The Surprising Meaning Behind These "Grown-ish" Fashion Looks

Updated on 7/20/2022 at 11:40 AM

Emmy-nominated costume designer Michelle Cole, who styled all the looks on ABC's "Black-ish" and Freeform's "Grown-ish," wants to make one thing clear: Yara Shahidi and Zoey Johnson are two very different people. Shahidi, who's played the charming oldest Johnson child on "Black-ish" since 2014, reprises her role as Zoey — now a college student at Cal U — in the spinoff series. "Grown-ish" finds Johnson coming into her own as an adult with a budding career as a stylist.

"It's always a question of who does [Zoey Johnson] want to be that day? It's mismatch, but it's so darn cute."

In real life, Shahidi is an actor, activist, and red carpet fashion fixture. Styled by Jason Bolden, she's known for sophisticated yet wearable looks, from the trench cape she wore to the Dior fall 2022 show to the electric-green midi dress she wore to the 2021 Emmys.

Zoey's "Grown-ish" wardrobe differs in one major way: it's eccentric. "Zoey has been the center of the show for the last four seasons, which allows me to have a lot of range with her character," Cole tells POPSUGAR. "When I'm styling for Zoey, she doesn't have a defined look; she loves to play with clothes, since her character is working towards being in the fashion world. I get to do the plaids and the wacky prints. It's always a question of who does she want to be that day? It's mismatch, but it's so darn cute."

Cole has been working with Shahidi since the latter was 13, and they've developed a rapport that enhances the collaboration process. "She's always had input, but now that she's developed into this powerful, professional young woman, she has even more input, so she never wears anything that she doesn't like," Cole says of her working relationship with Shahidi. "But there isn't an 'Oh, I have to wear this' attitude. The decisions are more so driven by what the character would wear and her specific style."

GROWN-ISH - The cast and creative team of — Paul Hebert

Above: "Grown-ish" costume designer Michelle Cole poses with some favorite Zoey Johnson outfits.

Cole also collaborates with other creatives on set and praises the beauty artists in particular for helping to bring each outfit to life. "In terms of what makes certain looks more memorable, I must give props to the hair and makeup teams on the show," she says. "They are so thoughtful and intentional with every single look. It's more than just the outfit — they really tie everything together. It's the complete package that makes the looks so special."

Together, they work on more than 100 outfits for the show, with Johnson alone wearing seven to 10 per episode and roughly 18 episodes in a season. Cole also dresses the full group of college friends — including Nomi Segal (Emily Arlook), Ana Torres (Francia Raisa), Luca Hall (Luka Sabbat), Sky and Jazz Forster (Halle and Chloe Bailey), Vivek Shah (Jordan Buhat), Doug Frederick (Diggy Simmons), and Aaron Jackson (Trevor Jackson) — all of whom have their own rotation of signature brands.

While it's arduous, Cole finds the work rewarding. She's even open to reviewing DMs from emerging designers who'd like to be featured on the series.

Ahead, get a rundown of each "Grown-ish" character's style, then check out the best fashion moments from the Emmy-nominated series so far, according to Cole.

Zoey Johnson's Style

Above: Zoey wears an OYE Swimwear one-piece and Camilla cover-up in the premiere episode of "Grown-ish" season four.

"With Zoey (Yara Shahidi), we don't really shop brands. We shop what we like and what the character would wear — whatever is really 'out there' and really cute," Cole says. "We're browsing everything from Zara and Zimmermann to Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Rodeo, and tiny boutiques on Melrose and in Silverlake. Each season has gotten more sophisticated, and we have gotten more confident in who we are as Zoey. But if I had to describe Zoey's style right now, I would say big and bold."

Nomi Segal's Style

Above: Nomi wears Cult Gaia in the premiere episode of "Grown-ish" season four.

Cole explains that while she shops at Fred Segal, Isabel Marant, J.Crew, and Anthropologie for Nomi's (Emily Arlook) wardrobe, the character is a little more on the vintage side, so you'll find her in prints that reference certain decades and fewer luxury brands.

Sky and Jazz Forster's Style

Above: Sky wears a Veronica Beard blazer over a pink ribbed Zara top, and Jazz wears an IRO houndstooth jacket and Topshop trousers in "Grown-ish" season two.

