Forty of My Favorite Fran Fine Looks From The Nanny

July 17, 2021

The topic of this entry might be completely out of left field and totally unrelated to anything else here, but here we go! Though I usually talk about heavier topics on this blog, today I'm just sharing something fun, and for some, perhaps nostalgic.

I love Fran Drescher. The woman is a goddess. And I love The Nanny, a 90's TV show famous at least somewhat thanks to the crazy and cute outfits Fran wore on it. There are entire Instagram accounts dedicated solely to the fashion of Fran Fine (a.k.a the nanny, Fran Drescher's character in the show).

I recently re-watched the entire series, start to finish, for the first time in many years. Until April of this year, it hadn't been available for streaming, and seasons 4-6 were almost impossible to find on DVD. As a result, I've seen seasons 1-3 far more often than the second half of the series. When it was released on HBO Max, I decided to get an account for a month or two and watch the fourth, fifth and sixth seasons.

Then, while my account was still active, I decided to re-watch the entire series in order -- and take screenshots of all my favorite Fran outfits along the way. I soon realized that I would have to narrow the definition of favorite because I was including too many of them! I ended up with 72, which I then narrowed down to an even 40 to be shared.

These are not in order of favorites, but in chronological order as they appeared in the series. (Some episodes air in a different order than their official episode number, so these are in the order they're in on HBO Max.) If I counted down the outfits from least favorite to favorite, the list would look a bit different; but overall, I love every look on the list, or else they wouldn't be there. After all, I originally had 32 more that I cut out; and still they are only a fraction of the quirky and memorable outfits Miss Fine wore over those six years.

After putting in so much work to get clear screenshots (as clear as possible, though some are still blurry due to motion), crop and size them all to be uniform, debate with myself over which ones needed to be on this list and which ones I could maybe cut out... I finally now present to you 40 of Fran Fine's cutest and most stunning outfits. Of course these are all personal opinions, not the most iconic or popular outfits, but the ones I like the most. So naturally, there will be a lot of black on the list.

1. The Bob Mackey Gown From Mr. Babcock

When C.C.'s father showed up to visit, he revealed that he would be attending a concert by Fran's idol, Barbra Streisand, offering Fran a chance to attend with him and go backstage. Mr. Babcock then bought this gown for Fran to wear to the event. Fran ended up not going to the concert because she felt too guilty about hogging C.C.'s dad instead of helping the two mend their relationship, but at least we got to see her looking drop-dead gorgeous in this gown first.

(Season 1, episode 20: Ode To Barbra Joan)

2. The Burgundy Velvet

Fran wore this outfit while rehearsing for her ill-fated debut as an off-Broadway actress, during which she famously kisses Mr. Sheffield for the (almost) first time. I love everything about this outfit: the colors, the bell sleeves, the velvet, the off-the-shoulder blouse (one of my favorite styles) paired with the vest. Fran really knew how to coordinate pieces.

(Season 1, episode 24: A Star Is Unborn)

3. The Black Widow Clubbing Dress

Okay, maybe it wasn't meant to resemble a black widow, but I can't help thinking of that when I see the red V-shape plunging into an otherwise-black dress. Fran wore this to go clubbing with Val the night Mr. Sheffield met and began dating her double, Leslie. She later covered it up with a silver jacket that matches the purse you see, which wouldn't have been my choice, but the dress itself is fabulous.

(Season 2, episode 1: Fran Lite)

4. The All-White Furry Coat

Fran was wearing this ensemble while stuck at the police station after accidentally stealing a baby on the subway. I love the coat, how big and plush and soft it looks, and the way the size of it contrasts with the mini skirt. When she takes the coat off and puts her hair up, the hairstyle actually becomes my favorite part of the look.

(Season 2, episode 5: The Nanny Napper)

5. The Funeral Outfit

Fran wore this somber-yet-sassy ensemble to her great aunt's funeral, and also to make her cousin Marsha jealous. It probably worked because she looked amazing in it. Most people look better in black, but Fran really hits it out of the park.

(Season 2, episode 9: Take Back Your Mink)

6. The Pink Pleather

Leave it to Fran to wear an all-pleather jacket and matching mini skirt while doing everyday errands such as helping her mom clean out her storage room. Although pastel pink isn't my favorite color, I love the look of the jacket with the belt and the fact that the skirt is made of the same material. And the fact that this is just everyday casual wear for Fran.

(Season 2, episode 13: Kindervelt Days)

7. That One Vest I Can't Describe

I want to say this vest is marching band style, but I don't know if there's an actual name for this style of jacket or vest. Whatever you call it, I love it. Along with most of Fran's solid black or black-and-red outfits, this is one that I would actually wear myself. And I feel like I would look right at home fronting a metal band while wearing it.

