevertheless, the big-shouldered, wasp-waisted creations worn by oil mogul Alexis (Joan Collins) and her longtime rival Krystle (Linda Evans) were popular enough with fans that the show spawned a signature fashion line, The Dynasty Collection, which was designed by the show's costumer, Nolan Miller.

Claire Huxtable (Phylicia Rashad) embodied the 1980s concept of "having it all": She was a successful attorney in a happy marriage with five attractive, well-adjusted children. She was also quite fashionable: Professional women were quick to copy from her brightly colored blouses and soft, feminine suits.

The titular character, as played by Candice Bergen, was a tough-talking investigative journalist with a penchant for colorful power suits--women loved her combination of glamour and utterly unshakable professional confidence.

The first trend set by this popular show is still the most famous: In 1994, women all over the country got "The Rachel," a layered shag hairstyle popularized by the actress Jennifer Aniston. But, as her character evolved from coffee waitress to fashion industry professional, she also adopted a quirky-chic style--as seen with the windowpane plaid pencil skirt at left—that fans were almost as eager to imitate as her hair.

In 1998, shortly after the show's first season finale, Ally McBeal's disembodied head appeared on the cover of Time magazine, the putative answer to the question, "Is Feminism Dead?" Despite the conclusions reached by that article (is it really fair to compare a fictional character to activists and thinkers like Susan B. Anthony, Betty Friedan and Gloria Steinem?), women do owe something to the flighty young lawyer played by Calista Flockhart: She almost singlehandedly made the workplace safe for bare legs, freeing us from the tyranny of mandatory pantyhose.

The amount of money that Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker), a freelance writer, spent on shoes was so improbable that it eventually became a plot point; her clothes only got more prohibitively expensive as the show went on. Still, though, Sex and the City had an enormous impact on regular women's style: Aside from all of those quickly copied (and forgotten) nameplate necklaces and oversized faux corsages, the ladies' willingness to play with fashion inspired legions.

Copying this look full-stop wasn't exactly an option--if there's one thing that can be said about Betty (America Ferrera), it's that she's an original. But many found inspiration in the character's flair for mixing prints and piling on bold colors; she was herself, which freed fans to be themselves, too.