Major TV Beauty Moments
I might have been blissfully naïve when I moved to Manhattan the day after I graduated college, but I knew one thing: a real New Yorker, especially one who worked at W magazine, would never wear a scrunchie. Sex and the City taught me that. It was Felicity who taught me not to experiment with short hair in college, and I chose to ignore Buffy when she said that Chanel’s Vamp nail polish was so over because hey, I’d finally saved up enough to buy a bottle—and I loved that deep blood red. The point is, despite an endless parade of red carpet glam, it’s the beauty lessons I’ve learned on TV that made the greatest impression. Here’s a list of other major moments—which influenced you?
Photo: Everett Collection
I Love Lucy
Lucille Ball’s Iconic Red (1951 – 57)
Though I Love Lucy aired in black and white, Lucille Ball’s pre-Manic Panic, pay-attention-to-me red hair became as famous as her shtick.
Photo: Everett Collection
I Dream of Jeannie
Barbara Eden - 1965 - 70
At the time, we wanted only one wish granted: the secret to Barbara Eden’s perfect cat eye and arched brows!
Photo: Getty Images
The Mod Squad
Peggy Lipton’s Cali Cool (1968 – 73)
Before 21 Jump Street, this hippie squad were the coolest narcs in town. But this stunner’s anti-glam, all natural look was never undercover. Her talent won her a Golden Globe—her Cali-girl style won her icon status.
Photo: Everett Collection
Charlie’s Angels
Farrah Fawcett (1976-77)
Whether long, shoulder-length, or short, the Farrah flip was the beauty mark of the era.
Photo: Everett Collection
Rhoda
Rhoda’s Rockin’ Headscarves (1974 – 78)
When Valerie Harper left the Mary Tyler Moore Show for her own adventures, her character jazzed up her life—and wardrobe—with bright, printed headscarves after Harper saw her stand-in rocking one on set one day.
Photo: The Cosby Show
The Cosby Show
Denise Huxtable’s Dreads (1984 – 1991)
Lisa Bonet rocked the quirkiest style as the second oldest Huxtable on The Cosby Show, but those bold prints wouldn’t have packed quite the same punch without her signature dreads.
Photo: Jem and the Holograms
Jem and the Holograms
Jem’s Bright Color Palette (1985 – 88)
There’s a reason they’re remaking this animated ‘90s series. Jem and her pink and purple tinted punk rock look is the ultimate tween makeup fantasy.
Photo: NBC
ER
George Clooney’s Caesar Cut (1990)
George Clooney probably had no idea he’d make such a splash when he cut his hair into The Caesar as Dr. Doug Ross E.R. His long Fact of Life locks haven’t been seen since.
Photo: NBC
Friends
The Rachel (1994)
Think “We were on a break!” is the ultimate Friends moment? Think again. When celebrity stylist Chris McMillan cut Jennifer Anniston’s hair in 1994, he started a worldwide trend.
Photo: Everett Collection
My So-Called Life
Clare Danes’ Manic Panic (1994-5)
If we were talking about real life beauty inspiration, Jared Leto would be at the top of this list. But as much as I wanted to run my fingers through Jordan Catalano’s hair, it was Angela Chase’s Manic Panic moment that made me re-think my entire look for the first time.
Photo: UPN
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Buffy Declares “Vamp” Nail Polish Over (1997)
Even Buffy the Vampire Slayer creator Joss Whedon knew that beauty was a pillar of pop culture. In his pilot episode, Buffy passed mean girl Cordelia Chase’s are-you-cool-enough test by answering, “Um, over?” to Cordelia’s question, “Vamp nail polish?”
Photo: Everett Collection
Felicity
Keri Russell Cuts Her Hair (1999)
In 1999, people freaked when Keri Russell cropped her gorgeous curls in season two of Felicity. The show actually lost viewers and The WB network wigged out and reportedly made their other stars sign contracts not to cut their hair without approval.
Photo: ABC
Alias
Sydney Bristow (2001)
Jennifer Garner’s super spy body showed off her curves and her muscles—a refreshingly real view of a what a woman who jumps over fences and chases down international criminals might actually look like.
Photo: HBO
SATC
“The Scrunchie” (2003)
Hey, the scrunchie’s a great way to pull your hair back, but Carrie Bradshaw made it crystal clear that a certain type of New Yorker wouldn’t be caught dead wearing one in public. Of course, that’s the kind I wanted to be.
Photot: AMC
Mad Men
Betty Draper Goes Continental (2009)
When Don Draper took his wife Betty to Rome, she went from Connecticut housewife to Italian superstar, with super-sized updos to match.
Photo: ABC
Ugly Betty
America Ferrera’s “Braces Off” Dream Sequence (2010)
She might have landed a job at a major magazine, but Betty Suarez had bigger dreams: a life without braces full of bright white smiles.
