Fictional Style Icon: Clara Oswald

In the spirit of transparency, I’ll admit I’ve never been consistent in watching and keeping up with Doctor Who. Even the biggest Whovian can admit that it’s a bit of a commitment, and I just never found the time to be involved enough where I understood everything that was happening at all times. Of course, then it was announced Jodie Whittaker would take the reigns of the TARDIS next season, making The Doctor a woman for the first time. This was as good a reason as any to finally get completely caught up. And in my rewatch, I found appreciation for a companion that got a lot of undeserved hate: Clara Oswald.

Clara seemed to be the scapegoat for a lot of fans’ problems with seasons 7-9 of Doctor Who. And those problems had nothing to do with her “being the worst.” Often, these “problems” were really just poorly-executed storylines and/or misogyny. I’m not jumping on that bandwagon, though. I really enjoyed Clara. I thought, despite a lot of things, her character developed over those 2.5 seasons and her relationship with The Doctor was the most complex one I’ve seen yet.

But, you know what I’m really here to talk about. And that’s how Clara Oswald is the best-dressed companion Doctor Who has seen yet, so let’s take a peek into her wardrobe.

Fashionable in every era

No matter the time period, planet, or incarnation, Clara is always looking gorgeous. Whether it’s the Victorian era or she’s making souffle in the Dalek Asylum, her costumes stand out onscreen and I want them all. I also love the tie-ins this brings to her present-day wardrobe: it has a lot of adorable retro details in it. Fit-and-flare dresses, tights, Peter Pan collars… Makes perfect sense for a time traveler, right?

 Bold patterns

Anthropologie wishes they could cop Clara’s strong patterns. This is one of those cases where the wardrobe is a perfect fit for the character’s personality, too. It came as no surprise to see that a bold woman loves bold dressing.

Contrast collars forever

I know: this sounds like a super specific wardrobe element. At first, I thought I was only picking up on it because I love a good collar.

Like this one, where she looks like she stepped straight out of a J. Crew catalog.

Shawl? Peter Pan? Flat? Give them all to me, please. But, collars, specifically those in contrasting colors, are super common in Clara’s wardrobe. I love how they give all her outfits a preppy, retro vibe and pull them together perfectly. 

Long live our impossible girl.

Need more fictional fashion in your life? Check out last week’s style icon, Annalise Keating.