Forget Glinda, Dorothy Is Oz’s Real Style Icon

There’s no place like home, because home is where your closet is. Mine is full of prairie dresses and various pairs of red shoes, and I know I’m not alone in that.

Every Halloween from ages four to eight, I dressed as Dorothy Gale. My best friend did too, because neither of us wanted to be any other The Wizard of Oz character. Or any other character in general! Dorothy was It. The “not my house but I know the way around” meme reflects my relationship to the Target shoe aisle growing up, where I would constantly go to size up in dupes of her ruby red slippers.

With the release of Wicked: For Good, it makes sense that we’re all thinking pink or green. That’s kind of why Wicked was written in the first place: to tell the witches’ side of the story. Nevertheless, while Dorothy’s involvement is but a footnote in the musical, her presence is constantly felt throughout Oz, Kansas, and beyond.

You can picture her, right? That’s a good sign of a style icon—being able to picture exactly what they’re wearing. Dorothy Gale arrived on screens in 1939 like a technicolor dream, sporting her blue gingham dress, bowed pigtails, and those very special shoes. Even after her Emerald City makeover she showed up fully herself, albeit with a better blowout.

Ahead, discover why Dorothy is Oz’s ultimate style icon, and how her impact is still felt today through various trends (blue and brown color combos and little dogs as accesories, anyone?) and wardrobe staples.

Hair Bows

In L. Frank Baum’s 14-volume book series, Dorothy’s appearance isn’t described in detail. However, the illustrations in the first and most popular book, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, really cemented how we imagine her today. Judy Garland’s costume team was obviously influenced by the character’s long, brunette pigtails and—eventually—hair bows.

The beauty of the bow, as we’ve more than learned over the last few years, is that you can utilize it in so many ways. Dorothy wore her braids with bows securing their long curly ends and then switched into some bouncy curls with a singular satin bow perched on top of her head.

While bows have been around forever, they really got popular again in the early 1900s and then the 1940s. So thank you, Ms. Gale. These days, we see them everywhere, from film festival ‘dos (hi, Elle Fanning, and cute pigtails by the way) to street style photoshoots and obviously every holiday brand photoshoot ever.

Prairiecore

We could get into the politics of prairie clothing’s popularity, or we could talk about how a prairie dress is the perfect outfit to wear when you live on an actual prairie and need to be comfortable in case of a cyclone-triggered psychosis nap. Either way, romantic, flowy, and puffy-sleeved styles are in.

Whether you embrace the blue gingham or stick with a simple white cotton option, these looks are giving “might actually be in Kansas.” Which is funny, because you see them all over the streets of New York and LA in the summertime. Think this fall’s Ethereal Witch outfit trend or Katie Holmes’ penchant for a Dôen top. Bella Hadid’s Frankie’s Bikinis collab had a lot of Dorothy elements, and don’t get me started on Sandy Liang’s Spring/Summer 2026 collection.

Red Shoes

Red bottoms? Whatever. Red everything? That’s what I’m talking about. Even better if there are sparkles in play. Everything Dorothy wears is iconic, but her shoes might be the biggest sell—and an easy wardrobe staple, if you know how to rock them. Though most makers forgo the glitter, red shades are ultra-popular in the ballet flat sector, the cowboy boot world, and on and on and on.

A pair of red shoes is the easiest way to spice up an otherwise simple outfit, with the shade communicating power and purpose. Gigi Hadid and Dua Lipa love their red sneakers while Hailey Bieber has red slingbacks and penny loafers.

One thing, though: Don’t click your heels together too early. You have such a great outfit on, you can’t go home now.

Heels and Socks

While wearing socks with your loafers gives big listening Norah Jones on a fall morning energy, socks and heels is entirely Dorothy. If you’re not a red shoe girl, don’t worry—any heel will work here. Just make sure you wear them neatly, because we’re not going for a Princess Diana slouch.

Although Dorothy’s dress-matching blue socks were ruffle-free, there’s something about the detail that feels right in line with her energy if you feel like playing it up. Bonus: Wearing socks can help you break in your new platforms.

Basket Bags

Before there was Jane Birkin, there was Dorothy Gale. She’s the reason I was always trying to pack a picnic when I was little and cart around wicker to this day.

A basket bag can go beachy or French girl, but looks cutest when you have a tiny dog inside it. Toto, I have a feeling we’ll be dressing like your mommy for the rest of our lives.