In about a week Shout Factory will be releasing a sparkly pink box set of JEM and The Holograms. The truly outrageous series follows Starlight Music maven Jerrica Benton and her pop music alter-ego, Jem, who leads the band The Holograms. The show has gained a sizable cult following over the years thanks to all the glamour, glitter, fashion, and fame. While the boyfriend drama and scuffles with sinister rival bands, The Misfits and The Stingers, are amusing to watch (note: we never noticed how many catastrophic, fiery explosions happened on the show until recently), Jem’s unlimited wardrobe of ’80s-riffic fashions always wowed us. And her glam rock makeup, and her giant pink hair (everyone’s coiffure is enormous, actually). What other cartoon ladies had great personal style? Here’s our list of fashionable favorites. Now tell us your picks.
Ingrid “Minx” Kruger from Jem and The Holograms
Jem has all the fame, but Minx has all the boys and synthesizers in the universe. The sexy-bitchy-cool keyboardist of The Stingers — one of Jem’s rival bands — sports a Euro, New Wave style. Her oversized hat could seriously be a weapon and looks like something Catherine Deneuve would wear, which makes it instantly amazing. Need we point out what a great name this is too? All this makes up for her unhealthy attachment to The Stingers’ self-obsessed front man, Riot.
Jane Lane from Daria
Acerbic wit and painterly talent are Jane’s biggest style guns, but her Doc Martens, black bob, and layered garb are gothy-grunge cool.
Jessica Rabbit from Who Framed Roger Rabbit
Miss Rabbit’s cartoonish curves — though mostly unrealistic — when they first appeared were a refreshing sight in a sea of 100-pound Hollywood drones. Her voluptuous glamour and classic ’50s sex appeal are ultra feminine and eye-catching, while being understated and sleepily sexy at the same time. She’s also proud to be a redheaded siren — wearing the bold color everywhere she can. Go big or go home seems to be the motto here.
Valerie Brown AKA Valerie Smith from Josie and the Pussycats
Sometimes all you need is a smart afro, a smattering of leopard spots, a tambourine, and a noggin full of big brains. Valerie from Josie and the Pussycats is sass and class all around.
Baroness from G.I. Joe
In the cartoon lady universe there are a lot of black catsuits. One stands apart from them all, due to her take no prisoners attitude. We really believe she would be capable of kicking ass, unlike several of the other slinky animated women. Bad girl beauty Baroness elevates this costume cliché. The outfit, plus the glasses and Cobra logo combo are smokin’ hot.
Dr. Girlfriend from The Venture Bros.
Anyone who models herself after ’60s fashion icon Jackie Kennedy is worthy of mention. The Venture Bros.’ Dr. Girlfriend walks, talks, and dresses like the First Lady — donning a signature pink pillbox hat, flippy black hair, and a sharply tailored dress suit. The knee-high white boots and white gloves are the perfect finishing touches. We prefer this look to the butterfly getup.
Natasha Fatale from Rocky and Bullwinkle
Mysterious and brutally bodacious is Rocky and Bullwinkle’s fashionista Natasha Fatale. We can look past the markered-on Joan Crawford eyebrows and hairdo, because the clingy purple dress and Soviet-sexiness (hullo, that accent!) adds to the femme’s deadly chic.
Judith “Judy” Angela Jetson from The Jetsons
Hanna-Barbara knew what they were doing when they designed Judy Jetson. Her mod, space age platinum hairstyle and heliotrope-colored dress prove the teen queen shops for clothes by designers like André Courrèges or Paco Rabanne.
Velma Dinkley from Scooby-Doo
When Scooby-Doo first aired in the late ’60s it was all about freaking Daphne, but Velma was like the original hipster. Oversized glasses, knitwear, and bang-heavy hair made her geeky gorgeous. While Daphne played all her cards with that short, tight dress, Velma left everyone wondering about the girl behind the tight sweater, pleated skirt, and Mary Jane shoes.
Betty Boop
Pin-up cutie Betty Boop was showing off her pin curls and feather fascinator before you bought yours on Etsy.