What the ‘Younger’ Cast Actually Recommends Wearing to Work

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Light spoilers ahead if you haven’t finished season 3!

The fourth season of Younger premieres tonight on TV Land — and anyone who’s watched the trailer knows to expect plenty of office drama, scandalous hookups, and New York media in-jokes in the episodes ahead. Of course, the new season also promises lots of fabulous fashion moments that are probably a tad inappropriate for a real-life corporate environment and definitely too expensive for most people working in publishing — but we’d expect nothing less from costume designer Jacqueline Demeterio and costume consultant (and industry legend) Patricia Field.

“Working with Pat Field is the luxury of luxuries,” says Peter Hermann, who plays Empirical Publishing’s CEO, Charles. “I got to go to Martin Greenfield in Brooklyn and they made a [custom] suit for me, and it was just fantastic.” The perks extend to the rest of the cast, too; Liza (Sutton Foster) masquerades as a millennial in Proenza Schouler and Altuzarra, Kelsey (Hilary Duff) runs her imprint in Gucci and Isabel Marant, and Diana (Miriam Shor) loads up on Lanvin statement jewelry.

Of course, Foster, Duff, and Shor aren’t real publishing execs — they just play (and dress like) ones on TV. But we figured the cast could still shed some light on how viewers can take Younger’s fantastical office dress code and apply it to real cubicle life. See what they have to say about their characters’ style below — and get some season 4 costume teasers along the way.

Sutton Foster (Liza Miller)

Photo: TV Land

On Liza’s youthful work outfits: “She’s definitely out to Kelsey, but she’s still not out to Diana or Charles, so she still has to maintain her ‘millennial status’ at work. But her style has definitely evolved, especially over the last couple seasons. She wears a lot of dresses or little separates, and everything is a little easier, a little effortless. Everything in the beginning felt a little effort-ful, which I thought was very character-driven. So as she’s become more confident in this new life she’s created, so has her look.”

On Empirical’s dress code: “It’s insane! But the thing is we’re creating a television show, so it’s a fantastical world. I don’t know how people dress in offices, but I think these women, part of who they are — their armor — is their clothes. But sometimes I’m like, okay, here we go. Just a sensible jumpsuit!”

On how to take style inspiration from Liza’s looks: “Little pieces — here and there.”

Hilary Duff (Kelsey Peters)

Photo: TV Land

On Kelsey’s work wardrobe: “I don’t know how Kelsey is wearing Gucci every day. She doesn’t have an apartment! My understanding of Kelsey is that she wears her clothes a little too tight and her skirts a little too short, but she’s a boss at work, so she knows exactly what she’s doing and she belongs there. I love that she is expressive with her outfits and it really speaks to who she is, but her heels are a little too high.”

On how her clothes compare to those of real publishing execs: “She’s not afraid to use her body or her looks to get what she wants, but I don’t think [her work style] translates [to a real corporate environment] very much. People who work in publishing come up to us and they’re like, ‘Oh my god, we’re so happy to have a show about people who work in publishing because you guys are nailing it — minus the wardrobe. We do not dress like that.’”

Miriam Shor (Diana Trout)

Photo: TV Land

On Diana’s season 4 jewelry: “It’s not like suddenly, Diana’s like, ‘Just a simple gold chain!’ She’s still got the necklaces, like the Givenchy [she wears in the season premiere]. She also has some crazy earrings on that are intense and just powerful. So the earrings are having their day in the sun.”

On how to accessorize like Diana in a real office: “A cool belt can change an entire outfit. It can take what you thought was a frumpy dress that wasn’t working, and suddenly [it’s] ‘Look at me, with a waist and shoulders!’ What I love about Jackie and Pat is they aren’t afraid to mix things together. They might never think it would work together, but they’re like, ‘Just give it a try.’ So I think any accessory you love and you don’t know what it matches with — don’t worry about that. Just try it! Oh, and my other favorite accessory is food. Just food. I always like to have food in hand.”

Molly Bernard (Lauren Heller)

Photo: TV Land

On Lauren’s wackiest look this season: “Lauren has a tricky moment and gets very creative with Margiela. There’s a skirt that’s a clear plastic slip with a lace front. I felt like I was a pool toy.”

On why you should dress like Lauren for work: “I think of Leandra [Medine] Cohen from Man Repeller — she wears shit like that every day. Be bold! Wear what you want. Get creative and [take inspiration] from Kelsey, too. Be a boss at work. I think it’s really inspiring to play very empowered young women who really love themselves.”

Peter Hermann (Charles Brooks)

Photo: TV Land

On Empirical’s dress code: “There’s more freedom and self-expression in the office now. A sort of a liberated chic, a self-expressive chic. An intelligent ease of dress. An edgy casual-ness, all of that, but I don’t know if Charles would necessarily have the words for that. I think he would probably say, ‘My god, I don’t know how everybody manages to dress so well.’”

On how to dress like Charles for a corporate casual Friday: “He’d be a little lost in the morning, and then I think he’d probably put on a pair of black jeans and take them off because it’s too much. I think he would probably wear a light gray pant, cognac shoes, and a shirt with the sleeves rolled up. So very daring, in a way.”

Nico Tortorella (Josh)

Photo: TV Land

On Josh’s elevated style: “I think Josh is maybe making more money in the tattoo shop because he’s wearing a lot of APC, Saint Laurent, and Gucci this season. I don’t know how he can afford that as a tattoo artist. He [has] some Doctor Woo status or something! He has an Alexander Wang chain wallet this season, too. That was a Nico touch. Sometimes I show up to work and I’m like, ‘I’m fuckin’ wearing this today and it’s gonna fly,’ and Jackie’s like, ‘All right, Nico.’”

On how a creative guy should dress for work: “Vintage three-piece suits. Maybe ascots. Maybe a good fedora. Throwback, like ’20s, ’30s vibes. Wingtips. Just super fitted everything.”

Younger season 4 premieres tonight at 10 p.m. EST on TV Land.