While How I Met Your Mother delivered lots of laughs and romance, it also served up a lot of looks. The hit sitcom, which followed architect Ted Mosby as he searched for the love of his life, took place in New York City. Because of this, many of the characters knew how to style while other, not so much. Not to say they have no sense of fashion, but there's room for improvement, to say the least.
Some of the major characters dressed well enough, while some were surprisingly overshadowed by one of Ted's one-off love interests. So with that and a generous criteria in mind, it's time to turn back the clock and head back to New York in the early 2000's: Here are the 10 best dressed characters on How I Met Your Mother, ranked based on how well they styled!
Karen
Ted’s old girlfriend Karen has sleek blonde hair and a noticeably dated wardrobe. After all, Ted met her in college.
Karen is almost always seen wearing a necklace. She’s also frequently putting on a beanie and pairing it with a tank or sweater. The colors in her wardrobe range from bright yellow to dark plumb.
Marshall
Marshall has perhaps the most relaxed style of the main characters. Though he is sometimes required to wear a suit for work, it’s clear that he does this out of necessity than a true desire. This is why Barney is forced to bring Marshall to his suit guy in “Cupcake” (S1E16).
When Marshall isn’t all-business, he’s usually in a flannel, sweater, or jacket. He doesn’t do anything crazy with his hair, dressing out of functionality more than a desire to look great.
Zoey
Zoey’s most defining fashion piece is her beanie. She’s frequently pairing one with a trench coat or scarf and keeps her blonde curls long.
Though this style works well for Zoey, it feels very individual to her character and not universally fashionable. It feels reminiscent of the 2000s and wouldn’t be as in-style in the 2020s.
Stella
Stella isn't afraid to wear a bold pattern. She can be seen wearing florals, cheetah print, abstract shapes, and more. Unlike most New Yorkers, she’s also keen on color and can be seen wearing outfits in shades of pink, purple, teal, and lime green.
Her outfits air on the professional side, and her cascading, highlighted haircut compliments this.
Ted
Ted is the master of layers. He oftentimes layers sweaters on top of collared shirts, flannels over T-shirts, and blazers over button-downs. Pair that with blue jeans, khakis, or slacks, and you’ve got the look of Ted Mosby.
Ted's style is slightly preppy, reflective of his profession as an architect and later professor. His hair is spiked up in a way only a 2000's sitcom character could pull off.
Victoria
When Ted first meets Victoria, she wears a patterned spaghetti-strap dress. She’s seen in a variety of other dresses and tops, usually all with open necklines and muted colors.
Early Victoria has flowy blond curls. When she returns much later in the series, her hair is cropped and dark. Victoria’s style isn’t particularly memorable, but it is put-together.
Lily
As a kindergarten teacher, Lily likes to wear cute and lighthearted ensembles even when she’s away from work. She looks good in everything from dresses to jeans to a glitzy tank or even a jean jacket. As much fun as she likes to have with her outfits, she likes to have even more fun with her hair.
Lily goes through a hairstyle evolution. In Season 1, she sports a short red bob. By Season 2, she’s grown it out and dyed it brown. She adds a layer of bangs in Season 3, and after that, the changes keep coming.
Tracy
Tracy knows how to look cute, usually wearing sleeveless dresses or tops that highlight her slim figure. She also knows how to rock stripes and fun patterns. Did we mention she has one of the most iconic outfits in the entire show?
It’s hard to forget the scene in which Tracy and Ted meet at the bus stop. Her trench coat, in combination with her heeled shoes and yellow umbrella, is magical. Her wavy hair ups the romanticism.
Barney
Suit up! Barney is by far the best-dressed guy of the series, probably because he’s the only dude who invests a lot of time and money in his outfit.
Barney is rarely seen wearing anything other than a suit and tie. His blazers are always well-fitted and usually feature dark colors. Though Barney’s annoyed when his friends force him to wear a Ducky Tie for a year, this object simply ups the charm of his look.
Robin
As a news anchor, Robin knows that professionally is the key to her clothing choices. She’s usually seen wearing solid colors, classy worktops, dresses, and blazers.
When Robin goes out for a night of fun, she likes to keep her clothes minimal and sleek, oftentimes going for a dress with a plunging neckline. But when she’s just casually hanging out, she knows how to pull off a tank or a sweater. Ignore her Robin Sparkles faze, and yes, Robin is perhaps the best-dresser in all the series!