When Mary Tyler Moore appeared on "The Dick Van Dyke Show" as Laura Petrie from 1961 to 1966, she dared to do what housewives on television had not — she wore pants. This bold choice would inform her future career in television, particularly her role as Mary Richards on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show." In 1995, Moore shared with NPR that women on TV in the '60s and '70s rarely looked like the people she knew in real life. "I've seen all the other actresses and they're always running the vacuum in these little flowered frocks with high heels on, and I don't do that," she said.
Mary Richards helped to normalize style and freedom in both domestic and professional settings for women on TV. "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" ran from 1970 to 1977 and besides becoming one of the most revered shows in comedy history, its bold premise featured a single woman protagonist, who had a career as a producer for a local news station (per The Hollywood Reporter).
Mary Richards has been recognized as an inspiration by modern designers including Tori Burch and Zac Posen, according to the outlet, and the character's take on '70s pea coats, large collars, and graphic prints left its permanent mark on the world of workplace fashion. Mary Richards became a prime example of an independent working woman, and the character's high-fashion looks further contributed to her inspiring image.
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