It’s safe to say that anyone interested in fashion and pop culture has envisioned their dream closet. Does it have rotating rails? Does it pick your outfit for you? Is there a floor to ceiling wall of shoes? Unfortunately for many of us, racks of bags and shoes that appear as if from nowhere will always be a dream. But, thanks to film and television, we can live vicariously through the owners of the most iconic closets.
Although your uni bedroom ‘closet’ probably consists of half a wardrobe and a dingy drawer, we can always romanticise. In a bid to revamp your summer wardrobe or simply inspire you to do some spring cleaning, Fashion & Beauty have rounded up the best fictional closets from film and television in no particular order.
Cher’s closet in Clueless (1995)
How is there still no software that picks out your outfit and models it for you with leopard print wallpaper? Probably the closet we would all steal from the most, Cher’s fabulous mid-nineties clothes rotated around on rails so you’d never have to shove your things in the back of the wardrobe again. Cher’s clothes deserve the best: remember, she had an Alaia… like, a totally important designer.
Jenna’s closet in 13 Going On 30 (2004)
One of the best makeover montages in rom-com history, Jenna’s closet screamed sophistication and ‘big time magazine editor’. From her floor-to-ceiling wall of amazing early 2000s pumps, drawers of expensive lingerie, and rails upon rails of furs and couture, who wouldn’t be nearly brought to tears? Also, the fact that the closet was holding the Versace dress rainbow which is beloved by all? It doesn’t get more iconic than that.
Carrie’s closet in Sex And The City (1998)
This writer is forever inspired by Carrie, and her penchant for walking miles and miles in 400-dollar shoes. Whether she’s wearing a vintage Pierre Cardin fur coat to a baseball game, or the Dior newspaper dress to apologise to a woman for having an affair with her husband which caused her to break a tooth (supporting women’s rights and wrongs!), Carrie was always on top form. Her closet, which we will call organised chaos, has been the envy of many since Sex and the City premiered in 1998, and still holds up today as one of the most recognisable closets from television.
Miley’s closet in Hannah Montana (2006)
Probably the biggest closet ever made, Miley- I mean Hannah, was the envy of every tween. The Disney styling caused some… questionable ensembles for Hannah Montana sometimes, but they were always memorable. Double-decker clothing rails and Perspex shelves of shoes and bags that come out of the wall? Hello, it’s the actual dream. Having a closet you can get lost in might be the ‘I made it’ moment.
Blair’s closet in Gossip Girl (2007)
One of the more refined closets on the list, Blair’s closet is the epitome of Upper East Side class. Meticulously organised with Henri Bendel boxes galore and Tiffany blue accents – just in case you forgot how loaded Blair is – this closet exudes… well… money, and lots of it.
Rebecca’s closet in Confessions of a Shopaholic (2009)
Yes, Rebecca Bloomwood in Confessions of a Shopaholic did have a shopping problem, but the silver lining is it led to a very memorable closet. Again, not the most organised on the list, but you can tell there was a place for everything and everything in its place… sort of. Becky’s closet is full of pre-2010s gems that make this closet one of the most eclectic and colourful on the list.
Lady Penelope’s closet in Thunderbirds (2004)
Unfortunately, we only see snippets of what is obviously an incredibly pink and glamorous closet, but what else for one of the most iconic and underrated secret agents on film? There are peaks of Lady Penelope’s Vivienne Westwood luggage, something she shares with Carrie Bradshaw. A lot of her costumes in the film were custom-made, and are a mix of Jackie Kennedy and Elle Woods, a combination only Lady P could pull off. The closet is pink, pink, and more pink, and that soft lighting? You would never have a bad outfit day.
Mia’s closet in Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement (2004)
“I have my own mall!” said Mia as she walked into the royalest closet of them all. Fresh floral arrangements and soft furnishings exude luxury, I mean you could sleep in there it looks that comfy. Everything is neatly tucked away behind mahogany drawers and wardrobes and is accessed at the push of a remote control button. Personally, a list of all the closet-opening combinations would have to be pinned up everywhere, imagine forgetting the combination to open your underwear drawer when you’re in a rush? Good thing you have two chaise-longues to destress on.
Sasha’s closet in Bratz (2007)
Even though Bratz came out nearly 20 years ago, Sasha has the closet of a 2024 Instagram baddie with leopard print, red, and chunky sunnies gracing the walls. Out of all of the Bratz girls, Sasha’s closet has somehow come out as the most timeless and would be the perfect closet to raid for a messy night out with your girlfriends.
Paris Hilton’s closet in The Bling Ring (2013)
Whilst not technically a fictional closet, Paris Hilton’s closet in Sofia Coppola’s The Bling Ring belongs in a museum. Even though it’s arguably a commentary on celebrity obsession, I think given the opportunity we would all meander through the closet of an iconic 2000s it-girl and try on her shoes, which there is an entire section dedicated to. Paris’s closet is bigger than the average starter home and full to the brim, hence why it makes the list.
Barbie’s closet in Barbie (2023)
The iconic Barbie dreamhouse obviously has an equally legendary closet. In the 2023 movie, Barbie’s closet literally picks out her outfit for the day and readies the next one for her to magically change into. Full of archival Chanel and other custom pieces, Barbie’s closet in the 2023 movie is enviable. However, it’s not the best of Barbie’s closets…
Barbie’s closet in Barbie Life In the Dreamhouse (2012)
Barbie’s closet in Life In the Dreamhouse never ends… literally. It has its own beauty room with a giant Barbie head, a café, and a jacuzzi – just in case picking out clothes gets too strenuous.
So, which closets do you think should have made the final cut?