"Sky and Jazz Forster (Halle and Chloe Bailey) wear a lot of Rachel Comey and clothing from department stores. In the earlier seasons, we'd find them lots of tube tops and track suits at small boutiques, since their storylines were so focused on them being at Cal U on track scholarships," Cole says.

Luca Hall's Style

"As a designer, you want to dress Luka," Cole says of Luka Sabbat, who plays Luca Hall on the series. "You get to have fun with Western belts, bell bottoms, and boots. He has that flair and can wear just about anything and still look great. He is a great teacher when it comes to fashion. We've had him wear vintage Prada sweaters from the '80s and $700 lace shirts — but we'll save those for a longer scene."

Ana Torres's Style

Above: Ana wears a L'Agence leopard blouse in "Grown-ish" season four.

Cole says that Ana Torres's (Francia Raísa) wardrobe is primarily composed of brands like Veronica Beard, Alice + Olivia, and A.P.C.

Vivek Shah's Style

Above: Vivek wears a Kenzo Paris pullover in season four of "Grown-ish."

"Vivek is another character I love dressing, because [Jordan Buhat] will do anything," Cole says. "When you have an actor that will go that distance, that makes it so much fun. He would wear Gucci shorts sets or a shirt with 'Balenciaga' written across the chest. He is so much fun and one of the characters I call in the most designer clothes for. Because his character is that 'new money' drug dealer, you can be more overt with the big designer names."

Aaron Jackson's Style

Above: Aaron wears a fuzzy striped Marni cardigan in "Grown-ish" season four.

"With Aaron (Trevor Jackson), it comes down to the fit more than the brand. His character likes tighter pants and skinnier jeans," Cole says.

Douglas Frederick's Style

Above: Doug wears a Stussy patchwork jacket in "Grown-ish" season four.

"Doug (Diggy Simmons) has a certain style. He likes suits and clean sweaters," Cole says. "I tend to reach for Dickies or Diesel for him. While you will obviously see him and Aaron in designer clothes, they aren't just dripping all the time in big brands from head to toe. The audience should be able to afford some of the stuff they wear."

Keep Scrolling For Top Style Moments From "Grown-ish" Costume Designer Michelle Cole

Above: Zoey wears one of Cole's favorite looks she ever styled: a Mimi Chica Tupac tee and pink faux fur in "Grown-ish" season one.

Above: Luca wears a Comme des Garçons sweater, and Zoey wears an Alice + Olivia rainbow coat and Stella McCartney jeans in "Grown-ish" season two.

Above: Zoey wears a zebra print Zara dress in "Grown-ish" season two.

Above: Zoey wears a fall 2014 Oscar de la Renta dress in "Grown-ish" season two.

Above: Zoey wears a Lakers Topshop tee in "Grown-ish" season two.

Above: Zoey wears a Queens Hstry tee and Madewell earrings in "Grown-ish" season two.

Above: Zoey wears a Maje sweatshirt underneath Topshop overalls in "Grown-ish" season two.

Above: Zoey wears Dolls Kill in "Grown-ish" season three.

Above: Zoey pays homage to Aaliyah in head-to-toe Tommy Hilfiger in "Grown-ish" season three.

Above: Zoey wears a blue Maggie Marilyn pinstripe pantsuit in "Grown-ish" season three.

Above: Aaron wears an AllSaints shirt, and Zoey wears a PatBo dress in "Grown-ish" season four.

Above: Jazz wears an AFRM ribbed sweater dress in "Grown-ish" season four.

Above: Diane (Marsai Martin) wears a yellow Denimist look over a French Connection mockneck, and Zoey wears a Marc Jacobs blouse under Staud gingham separates in "Grown-ish" season four.

Above: Nomi wears a Ganni lace top with Rachel Comey pants, and Zoey wears an Alice + Olivia blouse with Nicholas Damia faux-leather pants in "Grown-ish" season four.

Above: Zoey wears a leopard-pattern suit, Jazz wears an Alice + Olivia tie-dye dress, and Ana wears a Cinq à Sept zebra-print dress in "Grown-ish" season four.

Above: Nomi wears an Isabel Marant metallic shirt, Zoey wears a bronze Karen Millen dress, and Jazz wears a hot-pink coord set in "Grown-ish" season four.

Above: Zoey wears a pleated red dress by MSGM in "Grown-ish" season four.

Above: Zoey wears a white tweed shorts suit and ribbed halter top in "Grown-ish" season five.