Once upon a time, fashion’s most significant cultural moments came from glossy magazines and runway shows in Paris, Milan, and New York. Today, television holds equal power. In the streaming era, every outfit on screen can be paused, screenshot, dissected, and shared instantly across social media. Shows like Gossip Girl, Killing Eve, Emily in Paris, and Insecure don’t just reflect what’s in style; they create trends, sometimes faster and more decisively than any fashion week presentation.

When you think of Gossip Girl, it’s hard not to picture Blair’s signature headband or Serena’s yellow Ralph Lauren gown at her mother’s wedding to Bart Bass. Behind these iconic looks are the creative minds who shape the characters we obsess over. Not just with lines of dialogue, but with every fabric, stitch, and accessory.

In the world of style-driven television, costume designers are the unsung heroes. They don’t merely dress the cast, they define the mood of a scene, transport us to another era, and set the tone for the entire show. Here’s a look at the visionaries who’ve turned fictional characters into modern style icons.