(Season 2, episode 17: A Fine Friendship)

8. The Cropped Yellow Jacket

I don't even like the color yellow, but there's no denying Fran looks adorable in this ensemble. It also really shows off her tiny waist. I hate the episode this outfit is from; it was obviously trying to start a spinoff and yet none of the new characters are spinoff-worthy and everybody's just kind of annoying. The highlight of the entire episode is Fran looking cute.

(Season 2, episode 23: The Chatterbox)

9. That Bejeweled Red Top

Fran was wearing this when she met Sidney Mercer, the woman C.C. hired to be Mr. Sheffield's publicist, whom he developed a crush on but who was actually a lesbian. No wonder the woman said it was a shame Fran wasn't gay too so she could have asked her out. Seriously though, love this sparkly sweater.

(Season 3, episode 7: Oy Vey, You're Gay)

10. The "Bridal" Suit

Another color combination Fran totally rocked every time she wore it was white and black. When Mr. Sheffield proposed to Fran just to make his mother angry, she made sure to play with his emotions before letting him know how hurtful it was, and she did it while wearing this cute white skirt suit with black lace accents.

(Season 3, episode 9: The Two Mrs. Sheffields)

11. The Corset Suit

While the dress-shirt look of the collar and sleeves might not have been my choice, the corset part of this top is gorgeous. Based on images of a fashion model wearing the same thing, I think it was all sold together and might even be all one piece; but imagine it without the business-casual undershirt portion and this corset top would fit right in at a Nightwish concert or some kind of gothic event. This is another outfit that is just casual around-the-house wear for Fran.

(Season 3, episode 10: Having His Baby)

12. Date Night with Tony

I think this is one of everyone's favorite Fran looks. When she went out with the father of one of Grace's classmates, the maitre d' of the restaurant told him he had never seen him with anyone more beautiful. He was telling the truth, I mean, look at her! Despite being so simple, this is one of the sexiest dresses Fran ever wore, the shrug she wore instead of a coat was perfect, and that red heart bag is iconic.

(Season 3, episode 13: An Offer She Can't Refuse)

13. Valentine's Day Red Dress

This little red dress, along with the black one at #12, is definitely near the top of the list for sexiest dress Fran wore during the show. When she was traveling between the house and the restaurants where her date(s) took place, she wore a furry white coat over the dress; but I decided to leave that out of the pictures because I think this dress needs to be seen, not hidden.

(Season 3, episode 18: Love Is a Many Blundered Thing)

14. The Jinx

When dating an extremely superstitious hockey player, Fran was labeled a jinx by the entire city of New York after her red shoes supposedly caused a losing streak due to being bad luck. But she sure did look good wearing them, and they perfectly matched this badass red pleather jacket. Black, white and red is such a good color combo for an ensemble.

(Season 3, episode 21: The Hockey Show)

15. Meeting Gary

Fran wore this outfit specifically to impress the new cantor at her mother's temple, whom she then began dating. This vest is gorgeous. I also love the little purse she carries, which perfectly matches it. And of course, since it's my favorite color, I love seeing Fran in all black. I definitely think she had a closet-goth side.

(Season 3, episode 23: The Cantor Show)

16. Leather Miniskirt and Checkerboard Blouse

Season 4 saw Fran wear a lot of retro outfits that would have looked right at home in the 1960's, including a lot of headbands, go-go boots, etc. (And a lot of wigs.) This episode was near the end of season 3 and seemed to be ushering in Fran's year of retro ensembles. Look at how cute this mod outfit was though.

(Season 3, episode 23: The Cantor Show)

17. White Cruise Outfit

Fran looks absolutely adorable in hats, as several of the upcoming outfits will also prove. Few people can pull off hats as well as she does. And few people can pull of wearing white as well as she does, either.

(Season 3, episode 25: Ship of Fran's)

18. When He Took Back the Thing

Fran was wearing this beautiful gown at Mr. Sheffield's brother Nigel's nightclub, and during their impromptu flight back to New York during which Maxwell finally told Fran he loved her. She was still wearing it when he took it back upon their arrival back home. These are very clearly two different dresses if you look at the lace pattern, and I didn't know why until very recently. Thanks to the Instagram account @whatfranwore, and Peter Marc Jacobson who shared it with them, I now know that the dress on the left didn't belong to the costuming department, but was a rental. Because they were unable to rent it again to film the second episode, costume designer Brenda Cooper had to create a replica of the dress. I like the lace pattern better on the left, but Brenda did a fabulous job recreating it. I'm sure I never would have noticed if I hadn't taken these side-by-side screenshots!

(Season 3, episode 26: A Pup in Paris and season 4, episode 1: The Tart With Heart)

19. The Green Sweater She Fought Brighton's Science Teacher For

While this is another outfit that would not be my personal color choice, I just think it's a super cute outfit... for somebody else. No one could coordinate like Fran. The pale green and white complement each other and the color scheme is consistent throughout the entire outfit.

