Happy Birthday, Nancy Drew!

Steal The Look Of Our Favorite Sleuths

By Andrea Kasprzak
Published: May 6th, 2010 | 7:15pm

Happy birthday, Nancy Drew! First introduced in April 1930, the iconic girl-sleuth celebrates an 80th anniversary last week. Insanely iconic (all three women who served on the Supreme Court cite her influence) the fearless River Heights teen had a serious reputation for solving mysteries—and looking great in the process. From her waist-cinched frocks to perfectly curled bob, Nancy definitely had a clue when it came to who, what, wear.

And she's not alone. That hooded classicist Harriet and over the top Carmen are hot on her princess coat tails when it comes to cracking down on fashion crimes. Here, we spy on the imagined wardrobes of our favorite secret agents.

Nancy Drew

We like to think Nancy's prim and proper aesthetic was a guise for feigning innocence in order to get the real story. Whether trekking up creaky attic staircases or shining the flashlight on the accused, Nancy always looked every inch the lady. Those little touches—the belted waist, the colored lip, modest flat—add to her put together appeal. Channel the look with a ladylike dress and smart pair of Mary Jane flats.

Sure Lock dress, $128, Anthropologie; Chloe three buckle flat, $600, ShopZoe ; Ruffle my Roses cardigan, $41.99, ModCloth

Harriet

Harriet had the best intentions, scribbling down catty secrets and witticisms in her trusty composition book—until she got busted, lost all her friends, and blew her cover. Bummer. We still love you, Harriet, if only for your austere, classic look. Just watch Mean Girls a couple times and let us borrow that amazing fitted red hooded jacket, okay? You don't have to loot her notebook to crib her look. Just think boyish and basic: great dark jeans and where-anywhere oxfords.

A.P.C. Parka, $298, Penelope's; Les Prairie des Paris les Micks Satin Black, $185, Gargle; Rag & Bone jean, $165, ShopBop

Carmen Sandiego

Admittedly, the PBS show gave us a bit of a headache. Did anyone ever win? Why was it so hard to catch Carmen when she stole the most obvious, exaggerated things, like all the sushi out of Japan or the Eiffel Tower? And okay, she kind of dressed like a bull fighter crossed with Dick Tracy but the ideas were good if tempered just a bit. A floor-length red trench and over-the-knee boots is a bit aggressive, but judging from her ambitious burglary, Carmen liked attention. Try a colored trench, lace-up wedge booties, and menswear-inspired trousers to take the look into today.

Silence & Noise paperbag trouser, $58, Urban Outfitters; Gallery three-quarter-length Trench, $118, Nordstrom's ; Topshop Armour peep toe boots, $160, Topshop