Susan Dey Poked Fun At Her Partridge Family Wardrobe During A '90s SNL Hosting Gig

Alongside Shirley Jones and her fictional musical family in "The Partridge Family," actor Susan Dey filled viewers' hearts and ears with good vibes and rockin' tunes throughout the series' four-year run. Though some may look back on the beloved sitcom with nothing but earnest reverence, Dey wasn't afraid to poke fun at one particular aspect of her time playing Laurie Partridge when she hosted "Saturday Night Live" in 1992. 

During her monologue, the actor took aim at the ultra-'70s outfits she wore on the show. "For four years I was Laurie Partridge on The Partridge Family," Dey said (via YouTube). "I'd like to think I broke some ground there, not because I was a female musician competing in a man's world, but because I was the first teenager in primetime to wear a pantsuit." She underscored the joke by stripping off the dowdy gray skirt-suit she walked on stage in, revealing a spicy leopard-print bustier top with a black miniskirt, tights, and fitted blazer — lightyears away from Laurie.

It's easy to see why Susan Dey (who looks amazing even decades after "The Partridge Family") would take such delight in the joke, as the matching frilly pantsuits the Partridge Family wore when performing as a band in the show looked quite dated and a little cringe — even back in 1992. Fast forward to now, and between the corduroy vests and ruffled shirts, the outfits Dey had to wear feel even cringier. We're glad that Dey got the chance to poke fun at herself and engage in the typical "SNL" host shenanigans, and the actor seemed to have no problem joking about "The Partridge Family."

Like other out-there garb from the disco era, pantsuits were among the eccentric style choices people actually found attractive in the '70s. Though actor Susan Dey (and perhaps the other leading ladies of "The Partridge Family") has looked back on her time wearing pantsuits less favorably, we cannot deny she made the style work during the show's run. It's no coincidence that Dey was a teen idol during her time on "The Partridge Family," despite having lacked any prior acting experience. Her golden blond hair, bright smile, and radiant complexion surely had fans singing "I Think I Love You" every time she popped up on their television screens. With her stunning features, Dey can pull off just about any style, from dated pantsuits to glamorous red carpet looks.

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When she wasn't jamming with her fictional family on their sitcom, Dey's beauty was just as, if not more, apparent when she was seen off-screen. In 1975, for example, she was photographed wearing a long-sleeve red dress and cradling a lustrous gold purse. Her youthful glow and reserved posture exuded the same innocent beauty fans grew to love her for on "The Partridge Family." Though she's proven she's willing to make light of certain styles she donned in the '70s, even she cannot deny she looked great, regardless of what she had on.