Who could possibly forget the Golden Girls?! These women were some of the most iconic faces of television. We have all kinds of celebrities and characters to look up to for fashion ensembles from Superman to Carrie Bradshaw. Naturally, these larger than life figures inspiring folks to dress like them leads to more unique ensembles to develop their looks. That being said, there is one fashion icon that we cannot and should not overlook. You know her, you love her, readers of all walks of life, put your hands together for the one, the only, Blanche Devereaux!
Blanche was a beloved character on Golden Girls’ ensemble cast. Played by Rue McClanahan, her character was mostly known for her quick wit, keeping up with Rose, Dorothy, and Sophia. For tonight’s feature presentation, we have a phenomenal collection of different outfits and ensembles to look at to get a good look at the overall wardrobe.
The Great Blanche Collection
Blanche Devereaux has worn all kinds of unique dresses and outfits throughout her time on the show. This makes a lot of sense. Not only is she a prominent character in a sitcom (which tends to have wild and zany scenarios that call for more outlandish outfits from time to time), but Blanche is known for being a bold and brash woman with an outspoken personality and a wardrobe to match.
As we dive deeper and deeper into these different outfits, let’s also play a sort of game and see what these outfits all have in common.
Bright Yellow Blazer
Alright, let’s be honest with ourselves. Opening this article, you already knew that there was no way that we could have gone through any of Blanche’s fashion ensembles without bringing up any of her iconic blazers. These jackets always bring the ensemble together in a spectacular fashion. We can start off with this vibrant yellow blazer jacket. We can see that not only does it contrast the lighting in the room she’s in, but it also complements her shirt’s bright mix of purple and red. Buckle yourself in, because we will certainly be seeing more blazers down the road.
Soft Pink Hawaiian
In this scene, Rose stands here wearing a nice turquoise outfit with a faded pink ribbon and holding what can only be described as the pinnacle of fashion: a black cat. Meanwhile, Blanche wears this unique blazer. The gentle warmth of the pink goes phenomenally with the neutral yet bright white flowers that decorate it. The link between these colors and maintaining a somewhat monochrome look does a lot to make the screen really pop. We also cannot discount the jewelry – she often wears big shiny pieces of jewelry, including the shiny gold rings and earrings she is wearing in this very image.
Showstopper
Here we have a real showstopper. As a result of more Golden Girls shenanigans, Blanche dons this dazzling red dress. To say this shoulderless cherry red ensemble is eye-catching is the understatement of the century. This will not be the last red ensemble that we will see, but this really is a big note to open on. On what planet would Blanche not evoke the glitz and glam of the lounge singers of yore? Not this planet, that’s for sure.
A Black Evening Dress
Fashion rarely gets as flashy as the evening dress. Formal events are a great platform for unique designs, and Blanche is fully aware of this. This black evening dress is contrasted by the sparkly golden sequined shoulders. The simple act of adding some sparkles on the shoulders adds a little flare to the outfit, drawing your eyes to her shoulders and steadily bringing your gaze closer to her face and her earrings. This outfit does a great job of mixing flashy with grounded, looking a lot like a dress you might see at a fancy event, like an evening charity banquet, or your company’s boss’s birthday.
Jazzercise
Up next, we have an outfit for a very beloved American pastime; Jazzercise. Everyone knows about Jazzercise. All the high octane action of the 80’s that combines exercise with dance is often associated with the bright neon legwarmers of the era. Meanwhile, even a fashion field so loud and proud is not safe from Blanche’s ability to make something her own. The outfit carries a black and white monochrome scheme but still carries the Golden Girls flare of sparkly sequins.
The Pilgrimage
For a more fun look, we turn to an escapade where Sophia’s brother becomes more religious. As such, the gals take what can only be the most obvious and average response; create an elaborate plan in the best efforts possible to please him. In this moment, we see Blanche combine modest and bold. This costume is reminiscent of the female pilgrims of the past, invoking the imagery of the colonial puritan age. And yet, the use of the headpieces being significantly larger than they would usually be allows our Blanche to stand out. Granted, this outfit is brought on by specific elements in this episode’s plot, but even then, we see the eccentricities of Blanche’s wardrobe shine through these decisions.
Leaves and Blue Blazes
Here we have yet another iconic blazer of our fair Lady Devereaux. We have a somewhat calmer look, with a nice cool blue jacket over a black dress covered in geometric plant-like designs. We also see this necklace made up of a series of large gemstones and charms. Fitting the aforementioned plant theme are her earrings in the shape of two gold leaves. This more subdued look can be considered as a sort of breather from the flashier outfits we’ve seen up until this point. The balance between eccentric and low key outfits is a crucial aspect of any good wardrobe as it makes the more eccentric outfits pop even more.
Southern Charm
As you may have guessed from the character’s last name, Blanche Devereaux has roots down in the south. Naturally, she has a dress that reflects this. Along with some nice white pearl earrings, Blanche wears a baby blue southern belle dress with a pink rose embroidered into the midsection, and several small white accents to all the frills on the sleeve pieces. This style of southern dress is known for its long, flowing hoop skirts, as well as a copious amount of frills that we see here. This shoulderless dress certainly acts as a rather extravagant outfit, to be sure.
Wedding Belles
The day Blanche finally got married, she really turned heads with her wedding dress. What’s the first thing you noticed about this outfit? The massive scarf-like fabric draped across her shoulders? The diamond centerpiece on her chest? The way that the veil has been fashioned into a hat? Or maybe it’s simply the fact that the wedding dress is RED? Most wedding dresses are white, but even in something as formal of an event as her own wedding, Blanche just cannot resist the urge to add her own flare. Wedding dresses are already known for being large and in charge—extravagant to draw the attention of the guests. This is her big day, so why not dress your best?
A fan-made ensemble used to emulate Devereux.
Fans and The Takeaway
If we’ve noticed anything, it’s the fact that Blanche’s outfits have shown us the importance of dynamic color schemes and bold outfits. There’s also an emphasis on large pieces of jewelry from eccentric necklaces to large golden earrings. Though, why does any of this matter? What is the point of analyzing all of these outfits?
This website is filled to the brim with articles that can show us the importance of our clothes. By emulating certain figures, we express not only that we are fans of these individuals, but also wish to emulate traits of these folks. As for which specific traits we want to emulate, that’s entirely up to you to decide. Do you want to mimic the kindness and honor of Superman? Wear the colors of the Big Blue Boy Scout. Do you want to emulate the everlasting youthful spunk of the Golden Girls? Don’t be afraid to wear something bright and flashy. You have the full ability to display any traits you want, all you want to make yourself into. The first step to convey who you are, is to analyze the clothes you wear. You have all kinds of different places you can go shopping for these outfits, so be sure to know where to look.
You have been so kind in reading this episode, so thank you for being a friend.
