An Ode to the Enduring Style of The Golden Girls
The iconic sitcom is now available on Amazon Prime.
Much-beloved show The Golden Girls has been in the news a lot lately. Not only was it recently rebooted for a charitable cause with an all-Black cast consisting of Tracee Ellis Ross, Regina King, Sanaa Lathan and Alfre Woodard, but it also finally found an on-demand home via Amazon Prime, just in time to honour the groundbreaking sitcom’s 35th anniversary.
When someone told me that The Golden Girls was now streaming, I honestly couldn’t get away from the conversation fast enough so the binge-watching could begin. In addition to being the television equivalent of the warm hug I need right now–I used to watch re-runs every day after school, and have dozens of quotes filed away in my memory bank–I was also incredibly eager to revisit the style moments of Dorothy, Rose, Blanche and Sophia throughout the seven years The Golden Girls was on the air. (And they weren’t just prolific in terms of their outfits–one glimpse at Blanche’s leaf-accented boudoir décor and you’d swear you were looking at a contemporary bedroom; and they loved a good splash of ‘millennial pink’ at a time when it was just plain old dusty rose.)
From Dorothy’s experimental silhouettes–think cocoon shapes, asymmetrical details and lots of layers–to Blanche’s seductive silky and sequinned attire (she also occasionally wore athleisure ensembles any hypebeast today would snap up in a second), the Golden Girls exemplified “advanced style” before it was a commodity. In addition to teaching my young self many lessons about tolerance, resilience, feminism and the healing nature of humour, it definitely planted the seed of sartorial devotion that still grows in me today.
Whether you’re an ardent fan or new to the show, here’s a breakdown of the Golden Girls’ style – plus pieces you can purchase today to bring a little sunshine into your own life right now.
Dorothy Zbornak
Bea Arthur’s character, Dorothy Zbornak, is my favourite of the foursome. She’s my soulmate in sarcasm and her looks were bold, adventurous and very forward-thinking. She loved an off-beat print, unusual colour combinations and girl put a boxy jacket on EVERYTHING. Her artful jewellery choices were also highly covetable.
Get Dorothy’s Look
Charisma dress
($299.00, Kaliyana)
Rose Nylund
As the sweet-hearted Minnesota native Rose Nylund, the incomparable Betty White wore a wardrobe composed of subtle hues, retro silhouettes and accessories like pearl earrings and beaded necklaces. Her knitwear collection–bursting with charming motifs like teddy bears and pastoral scenes–is unrivalled, and definitely the sweater weather inspo ideal for this time of year.
Get Rose’s Look
Vintage sweater
($50.00, Mama Loves You)
Blanche Devereaux
Sexy southerner Blanche Devereaux, portrayed by Rue McClanahan, favoured sultry items like form-fitting jumpsuits, low-necked dresses and floaty blouses paired with tapered trousers. She also had a penchant for pieces with peplum waists, and never said no to a garment covered in dazzling embellishments like sequins and beading.
Get Blanche’s Look
Vintage wrap dress
($83.13, Berriez)
Sophia Petrillo
While Estelle Getty’s role as Sicilian matriarch Sophia Petrillo is best known for one of the most memorable television catchphrases of the 1980s: “Picture it…”, the feisty character’s closet mustn’t be overlooked. Boasting dresses featuring patterns and prints from folksy florals to graphic stripes that were typically topped with a chunky cardigan and always accompanied by her beaded handbag (and very on-trend glasses chain), her outfits are perfect references for a fall WFH wardrobe.
Get Sophia’s Look
Dotted 1960s coatdress
($120.00, Nouveau Riche)
Odessa is a Toronto-based writer and stylist. She is the contributing art editor at Globe Style Advisor and the founder of Opaloma, an art and style-focused platform. Previous to this, she was the fashion news director at FASHION Magazine, and the fashion editor at The Globe and Mail.
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