Fran Drescher's Most Iconic Looks From The Nanny

The 1990s saw the debut of so many iconic women ruling the screen as fashionable characters. Rachel Green and Ally McBeal were standouts, and who could forget the nanny herself, Fran Fine? "The Nanny" starred Fran Drescher as a flashy, extroverted girl from Flushing, Queens, who's hired as a nanny for a fancy Broadway producer. Naturally, Fran is a fish out of water, trying to dig her way into a life of luxury, and viewers immediately loved her for her biting comebacks and, of course, her recognizable laugh. 

Throughout the series' run, Fran became more than a character — she was a fashion icon. Each week, her eccentric outfits caught viewers' attention with their lively colors and patterns. Fran uses fashion to express her bold personality and show off her statuesque figure, and as the show goes on, she relies more and more on maximalist styles, including statement dresses and larger-than-life accessories. 

Even though the show is more than 30 years old, today's celebrities are still looking back at the series for inspiration. Cardi B, Iggy Azalea, and even Sabrina Carpenter have been seen wearing outfits that are reminiscent of Fran's beloved looks, and they certainly had their pick of memorable fashions to choose from. From loud prints to fitted vests, Fran takes every opportunity to make a statement with her clothes, and we're looking at some her best outfits that would still serve today.

From the moment Fran Fine officially became the show's namesake nanny, she was unapologetically expressing her own fashion sense. But she also intentionally put her own creative spin on corporate wear. Fran wears a slimming black coat with a leopard-print faux-fur lining on the neckline and arm cuffs in the series' first episode. Three matching buttons stood out and made for the perfect finishing touch. She pairs this get-up with a black pencil skirt and stockings, looking classy without overdoing it. Her tall but modest half-up, half-down hairdo communicated that this lady means business.

Fran Fine's grand entrance into the elite world in the show's first episode includes her stunning everyone in the room with a gorgeous gown. Her dress drapes to the floor in red sequins and includes a tasteful side slit, and the high neckline balances the dress by adding an extra level of elegance. While the event has a black-tie dress code and most attendees stick to black-and-white attire, Fran takes a risk that certainly pays off, setting herself apart as the best-dressed of the night. As the song goes, "She's the lady in red when everybody else is wearing tan."

There's nothing quite as '90s as a layered look, and Fran Fine perfects the practice with memorable vests and outerwear throughout "The Nanny." Seen here in Season 1, Episode 13, she looks playful in pieces that are daring yet gentle and-well balanced. Fran's child-friendly ensembles feel intentional, as her job is to supervise three growing kids. It wasn't rare to see her in rainbow colors or a cute animal print — even fruits on outfits designed by Moschino. Sometimes, she would even wear a colorful faux-fur coat from Betsey Johnson for a flirty moment in the cold New York weather.  

If Fran Fine loved one element of styling most, it was using colors that couldn't be ignored. She often gravitated toward maximalist outfits that included multiple colors at once, effortlessly embracing color-blocking in her wardrobe. She loves to wear scoop-neck garments that hug her curves, and she loves stripes of varying colors on her garments, too. An early example was in Season 1, Episode 3, when Fran undergoes a makeover to make her more ladylike and less bold.

Fran Fine can't pass up an eye-catching animal print that feels just as feisty as she is, like her minidress from Season 2, Episode 6. Fabrics that replicate zebra or leopard patterns show off opulence in a safer, friendlier, and cheaper way than those made of real animal fur, and Fran often wears them as dresses that show off her figure or as a blazer that she pairs with a skirt to make a cute combo. She plays with color, too, contrasting black and white or going with neutral brown tones.

Fran Fine never overlooks the importance of the right accessory — or the perfect fix for a subpar hair day. Fran has a closet full of cute and colorful caps that complement her outfits, whether it's a wide-brimmed hat, a Jackie O-inspired pillbox shape, or a picturesque Parisian beret. The addition of her headwear in Season 1, Episode 13 establishes her as a fearless, unabashedly feminine protagonist who isn't afraid to take risks. She even wears a pork pie style boater hat in the final scene of the series.

Fran Fine isn't just in tune with the hottest fashions of the '90s — she also often pays tribute to trending styles of years past. In the show, she embraces bold patterns and bright colors by dressing in psychedelic outfits that looked like they were plucked right out of the 1960s. Her chunky headband really brings her full ensemble to life when she makes a guest appearance on Rosie O'Donnell's talk show in Season 4, Episode 4. The vintage wardrobe shows off how Fran's fun side is translated into her fashion choices by highlighting her carefree and whimsical personality.

When Fran Fine is seen in a wardrobe that includes a fitted dress, a chic coat, and an adorable hat all with the same matching pattern, it signals to the viewer that she has thought through every inch of her outfit. The best example of Fran coordinating the perfect ensemble is in Season 6, Episode 5 of "The Nanny." She impresses in two matching sets: the first is a tasteful floral pattern, and the second is a vivid bright-green hue. Here, she's a masterclass in knowing how to pull off a matching set without looking older.

It's not hyperbolic to say that Fran Fine often wears outfits that can be seen as untraditional, but her campy style is always an example of how fashion can be fun. For instance, when she's expected to look after a musical prodigy in Season 4, Episode 23, Fine dresses for the occasion by wearing a skirt that resembles a piano. The white skirt bottom has black tassels draped onto it to look like real piano keys, and the outfit only works because Fran wisely uses all black as a base to balance out the eccentric piano detail. 

Fran Fine makes it obvious that she loves experimenting with colors, but when in doubt, she always goes back to a group of classics: black and white with a touch of bold red. This trio of colors perfectly highlights Fran's face because of her fair skin, dark hair, and red lipstick. In Season 2, Episode 17, Fran wears her favorite colors to breakfast in the form of a black-and-white plaid blazer with a red vest underneath.