Justine Bateman and Tina Yothers in a still from Season 6 of Family Ties
Today we celebrate the sweater wardrobe of Jennifer Keaton, the youngest daughter of the beloved Keaton family in the hit TV series Family Ties. Jennifer was smart, sweet and sarcastic, and her attire rivaled that of Bill Cosby’s Cliff Huxtable. Yes, The Cosby Show preceded Family Ties during NBC’s famous Thursday night lineup in the 1980s. Which means viewers who tuned in got a double dose of sweater fabulousness. But today it’s all about Jennifer, played by Tina Yothers…
Growing up in the ’80s, I only hoped that one day my bangs would look as good as Jennifer’s. Like Jennifer, I had a collection of silver heart jewelry, but darn–my hair just wasn’t as thick! It was fun watching Jennifer’s humor evolve from playfully sassy to darkly witty as the seasons passed. Equally fun was watching her sweater collection evolve. Let’s take a look at some of the best:
The many sweaters of Jennifer Keaton
In Seasons 1-5 of Family Ties, Jennifer’s sweaters covered a wide territory. Bicycles–check. Elephants–check. Fractions–check. As Jennifer matured, so did her sweaters, which were then paired with miniskirts. Add coiffed hair and silver earrings, and Jennifer was ready to hit the mall with Mallory, played by Justine Bateman.
But the fun had to end sometime. By Seasons 6 and 7, Jennifer’s sweaters had become more subdued. But she more than made up for it with her voluminous mane:
Jennifer Keaton's more subdued sweater selections from Seasons 6 and 7 of Family Ties
Yes, it took pizazz to pull off the colorful sweaterfest of Jennifer Keaton. It’s hard to imagine anyone but Tina Yothers in the role! Any of these sweaters set to make a style comeback? It may be unlikely, aside from a theme party here and there. But ’80s sweaters that keep it simple with bright colors and geometric shapes may be ready to see the light of day again, especially when fitted.
Happy Monday–may a stylish sweater protect you from the chill of winter!
That pastel floral print is perfect. nice work! I'm going to have to revisit this show– I'm pretty sure it's streaming on netflix.
That pastel floral was my favorite as well! I've been making my way through each episode of Family Ties via Netflix. It's been wonderful to revisit the show. My favorite set design–Elyse Keaton's architectural firm. Some great '80s design! Thanks for the comment!
I loved the show. I was an old soul, so this show came third for me after Three’s Company, that I watched with my brother 9 years my senior, The Cosby Show, then Family Ties. I just wondered how Jennifer matured into a taller, larger-framed girl. No! She was never fat! But she definitely spiked up taller than Alex and Mallory! She was adorable as a child. She looks great today with the dark and straightened locks as she turned to music instead of acting. Bravo “GIRL!” Thank you.
Gracias por tu comentario, no sabía que Tina se había dedicado porsteriormente a la música! A mí también me impresionó como ella definitivamente creció más que sus dos hermanos mayores con el paso de los años … Wow! Aunque por supuesto Mallory Keaton siempre fue mi personaje favorito. Greetings from Spain