6 Zooey Deschanel Outfits That Could Have Come Straight From Jess Day's Closet

Zooey Deschanel gave us a ton of wardrobe inspo with her costumes on quirky sitcom "New Girl." Deschanel plays Jessica Day, a school teacher in Los Angeles who moves into a loft after leaving her unfaithful boyfriend and begins a whole new life with three hilarious male roommates. While the series has so many joys, Jess' wardrobe is one of the bright spots of the show, and has stood the test of time. Best of all, it's evident that Deschanel herself loved Jess' taste, because the actor often steps out wearing something the character would have loved.

What made Jess' wardrobe so compelling was its vivid color palette. Jess wore bright tones, leaning into juicy citrus hues and vibrant jewel shades. She couldn't resist a pattern, print, or polka dots. We see this often on Deschanel, too – she is a twee trailblazer, after all. 

Jess had a soft spot for short, A-line skirts and knee-length dresses. Cardigans were a big part of her look, as were statement shoes, tights, and cute headbands. We've seen all of these elements on Deschanel as well. Both actor and character lean into quirky, retro pieces and funky accessories. But we're not complaining. We loved Jess' style so much that it's a pleasure to see it on Deschanel. 

Does it get any cuter than Zooey Deschanel in a pink skirt, matching bag, and white jacket? During Paris Fashion Week in June 2024, Deschanel rocked these coordinated tones, pushing the look into ultra-adorable with a matching hair clip. Everything about the outfit echoed Jess Day, from the length of Deschanel's skirt to her voluminous bangs, pretty pleats, and scalloped blouse edge. It was too cute. 

Zooey Deschanel nailed monochromatic dressing at Paris Fashion Week in January 2024. The outfit looked like it was straight out of Jess Day's closet, with blue tights, a tweed mini-skirt, and a retro sweater. Deschanel played up the blue hues by styling her outfit with blue heels and a blue handbag. It was an absolute win and made us very nostalgic for "New Girl."

Zooey Deschanel brought all the purple when she attended a screening for "Harold and the Purple Crayon" in July 2024 (Deschanel played Terri, a single mom to son Mel). Deschanel's purple outfit was certainly on theme for the film. Better yet, she took inspiration from Jess Day's funky style by wearing an Anna Sui dress in a bold damask print. The look was inspired by 1960s Mod culture, and Deschanel pulled it off perfectly. Jess would have approved of those tights for sure. The only thing missing was the New Girl's signature cardigan. 

Jess Day didn't shy away from statement collars and vintage sweaters. Clearly, neither does Zooey Deschanel. In September 2023, Deschanel attended the Ulla Johnson Spring/Summer 2024 fashion show and absolutely slayed. She wore a mint green, patterned, short-sleeved sweater with a crisp white Peter Pan blouse. The top was paired with an A-line skirt and black tights. Always one to coordinate accessories, Deschanel carried a structured mint bag, and the final effect reminded us so much of Jess. 

At the Daytime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles in June 2024, Zooey Deschanel wore a vintage black and white dress by Betsey Johnson in a chevron print. Deschanel accessorized with a black and white print handbag and a double strand of pearls. Paired with black tights, the outfit looked like something that Jess Day would have been all over. Jess famously loved a bygone style, and the dress is literally a vintage piece. Incredibly, Cher wore the same outfit in 1966 on the cover of Harper's Bazaar. 

While Jess Day usually wore a cardigan, rarely a crop top, Zooey Deschanel totally mirrored the "New Girl" character with her baby blue skirt suit. At the Academy Museum Gala in December 2023, Deschanel wore a sequin skirt and coordinating halter top complete with white ruffles. What made the outfit so similar to a Jess Day look was the bow detail on the skirt and the overall whimsical tone. Deschanel finished it off with silver shimmer thanks to some heels and a clutch.