(Season 4, episode 2: The Bird's Nest)

20. White Mini Jacket With Dark Grey Skirt

I love the scene in which Fran wore this outfit: one of the rare moments of her and C.C. bonding after Fran said she really needed a woman to talk to. C.C. actually shows a casual interest and concern for Fran's problem when she asks her what's on her mind, and I love those rare moments of solidarity between them as women. I also just think this little white jacket is adorable and I love Fran's hair and makeup in this scene too, particularly the matching white eyeshadow.

(Season 4, episode 3: The Cradle Robbers)

21. Red Mini Dress with Updo

It's actually the hair I like most about this look rather than the outfit. I love it when Fran wears updos like this one. But I certainly don't dislike the red mini dress with black collar and cuffs, or the shiny black go-go boots she wears. I actually own a pair of black patent knee-high boots that would be perfect for a Fran cosplay if I ever chose to do one.

(Season 4, episode 6: Me and Mrs. Joan)

22. Going Dancing With Nigel

I love this blingy chain-link overlay. It might be attached at the shoulders to the black minidress underneath, or it might be a separate piece worn over a plain black dress. I'm not sure, but if it's attached at all, it's definitely only at the shoulders, because it moves in such a fun way when she jumps around and dances later at the club. The outfit is sexy but fun and unique and reminds me of a spider web, which of course I love. (That's the second dress on this list that has reminded me of spiders.)

(Season 4, episode 8: An Affair to Dismember)

23. Running Away With Nigel

To talk about something besides the outfit for a moment: this episode is actually very sad to me, and makes me angry at Maxwell every time I watch it. When his younger brother Nigel shows up and falls in love with Fran, he shows her all the excitement and romance she deserves, and acts the way she really wishes Maxwell would. When he asks her to run away with him at midnight, she thinks it over, and, after feeling like Maxwell doesn't want her and will never commit, decides to do it. In the end she misses the ship and isn't able to catch up to Nigel, so she stays in New York and goes right back to Maxwell's arms. I know that things eventually work out between Fran and Max, but this episode always makes me feel like she should have been with Nigel because she seemed so happy when they were together, and it sucks seeing her throw that away for someone who just keeps stringing her along and wasting her youth.

Anyway, she sneaks out of the house in this outfit, and I love the short shorts paired with over-the-knee boots, as well as the fact that the outfit underneath is pretty basic and solid black, while the trench coat she wears on top of it is so flashy and colorful. It's the perfect juxtaposition.

(Season 4, episode 8: An Affair to Dismember)

24. The Red Pleather

Another Valentine's Day, another stunning red outfit. This time instead of a sexy minidress, it's a full-body pleather suit with shiny red pants and matching jacket. There's not much to say about this other than YES.

(Season 4, episode 16: The Bank Robbery)

25. Rainbow Jacket with Smiley Face Buttons

This is a pretty basic Fran outfit. The plain miniskirt, jacket and headband look is pretty much a Fran Fine staple. But there's something about the vibrant colors in this rainbow jacket that makes me want to not stop looking at it. Each button is a different smiley face, which probably represented Fran's wide range of emotions during this scene, where she meets a woman who claims she might be her birth mother.

(Season 4, episode 19: Fran's Roots)

26. The Goth Outfit

Finally we've gotten to this one. You know I couldn't leave this one out. I said earlier that Fran had a closet-goth side, and she was able to express that when she became friends with a rock star who claimed Fran was her muse. Complete with leather pants, chains and studs, crazy hair, and a fake nose ring, Fran went full alternative in this episode.

(Season 4, episode 22: No Muse Is Good Muse)

27. The Piano Skirt

Just... how adorable is this? Seriously. I love this dress.

(Season 4, episode 23: You Bette Your Life)

28. Black and White and Red All Over

This isn't the only "All Over" outfit Fran wore (the other one being in episode 8 of the same season, Fair Weather Fran), but I prefer this one to the all black and white one. I like how the body of the dress is solid black but the words still stand out because they're shinier than the fabric around them. It's a pretty simple dress and nothing out of the ordinary for Fran's daily wardrobe, but stands out regardless.

(Season 5, episode 1: The Morning After)

29. First Date Dress

Maxwell finally asked Fran out on a real date, so she had to pull out all the stops... but it's Fran, so really all she had to do was put on one simple dress. There is really nothing amazing about this dress itself, and it certainly isn't my favorite color palate, but I had to put it on the list because of how amazingly, ridiculously stunning Fran is. The way this dress fits her is just *chef's kiss* I mean can I get some fire emojis over here? It isn't the dress, but Fran herself that makes this look sexy.

