“She’s got style! She’s got style! She’s there…”, that’s how Fran Drescher became a style icon of the 90s! The Nanny is an American sitcom that aired on CBS from 1993 to 1999. It tells the story of Fran Fine, a young woman who, desperate for work after being fired from her cosmetology job, applies to be a nanny for the three children of a wealthy New York widow.
The Nanny became a beloved family comedy and can still be seen on broadcast networks today, making Fran Drescher a household name and attracting the attention of several high-end fashion designers who designed her outfits for the show. Today, Fran Drescher’s colorful, gorgeous, sophisticated, and often quirky fashion choices are still revered and considered iconic for the 90s aesthetic. Here is a list of some of the most iconic outfits Fran Drescher wore on the show.
Bob Mackie Sequin Dress
Fran looked stunning in this yellow and white V-neck dress with a camisole. The dress appeared in the episode titled: “Val’s Boyfriend” which aired in 1996. In this episode, Fran laments her single life and how much she misses her ex-girlfriends! After a series of fights between the characters, Fran mistakenly believes that Val’s boyfriend, Paulie, has been flirting with her. A fun fact about this particular dress is that it can also be seen on Sharon Stone in the 1996 film Casino and was borrowed specifically for this episode.
Byblos Feather Cuff Coat in Pastel Blue
Here’s a trend that seems to be making a comeback in stores: feather accents! Here, Fran wears a pretty baby blue outfit consisting of this Byblos coat with fluffy feather cuffs… paired with a pale yellow sweater and a plaid skirt to match. This outfit first appeared in the episode titled “The Curse of the Grandmothers” which aired in 1994. Does this outfit remind you of Cher Horowitz in Clueless (1995)? Fran Fine is ahead of the curve!
Plaid & Leopard
An interesting combination that works so well! Fran wears a leopard print dress designed by Gianfranco Ferre. The dress is paired with a blazer that is accented with a leopard print lapel. Who else but Fran Fine would have thought of this combination? This outfit appeared in the season six episode “Sara’s Parents”; Fran tries her best to get every move right when Sara’s parents come to visit, but she just can’t seem to impress them. At least she has a great outfit! A bold combination… The nanny is never boring!
Zebra Sequin Dress
This striking dress was designed by Lillie Rubin. Here, Fran wears a gold and black zebra-striped dress covered in sequins. Every move she makes is sparkling in this dress! The dress appeared in the episode titled “Pishke Business”, where Fran had to impersonate C.C. to impress a potential investor in Maxwell’s new musical. Worn with simple black tights and a black clutch, this dress needs no other accessories as it speaks for itself and stands out from the crowd!
John Murrough Pink Dress
In the episode “What the Butler Sang”, Fran wears a bright pink tight dress. These days, these types of dresses are often found in most fast fashion stores that cater to younger shoppers. What makes Fran Drescher so iconic is that her fashion choices are being reproduced for today’s larger, cheaper markets. Fran pairs the dress with a black long-sleeved turtleneck to really make the dress pop!
Lemon Print Outfit
When life gives you lemons…you can make a really cute outfit! In the season four episode of The Nanny, “The Taxman Cometh,” Fran wears a bright lemon print outfit. The outfit, designed by Moshary, consists of a dress and a matching zip-up jacket. Luckily, Fran has a matching headband to tie the whole look together. She accentuates the print by wearing a black turtleneck underneath the dress with black tights.
Missoni Dress
Fran definitely has a knack for sequins as some of the dresses listed here are made entirely of sequins, including this one! This floral sequin dress was designed by Missoni. It features an abstract floral pattern on it; a miniskirt with a figure-flattering camisole.
The big curly updo that Fran wears makes her look feminine and playful. The dress can be seen in the episode “A Decent Proposal”. Here, Maxwell becomes jealous when he notices Chevy Chase’s attachment to Fran, however he keeps her around when he realizes she brings some luck to his poker games brilliant. This is the kind of effortless yet chic style sense that draws the magnetic attention that Fran attracts wherever she goes! Here, Fran wears a white crop top with white shorts and tennis shoes, giving her a sporty look.
Then, she throws a knee-length fuzz coat on over it to suddenly transform this on-the-go look into something quite glamours! Fran makes it all look so easy! This outfit appears in the episode titled: “That’s Midlife”.
60’s Mod Throwback
This next look is clean and simple, yet charming and playful. Fran pays homage to the Mod trends of the 1960s with this checkered and red look. This outfit appears in the episode titled “Val’s Boyfriend” which aired in 1996. The outfit consists of a black and white checkered skirt, designed by Moschino and a red, solid turtleneck top. For an idea that could easily appear like a costume, Fran finds a way to make it look sophisticated, easy and very chic!
