Babydoll Dresses, Kaftans And Mini Skirts: These Palm Royale Outfits Are Some Of The Best On TV

If you took one look at Palm Royale, Apple TV+'s sherbet-drenched series, and longed to plunge into the cool waters of its 1969 Palm Beach setting, then you're in good company. It certainly helps that it has an incredible cast (including Kristen Wiig, Laura Dern and fashion's own Kaia Gerber) and an infectious camp spirit but, quite frankly, we would've been content just poring over the sensational fashion. Based on the novel Mr and Mrs American Pie by Julia McDaniel, Palm Royale tells the story of a wannabe socialite who claws her way to the top of the Palm Beach social hierarchy, where appearances are everything – and not always what they seem.

Now with season two officially on the cards, announced by Apple TV in June 2024, we look back on the outfits that started it all.

From Emmy award-winning costume designer Alix Friedberg (who previously worked with Dern on Big Little Lies), the foundation of Palm Royale's costumes are the vintage treasures sourced from Givenchy, Chloé, Chanel, Dior, Emilio Pucci and more. As you'd expect for a series set at the end of the 1960s, we witness the style shift from the structured silhouettes of the '50s to the loose kaftans, form-fitting shifts and shorter hemlines now so synonymous with the '60s.

This was the time when the sexual revolution was in full force (Raquel Welch's photoshoot in her deerskin bikini was practically the Kim Kardashian champange-bottle-on-derrière moment of our modern age) and the Women's Liberation and Civil Rights Movement had knock-on effects on the fashion of the time. Freedom was reflected in childlike babydoll dresses, bright fresh colour palettes and fringing for days.

Important '60s fashion icons included Twiggy, Jackie Kennedy, Diana Ross and Cher - and her celebrated partnership with Bob Mackie. And of course, Mary Quant, who is largely credited as the 'inventor' of the mini skirt.

It's no surprise, then, that the Palm Royale fashion taps into an enduring fascination with '60s trends. Anthropologie launched a dedicated Palm Royale collection in the US during the airing of season one, while Kristen Wiig’s character drove searches for ‘shift dress’ to soar by over 55%.

Similarly, searches for ‘floral’ have risen by over 120%. Many of the other trends seen in the show can also be seen in countless designers's collections for spring/summer 2024.

Take the mini skirt, for example, which coincided with the sexual revolution during the '60s, then manifesting in micro-mini form at Miu Miu back in spring/summer 2022. Since then, everyone from Fendi to Versace has followed suit, betting big on this tiny trend. For this season, it got even smaller at Gucci, Miu Miu and Louis Vuitton.

The babydoll dress has also been no stranger to modern runways, reimagined for 2024 in black organza by Chanel, who further channelled the '60s vibes by adding flat satin Mary-Janes. Leopard print, meanwhile – Elizabeth Taylor's signature motif, which ran rampant in the '60s – is currently experiencing a huge surge with searches for 'leopard print jeans' reaching an all-time high.

So, between the gala gowns, beaded dresses and – as the show runs full throttle towards the 1970s – the Pucci prints, we want to add a little bit of the Palm Royale style to our wardrobes. We have, therefore, found the very best pieces inspired by the show that will look just as good for SS24 as they would have done surrounded by the 1960s elite in Palm Beach.

Shop: The Best Outfits From Palm Royale

The Mini Dress

Wiig's orange dress in Palm Royale has a beautiful crochet collar, joyful yellow print and, of course, a super-short hemline. Channel the look yourself this summer with cat-eye glasses and an expertly-tied headscarf.

Kaia Gerber's Smock Dress

Making her transition from modelling into the world of acting, Kaia Gerber looks typically amazing in her Palm Royale costumes, despite the fact that she's supposed to be far less glamorous than her fellow characters. Speaking to Vogue, Friedberg said: 'It’s funny – everybody’s asking me about Kaia Gerber because she’s such a fashion icon in life. But she plays a manicurist from West Palm Beach with no money and wears basically a manicurist smock and some denim.'

The High-Glam Kaftan

Palm Royale does not disappoint with its wide array of kaftans. A type of tunic originating in Asia, it was adopted as a fashion piece in the '60s and '70s, introduced by people who journeyed the so-called 'hippie trail'. This was then adopted by high-end fashion designers, who sold the kaftan to wealthy women (like those of Palm Royale) as the perfect gown for the ever-so-casual-yet-glamorous hostess.

The Poolside Kaftan Dress

Worn by Kristen Wiig, this bejewelled turquoise kaftan dress flows easily thanks to its chiffon material, and we've found ideal alternatives to recreate the look. As well as this, you can buy a version of Kristen's Christian Dior Vintage Sunglasses, which will look just as good today.

The Brown Baroque Dress

Leaning towards the '70s, this long-sleeved, printed maxi is the sort of thing you could still throw on today and look perfectly put-together. We've found two alternatives that look straight out of the decade.

The Purple Paisley Dress

The '60s was a time when paisley was in its prime, a period only rivalled by its revival in the early nineties. Laura Dern wears it well, and we've got a couple of options that you'll be itching to add to your basket.

Where Can You Find The Best Vintage Clothes?

Second-hand shopping can get you authentic '60s offerings posted right to your doorstep, thanks to a wealth of brilliant vintage stores who now sell online. While sizing has long been an issue (vintage styles tend to come up smaller compared to contemporary sizes), you can read our guide to shopping vintage when you're tall and curvy to find some hidden gems.

In terms of where to start, eBay remains one of your best bets. Speaking on the fashion in the show, Amy Bannerman, eBay’s pre-loved style director says: '60s fashion is iconic and an era the fashion industry revisits time and time again. I’m excited to see the fashion that will be showcased throughout [Palm Royale]. With shows like this, we often see fans really wanting the opportunity to re-create the looks they’re seeing on screen while exploring iconic styles from the past. That’s another reason why I love eBay so much because it really is an archive of fashion history and gives viewers the chance to shop the original styles with just a few clicks - and for a fraction of the price.'

Then, there's Vinted, which is a veritable treasure trove of vintage pieces – and many for very affordable prices. Friedberg says a 'phenomenal source' when curating the Palm Royale wardrobe was Etsy, as well as Arcade Vintage, ​​the Paper Bag Princess, Carny Couture, The Frippery, and Recess.

Ruby Barry is a Product Writer for Grazia, specialising in fashion and beauty. She loves finding dupes for clothes worn in TV & film and is currently binge-watching Succession.