The Real Chic Life

We’re starting a new series here on the blog where we offer fashion inspiration based on characters from our favorite binge worthy tv shows. The wardrobe stylists who work so hard behind the scenes offer up plenty of sartorial inspiration when they’re dressing our favorite characters. We love when this inspiration is equal parts chic and easy to pull off in real life. Suits is a show that has always captured our attention for its chic depiction of women’s workwear, and we’re excited for the upcoming spinoff that will be set in LA. If you haven’t seen the original, it’s a legal drama set in New York about a college dropout with a photographic memory who poses as a lawyer at a prestigious law firm. The show’s combination of exciting legal drama and plenty of personal drama kept it going for nine seasons. For now you can catch up on Netflix. One of Suits’ most talked about characters was Rachel Zane, played by Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex. The women on Suits presented a really fresh take on women’s workwear that was modern yet timeless, and a bit sexy. They truly defied the stereotype that workwear has to be boring. Since then Meghan Markle has become a fashion icon in her own right, and is known for her classic and feminine looks with a relaxed vibe. Her character Rachel’s wardrobe has a timeless appeal that we can still take inspiration from. We’ll be highlighting a couple of other Suits characters later on in this series, but for now here’s our guide to dressing like Rachel Zane in 2024.

Rachel’s Zane’s signature outfit formula is a slim fit button down shirt or a fitted knit top with a pencil skirt and heels. This Sezane shirt is a cult favorite, and J.Crew has this great slim shirt as well. Give them a cool, relaxed vibe by unbuttoning two or three buttons and rolling the sleeves up to your elbows, then let the edges of the sleeves poke out.

These fitted sweaters would also look great paired with a pencil skirt.

And speaking of pencil skirts, here are two classic options.

Rachel also frequently paired her pencil skirts with tops that had feminine details like lace or ruffles.

Here are some options for feminine tops.

When she wasn’t in her signature pencil skirt look, you could often find her character in a fitted sheath dress with feminine details like ruching.

Here are some stylish sheath dress options. Meghan Markle has even been spotted in the cult favorite Black Halo dress in real life.

Outerwear can make or break an outfit, and Rachel’s sleek looks were complimented by statement coats. Her accessories typically included a leather bag, nude or black pumps, and minimalist jewelry.

Every woman needs a great statement trench in her wardrobe like these.

And these coats are eye catching over a professional ensemble.

These minimalist necklaces are already layered and perfect for an everyday look.

These simple but stylish pieces are easy to mix and match in a professional wardrobe. Even if you work from home or work in a casual setting, it’s a good idea to have a few chic professional items in your wardrobe arsenal. Channeling Rachel Zane can make getting dressed for an event or meeting pretty effortless.

Are you a fan of Suits? How do you feel about the upcoming spinoff? What other tv characters would you like to see us cover in future blogs? Let us know.

Ps- You can shop each image by clicking the text.

Xo,

Courtney