At a Glance
- Fran Drescher‘s iconic Nanny wardrobe continues to inspire modern artists.
- Designers Moschino, Dolce & Gabbana, and Todd Oldham lent looks for the show.
- Drescher still owns select pieces, including an Anna Sui coat and suede boots.
- Why it matters: The show’s fashion legacy shows how a sitcom can shape pop culture trends.
**Intro
From the opening episode of the 1993–1999 sitcom The Nanny, Fran Drescher‘s character Fran Fine set a new standard for television fashion. The bold prints and designer pieces she wore have resurfaced in recent pop-culture moments, and the actress herself reveals which items she still keeps.
Fashion Legacy of Fran Fine
The show’s wardrobe was a mix of high-end labels and thrift-store finds. Drescher says that Moschino, Dolce & Gabbana, and Todd Oldham were thrilled to lend their looks. “It was designers Moschino, Dolce & Gabbana, Todd Oldham,” she says. “And we wore them all.”
Designers saw an opportunity to showcase their work on a widely watched sitcom, while the show’s budget constraints pushed the production to find creative sourcing solutions.
Modern Artists Reviving the Iconic Style
Pop-culture icons have begun to echo Fran Fine’s style. “Rosalía has been wearing the dress that I wore in the Bette Midler episode,” Drescher says. “It’s a Moschino number, and it’s so cute.” The dress features a pleated keyboard pattern that was originally worn during a piano scene.
Sabrina Carpenter also embraced a signature look from the series. “Sabrina bought that leopard-lined Bob Mackie dress,” Drescher notes. “She let us borrow it for the Fran Drescher retrospective at the Hollywood Museum.” The museum event drew fans who wanted to see the original outfits in person.
On social media, mash-ups of Fran Fine’s outfits with other shows have gone viral, underscoring the character’s lasting influence.
Drescher’s Personal Collection
“I did keep some stuff,” Drescher says. “I kept the winter coat I wore in the skiing episode. It’s Anna Sui and so gorgeous. It was very expensive. I remember we cut corners in other areas so we could afford that coat.”
She also keeps a few other pieces:
- Over-the-knee suede wedgie boots
- High-platform suede zip-up boots
- A couple of turtlenecks
“I’m not wearing hot pants or miniskirts anymore! Although now that I’m thinner again I could come close to fitting in them,” she continues.
Where the Wardrobe Lives Now
Sony did not create an archival collection for the show. “Sony didn’t create an archival collection, which they should have, but they didn’t know what they had at the time,” Drescher explains. “They couldn’t see the future. And so, it ended up out there in a million different places.”
Some items ended up in the hands of dedicated fans. “There’s a guy in Germany who goes by Nanny Schmatta or something, who keeps buying and collecting the clothes, and he does a traveling show,” Drescher says.
The lack of an official archive has made the search for original outfits a treasure hunt for collectors and fans alike.
The Role of Designers and Loehmann’s
Loehmann’s, a Queens-based discount department store that closed in 2018, was a key source for Fran Fine’s wardrobe. Drescher says, “I was always into fashion, as was Peter, our co-creator. We knew that Fran was from the wrong side of the tracks, but she would wear phenomenal clothes. In Queens there was a store called Loehmann’s.”
The store’s practice of cutting out labels but stocking designer pieces made it a perfect fit. “Now, the thing about Loehmann’s was they cut out the labels, but they had a lot of designer stuff, if you could recognize what it was,” Drescher explains. “So of course, Fran Fine was able to do that. So that was our rationalization for dressing the way she did because she shopped at Loehmann’s.”
The show’s pilot even referenced the store: “In the pilot, the father says, ‘Oh, you look beautiful, Gracie.’ And she says, ‘Loehmann’s, 50 percent off.’ And Fran says, ‘She’ll never shop retail again.'”
Behind the Scenes: Production Choices
The production team’s decision to use designers’ pieces and discount stores was driven by budgetary constraints and a desire to create a distinctive visual style. Drescher says the show’s budget allowed them to cut corners in some areas while investing in standout pieces like the Anna Sui coat.
The show’s creators also emphasized that Fran Fine’s character was a “live-in caretaker” for a wealthy Broadway producer’s children, which added a layer of irony to her high-fashion wardrobe.
A table of key dates and wardrobe milestones:
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1993 | Series premiere; first episode introduces Loehmann’s reference |
| 1995 | Moschino dress featured in Bette Midler episode |
| 1999 | Series finale; wardrobe items dispersed |
| 2018 | Loehmann’s closes |
| 2025 | Drescher photographed wearing Anna Sui coat for a 2025 photo shoot |
Key Takeaways
- Fran Drescher’s wardrobe remains a cultural touchstone, inspiring modern artists.
- The actress still owns select pieces, including an Anna Sui coat and suede boots.
- Sony’s lack of an archival collection has dispersed original outfits among fans.
- Loehmann’s played a pivotal role in providing designer-style pieces for a sitcom on a budget.
This exploration of Fran Fine’s fashion legacy highlights how a sitcom can leave a lasting imprint on style and pop culture.
