Fictional Moms Whose Closets I'd Love To Raid

There comes a time in every woman’s life when she realizes she’s at risk of becoming her mother. My time has come, at least sartorially speaking. Consider the (quite WASPy) motherly staples that currently inhabit my closet: wide leg pants, clip on earrings, and always a cardigan tied around my neck in case my studio apartment suddenly gets drafty. My mom and I even share the same style of pink and blue Ugg slippers that I now wear 18 hours a day. A few days ago, I wore an outfit that was so quintessentially my mother I had to call and tell her about it. I don’t mind becoming her, I just wish I had some warning.

Generally when I watch a movie or a TV show—and I’m consuming lots and lots of media these days—I tend to fall in love with the style of the hapless ingenue. Lately though, I’ve found myself looking out for what her mom is wearing. Though there are endless lists dedicated to the most stylish characters in TV and movies, you’ll be hard pressed to find one celebrating fashionable women with children on the internet. I do love Blair Waldorf and Hilary Banks, don’t get me wrong. But at present, I find myself appreciating what my former boss once called “grown ass woman’s clothes.” Clothes that are sturdy and imbued with personal taste. Clothes that have been selected after a lifetime of figuring out who you are and what you stand for. With that in mind, I’ve found 10 fictional mothers whose closets I’d raid given the chance.

This with one caveat: in no way do I endorse the parenting skills of these moms. To be clear, the only thing up for judgement here is the fashion. There are the obvious choices: Betty Draper from Mad Men for her excellent ‘50s wardrobe; Elizabeth James in The Parent Trap for her crisp trenches and shifts; Cookie Lyon from Empire for her statement pieces and designer labels. Then, okay, hear me out, but Carmela Soprano deserves a spot on here. Her gold jewelry alone deserves a shoutout. And let s not forget the kitschy tracksuits and blazers that pull her throwback look together. Mildred Pierce in Mildred Pierce may also raise some eyebrows. But I beg of you: please don’t think about the plot, think about that incredible coat and hat! Another unlikely choice? Jaime Lee Curtis as Tess Colman in Freaky Friday, post-switch when her teenage daughter is living in her body and going on a shopping spree. The rebellious teen who gets to makeover her mom ends up with some pretty cool flowy dresses and boots. I’d wear them while blasting Stevie Nicks in the Volvo that also exists in this fantasy. Or maybe it’s a Subaru?