Chic Lit:
The Best Dressed Characters in Children’s Literature

“Fashion changes, but style endures,” said Coco Chanel, wisely, perhaps not predicting a world of fast fashion, posers, and hipsters, where “you do you” comes up against “but who are you?”

The one place where she might have found solace was in the pages not of Vogue, but children’s books, where the very best dressed characters aren’t the ones who bow to changing tides but the ones who stay constant in the squall. There’s something to be said for finding something that works and sticking with it, and these ten characters do it very well.

1. Fancy Nancy (from the series by Jane O’Connor)
Forget black tie or white tie, Fancy Nancy’s look is tea party appropriate. Yes, maybe she likes her look to be on the “a bit much” side but you try choosing between ribbons, ruffles, some heavy duty florals, striped tights, and of course, a tiara.

2. Olivia (from the series by Ian Falconer)
The old saying tells us not to throw pearls before swine (lest they trample them) but Olivia the pig would likely know just what to do with them. The porcine heroine has found her color — red — and she rarely strays from her signature shade, worn over her trademark black-and-white tights.

3. The Man with the Yellow Hat (from the Curious George series created by H.A. and Margret Rey)
Never underestimate the power of a monochromatic ensemble. What’s most impressive about The Man’s dedication to his banana-hued threads is that they manage to be somewhat subdued in contrast to George’s over-the-top hijinks.

4. Eloise (from the books created by Kay Thompson)
What Eloise’s wardrobe lacks in variety, the mischievous character makes up for with her willingness to try anything once (twice if it’s fun). The Plaza-dwelling cutie — always maneuvering in her enduring black skirt and white blouse — is sure to put hotel staff on high alert when they see her bright hair bow bouncing through the lobby.

5. Max (of Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak)
In what world does making a fashion statement mean being well behaved? When Max dons his wolf pajamas, things get a little … wild. But when on an island populated by large hairy beasts, a kid definitely wants to dress the part.

6. Madeline (from the series by Ludwig Bemelmans)
Okay, so Madeline wears the same ensemble as every other French fille who lives in the house covered in vines. But, the smallest of them all, it’s the way Madeline pulls off that signature yellow hat, blue dress, and Peter Pan collar that makes her unique.

7. Waldo (of the Where’s Waldo? series by Martin Handford)
Here’s a question: How can someone with such a standout personal style so frequently be lost in a crowd? From those round specs and messy hair, to his skinny frame-fitted red-and-white striped shirt (with a matching cap), Waldo might be the first example of a modern-day hipster (and the only one who can truly carry off toting a cane).

8. Fantastic Mr. Fox (from the book by Roald Dahl)
Chances are, Mr. Fox wouldn’t be deemed quite so fantastic if he were wearing a pair of shoddy sneakers and dad jeans. But fasten on a tie, some dress trousers that show off that fabulous tail, and a sly grin and he’s an out-and-out fashion plate with an always in-style sense of cunning.

9. Coraline (from the book by Neil Gaiman)
Neil Gaiman’s titular Coraline is small for her age and has no time for princess dresses. Having moved to a creepy house in a rainy neighborhood, she relies on a rain slicker and galoshes — slightly old-fashioned choices for a modern girl but gear that seems apropos for going through the scariest door in an old house.

10. Pippi Longstocking (from the series by Astrid Lindgren)
Is there a touch of Manic Pixie Dream Girl to Pippi? Maybe, but only from a purely style-related sense. She knows how to set her braided pigtails apart, and the ship-dwelling lass favors big boots, oversized sweaters, or patchwork dresses and her signature striped socks or tights. But with her unconventional attitude and status as the strongest girl in the world, Pippi has no time for dream-girl affectations.

Which fictional fashion plates did we miss? Let us know in the comments below.