On another note, I'm pretty sure that's the necklace that Nigel gave her when he asked her to run away and marry him. Bold of her to wear it on her first date with his brother.

(Season 5, episode 2: First Date)

30. In Mourning After the First Date

You know I love Fran's solid black outfits and this is no exception. Meant to look like something she'd wear to a funeral, she comes downstairs wearing this and dramatically mourning her relationship with Mr. Sheffield after their disastrous first date. The hourglass shape in the front and what appears to be either actual laces or a pattern meant to resemble laces gives the front a corset-esque look as well.

(Season 5, episode 3: The Bobbi Fleckman Story)

31. Black With Beaded Trim

I'm tempted to recreate this outfit myself, as craft stores often sell beaded trim just like this and it could be easily sewn to any short black skirt and sweater. It's a fairly simple outfit Fran wore around the house, but the beads make it so much more interesting.

(Season 5, episode 5: The Ex-Niles)

32. Red Satin Suit With Beaded Belt and Short Wig

I think the fabric of this one is a bit Oriental-inspired, perhaps. Either way, the beaded accent belt looks really cool, and I have a feeling it's super comfy thanks to the fabric. Fran implies during the episode that she isn't wearing a bra under it, so it probably feels like pajamas against her skin. Sounds heavenly! I like the variety of Fran's wigs during this season as well.

(Season 5, episode 5: The Ex-Niles)

33. Date With Steve

Since Mr. Sheffield has been dragging his feet ever since their first date, Fran goes out with Maggie's philosophy teacher instead and wears this incredible ensemble to his apartment for dinner. If I had to choose one favorite outfit from the series, this might be it. I love everything about this. The contrasting patterns of stripes, lace, and faux animal print. The amazing coat that I would 100% wear myself. The off-the-shoulder dress with spaghetti straps holding it up. It's perfect.

(Season 5, episode 9: Educating Fran)

34. The "First Event As The Future Mrs. Sheffield" Gown

Fran and Maxwell are finally engaged and get invited to a fancy dinner party where Fran gets to make her debut as his fiancee to all of Maxwell's rich friends and associates. Wanting to make a good impression, Fran buys this elegant gown to wear, which is a little less sexy than most of her formal gowns, but still beautiful. It's another off-the-shoulder gown, which I already mentioned is one of my favorite styles, and I also love the hairstyle here.

(Season 5, episode 16: The Dinner Party)

35. Mourning Mr. Sheffield/Meeting Concepcion

Maxwell's father has died and Fran wears this to the meeting with his lawyer to discuss the will. The dress is great, but it's that hat that makes this one of my favorites. If I saw this hat at the store (and it was affordable), I would buy it immediately. Also, there's that necklace that Nigel gave her again.

(Season 5, episode 19: Immaculate Concepcion)

36. Plaid Suit With Scaly Skirt

This might be another surprising favorite (but hey, at least it's black, grey and red -- my three favorite colors!) but I love the way the plaid pattern is repeated in the tabs or "scales" on the skirt, almost making it look like a mismatched pattern despite being the same fabric. It was worn with knee-high black boots that aren't seen in the shots below, plus the hat made it even more adorable.

(Season 6, episode 3: Once a Secretary, Always a Secretary)

37. Meeting Michael

Recently married and meeting her future son-in-law for the first time, Fran chose an outfit was a bit more matronly, with a slightly longer skirt than normal, and a blazer. But in classic Fran fashion, the blazer isn't just any old blazer, but a beautiful satin one with a gradient color scheme blending from pink at the top to dark red at the bottom.

(Season 6, episode 5: Maggie's Boyfriend)

38. Green Outfit w/ Hat

This is another outfit that I just love everything about... except maybe the color (for me personally, but it looks great on Fran). The long jacket that flares from the waist, the built-in belt, the button style, etc. make it a highly elegant outfit for daily wear. Maybe Fran is starting to dress more like the millionaire she supposedly is now that she's married to Maxwell. But once again, it's the hat that makes the outfit.

(Season 6, episode 5: Maggie's Boyfriend)

39. Meeting the President

The grey gown Fran wore to meet Bill and Hillary Clinton was a great choice. Love the color, the fabric, the V-neck, the train/extra length that drags the floor a bit (not visible in the shots below), and the fur-cuffed off-shoulder shrug. I would absolutely wear this outfit. Even the purse and jewelry are perfectly coordinated.

(Season 6, episode 9: O Say, Can You Ski?)

40. The Anniversary Dinner Dress

The length and skirt style of the dress Fran wore to her parents' anniversary dinner are different from most of her formal gowns, which are usually floor or ankle length. This sparkly gown has more of a 1950's shape that flares from the waist with a petticoat underneath. Of course I love that it's black, and the addition of the long gloves as well. Not my favorite shoes, and the jewelry is just okay, but I like how different this ensemble is from anything else Fran wore.