Most TV characters are impeccably dressed, whether it’s in scrubs that fit just so (I’m looking at you, Cristina Yang), perfectly accessorized sweater sets (Emma Pillsbury), or party dresses so flouncy and festive you should wear something nice just to gaze upon them (Blair Waldorf). And yet … not all characters have that sartorial magic. Some have, oh, the opposite of that. And thus, we present the wall of shame: 2010′s Worst-Dressed Characters!
Taking top dishonors: Cate from Life Unexpected. Holy Moses. Pictured here are but two of her fashion missteps: harem sweat pants (so much crotch! pants don’t need that much crotch!) and overall jorts. These outfits are from the same episode. My eyes! Tragically, she won’t have much time to rectify the situation come 2011.
Coming in second, Cuddy on House. She’s always been a weirdly-dressed executive (must those tops be so tight and shiny?), and this year was no exception — though the weird tight/shiny factor moved into the formal arena, too. (Blue dress on “Small Sacrifices”, you are no one’s friend.)
But now it’s your turn, PopWatchers. Let’s hear it: Who’s your worst-dressed character of 2010?
Kate Beckett from Castle.
The stilettos in the office in that one recent episode (where Ryan drops the egg off of his desk) were bizarre for a police detective. She just doesn’t dress for the job, half the time.
I definitely second that. Detectives don’t dress like that.
Seriously? Worst dressed? She looks fabulous in her clothes, if you want to blame the shoes and the nice clothes then you need to point the finger at Catherine Willows from CSI (Loose hair at a crime scene?!), Olivia Benson from Law and Order SVU, Ziva David from NCIS…any female crime procedural character. It’s how the costume designers put fashion over function.
I think that Olivia Benso and Ziva David actually dress fairly appropriately for their jobs. Both tend to wear low-heeled if not flat shoes, decent pants (jeans, cargos/khakis/chinos, and occasionally dress pants, but ones you can move in) and tops that are not at all constricting but still tend to flatter. Olivia’s hair is usually short, and when it’s longer, it can just as often be in a pony tail as down – and since she’s a detective, her role is a little bit different than a regular officer on a beat. And Ziva’s hair is rarely down in the field – usually it’s in a tight braid or a bun.I haven’t watched CSI in so long that I can’t comment on Catherine Willows, but I do remember from several years ago the loose hair at a crime scene and thinking that is ludicrous.
As gorgeous as Beckett’s clothes are, they are not appropriate for crime scenes – her stilettos are out of control (and seriously, I don’t care how in shape you are, it is not easy to run in those, and she often does end up running in stilettos), and she often looks at evidence with her hair flopping in her face.
I wouldn’t put any of these characters on a worst dressed list, but some are definitely more appropriately dressed for their jobs than others. And the ones that are not, I blame the costume designers/stylists on the crew.
I think Scully managed to still look fashionable (well, for the 90s) without it being ridiculous.
Word…
Beckett are way overdresed. The costume designers must be thinking they’re working for sex in the city. YOU’re dressing a character from a crime procedural series!!
Artie on Glee. You’re dating a cheerleader now. Lose the sweater vests.
Yes, because he’s *clearly* cool, now that he’s dating a cheerleader.
It’s hard for me to take the Glee outfits seriously in this discussion, because the show just so clearly requires the audience to suspend disbelief. The school is always trying to cut the glee club due to budget problems, yet they’re still able to put together a performance requiring a giant water pool? (the Gwyneth Paltrow episode). Come on.
Any time you’ve got a show where people just inexplicably break out into song at the drop of a hat, you have to ignore the unreality of the situation, and that goes for wardrobe too.
I vote for the cheerleaders on Glee. Why do they wear their cheer outfit every. single. day!?? I was a cheerleader and we only wore them to school on game days. It was fun to see Quinn wear dresses last year.. what would Santana or Britney wear to school, if they weren’t constantly up to their spankies in cheer outfits?
Not to be cliche, but this^.
Laurie – Cougar Town
Hey, I personally think Busy Phillips pulls off those crazy looks.
yup, somehow her crazy over the top personality just make those dress appropriate to her character.
P.S. I would rock those harem pants if I was in my own house drinking wine, but not the jorts.
I think Susan on Desperate Housewives looks pretty terrible, and not just when they’re trying to make her look poor.
Btw: People without a lot of money can still dress kinda nice. You can get some lovely skirts from Hospics and Goodwill.
KE$HA = TRASHY!
OOPS…TV Character…i see worst dressed and immediately think of her
Do not insult queen kesha.
Even worse than Dan’s 80’s clothes on The Good Guys were Assistant DA Liz’s tiny-slutty dresses. Even street walkers wear more!
It’s intentional, of course, but nothing else holds a candle to the horror that is Howard Wolowitz’s wardrobe on The Big Bang Theory.
it’s at least very funny and put together in a non fashionista way
leonard is worse in my opinion
ooh i hate cuddy style as well!
i also think mentalist could shower & change every once in a while.. and last but not the least Smallville’s CK needs to stop it with the red leather jacket!
I agree with Cuddy-can she get any tighter outfits?
definitely second Clark’s red leather jacket on Smallville- honestly, that was a horrible idea. I like future Clark’s Daily Planet chic look.
Liz Lemon’s overalls
Lesbian Super Mario Brothers!
Frank (30 Rock) – probably insulting Friedlander here since I can hardly tell his character’s wardrobe from what he wears off the show. Loose fitting tops and unkempt hair are not a bear’s friend… I imagine he also smells bad…Frank I mean, not Judah.
Joan from Covert Affairs. As a high-level CIA officer/manager, she has no business in sleeveless shift dresses, etc… Even Annie knows to wear a pantsuit.
This. Ugh that bugs me so much.
vanessa on gossip girl
see here outfit on the thanksgiving episode especially
I most definitely second that. Her and Jenny are always train wreaks, but Vanessa is slightly worse.
YES! I heard worst dressed on TV and immediately thought of Jenny and her inability to wear pants, racoon makeup, and the extensions of a contestant on Rock of Love Bus. ugh…tragic!
In previous seasons, I actually liked Vanessa’s outfits a lot of the time (though there was the occasional train wreck), but this season has been awful). However, Serena’s outfits are also hit or miss, though when they’re bad they’re usually not as bad as Vanessa’s.
Yes! Vanessa’s outfits are just hard to look at! Jenny’s over-all look is a huge mess, but she has some great pieces in her ensembles. Dan also dresses horrendously in those ugly plaid shirts. Only Blair, Serena, Chuck and Lily have great style.
Cuddy actually doesn’t dress too badly , although the clothes are a little inappropriate for running a hospital . She needs to wear a fuller skirt or wear more pants at work ( saw her wearing slacks in a flashback scene in the season one episode ” Three Stories ” ) , plus wear a non tight turtleneck or a blouse with a tie with her suits once in awhile .
How about every Desperate Housewife? Gabby in velour. Lynette in ripped denim. Susan in crotchet cardigans. Renee in Dynasty costuming. The only one they get right, season after season -Bree.