9 Iconic Female Characters We're Taking Style Inspo From

I couldn't not start the list without my absolute favourite feminist icon; Elle Woods proved to 13-year-old me that being smart and feminine aren't mutually exclusive and liking an overload of pink doesn't make you any less good at what you do. Any moment I'm faced with a sort of difficult task, I "What? Like it's hard?" my way through it like Elle made it to Harvard Law School. This pink dress reminds me of the courtroom scene where she spills the cardinal rules of getting a perm and saves her client. 

Played by the late Sridevi, Shashi's a rather ignored housewife who's left to explore New York on her own, not knowing the language or how to get around. She decides to take English lessons in an effort to be more independent in the city and I love that while she learns how to be more comfortable in NYC, she doesn't Americanise herself into ditching the gorgeous sarees she wears. Next time you think you're too shy or too "old" to learn something new, don this saree that can be draped in a modern way and imagine yourself traipsing around Times Square.

PS- am I the only one who totally wanted Shashi to leave her husband and live her best Sex & The City life by herself? 

Immortal? Check. Amazonian warrior goddess? Check. The perfection that is known as Gal Gadot? Triple check. So while it may be a tad extra showing up in Wonder Woman's costume (unless it's Halloween), there's no rule against wearing your own arm cuffs, aka bracelets of submission, to remind you of balance. And maybe deflect bullets if you're being shot at, although I'm hoping you keep out of trouble and don't actually test it out.

PS- these will go well with both ethnic and boho style, so don't forget to get a pair of these.

Audrey Hepburn was glamourous, vivacious and, excuse my overuse of this word, just downright iconic in Breakfast At Tiffany's. Holly loved a good party and having fun but she also had her sweeter moments and, despite her troublesome childhood, she grows into a self sufficient young woman. Anytime I feel myself taking things too seriously, I remember Holly standing outside Tiffany's with her croissant and life doesn't seem so bleak anymore. Her iconic look of the black dress can so easily be replicated by stealing your mom's pearls.

Even more admirable off camera, Audrey Hepburn did a ton of humanitarian work as a UNICEF ambassador. 

"It's leviOsa, not leviosAR." Hermione wasn't just the smartest girl in class, she was also courageous AF, willing to do things no one else would, even erasing her parents' memories, sacrificing her own happiness for theirs. What with it always being chilly in UK, Hermione wore a ton of cardigans and sweaters that could easily take her from dorm room to library to forbidden forest without catching a cold.

It isn't fair to expect me to be able to pick only one Meryl Streep character but if it has to be done, I'd pick Miranda Priestly every damn time. She's a frickin' boss, not bossy; she knows how to get sh*t done. Through her drive and hard work, she makes it to the very top of Runway as their editor-in-chief and isn't afraid to put people in their place. If you're ever doubting yourself when it comes to your career, just ask yourself "What would Miranda Priestly do?" and do exactly that. Miss Priestly wears a lot of flattering, deep tones and this dress would look incredible on the runway (both of them) and off it, too.

An instance where I have zero issues separating the artist from the art is this movie. Rani heads to Europe for her honeymoon alone when things don't work out with fiancé. From a shy girl, Rani blossoms into a person with agency, making her own decisions and going on adventures (and starting her own cloud kitchen-esque business!) Rani makes me want to step out of my comfort zone more and also makes me wish I was on a Euro trip (I hate this pandemic, guys.) 

This yellow suit set has the same vibe Rani's suit sets are going for; casual and comfortable, and the yellow makes it perfect for a day of following a random route on a map in Amsterdam.

PS- bonus points for Vijaylaxmi, who wasn't just an awesome single mom but an amazing friend to Rani and encouraged her to embrace herself fully. 

A fearless leader and skilled fighter, Princess Leia, portrayed by late Carrie Fisher, was a fan favourite. While definitely most easily recognised by her side buns, the white turtleneck is also super integral to her costume. Even though you can't go full Leia everyday, this white blouse is a chic way of channeling your inner badass Princess Leia at work with pants or on a date with a cute skirt.

PS- her look is also surprisingly easy to pull off for a Halloween costume, unless you're going extra extra like Rachel did in Friends for Ross', ahem, fantasy.

I don't remember the last time I watched something that felt so relatable and emotional, but The Bold Type did. Strong headed, ambitious, smart and willing to take risks, this social media manager of Scarlet magazine, Kat Edison, has channeled so many looks in this one show. Not just a confident person with everything she did, the confident vibe would exude in her fashion style as well --- boss babe combined with feminine, cool, chic and sassy. This skirt is just the right number for when you want to switch from boardroom to bar, desk to drinks and even Kat will approve of it!

Looking for more fashion inspiration from The Bold Type? Go here.

Talking of iconic women on screen, how about we get something for the wonder-women in our own lives? Here are some offbeat gifts you can surprise them with. Also, if you plan to watch any of these in the next weekend, don't forget to grab these munchies.