Gretchen Rossi may have re-entered the Real Housewives of Orange County with tiaras, tulle, and the same glittery confidence she left with, but fashion-wise, she’s channeling a 2009 pageant queen who never updated her Pinterest board. There’s no denying Gretchen has a signature look: Barbie glam, big curls, pastel everything, and more rhinestones than a figure skating championship. But as RHOC enters its 19th season, her style choices feel less like iconic Gretchen and more like a costume. And while we love a woman who knows her brand, it might be time for Gretchen to give that brand a much-needed glow-up.
Gretchen Rossi’s style on RHOC is rough
I have to call my girl out here. Gretchen’s style is stuck. Whether she’s showing up to a garden party in a full-on prom gown or pairing a bodycon bondage dress with a bejeweled headband like it’s her quinceañera, Gretchen’s outfits have been consistently outdated. She still dresses like she’s filming her Season 4 tagline (“I love the bling, I love the jewelry, I love it all”), and unfortunately, the fashion world has moved on. The problem isn’t just that her look is over-the-top. It feels frozen in time. Kind of like her face. While the rest of the Real Housewives of Orange County cast has evolved into sleek neutrals, bold tailoring, and edgier glam, Gretchen is still serving up bubblegum pink and bedazzled belts like Forever 21 never went out of business.
Even her accessories are relics from a different era. Giant chandelier earrings, platform heels with bows, and those ever-present statement necklaces. It’s like a time capsule of early Bravo fashion, and not in a cute way. Gretchen clearly loves being extra, but there’s a fine line between extra and outdated. And right now she’s leaning hard into the wrong side of that line.
Tamra Judge made fun of Gretchen’s dated looks
Of course, no one is going to let a fashion misstep slide in Orange County, especially not Tamra Judge, who’s made a second career out of snarky commentary. And this season, she’s not holding back. In a recent interview with Virtual Reali-Tea, Tamra shades Gretchy’s fashion sense. After 12 years, Tammy Sue noted, “I feel like she can’t move forward; she wants to talk about the past. She thinks the show still operates like it did 15 years ago, and it doesn’t. It’s a different show.”
And while Tamra’s shade is rarely subtle, she’s not wrong. The commentary might be harsh, but fans have echoed similar sentiments across social media. When asked about Gretchen’s hair and clothes, Tamra just said, “They’re both bad. Yeah, it’s really bad.” It’s not just catty gossip. It’s fashion intervention territory. And if Gretchen’s goal is to be taken seriously in the OC scene, she might want to stop dressing like she’s about to shoot a music video for Baby One More Time.
Gretchen Rossi claims she’s never done plastic surgery
Adding another layer to the discussion is Gretchen’s repeated insistence that she’s never had plastic surgery. A claim she’s stuck by despite fan speculation and Tamra’s not-so-subtle digs in Season 19. To be clear: no one needs plastic surgery to be fabulous. But when you’re on a show like RHOC, where beauty talk is as common as champagne toasts, it’s hard not to notice the disconnect between Gretchen’s natural beauty narrative and her heavily curated appearance.
The issue isn’t whether she’s had work done. It’s that her entire aesthetic leans so hard into artificial glam that it clashes with the image she’s trying to project. Her makeup is full beat at 9 a.m., her hair is teased within an inch of its life, and her wardrobe is one sequin away from evening wear cosplay. There’s nothing wrong with loving glam. But Gretchen’s version of glam feels frozen in a time before Instagram influencers taught us how to contour with restraint.
Gretchen could use some help with a makeover
When it comes to Gretchen Christine, I feel like I need a bullhorn to say, “Put down the FaceTune and step away from the filters.” Unless she’s going to give a makeup tutorial for all her magical products, I’m not interested. Here’s the good news: this isn’t a lost cause. Gretchen has the raw materials. She’s gorgeous, confident, and clearly committed to her image. What she needs is a little fashion evolution. Imagine Gretchen with a more modern twist on her princess vibe: clean lines, elevated fabrics, softer glam, and fewer sequins.
She could keep the femininity and flair without looking like she got lost on her way to a Real Housewives of Orange County reunion circa 2009. Even a simple style refresh, such as toning down the sparkle, updating her silhouettes, and ditching the Barbie curls, could do wonders. Think less Mall Madness and more Nordstroms. And if she really wants to lean into her comeback? Call in a stylist. Stat.
The Real Housewives of Orange County is available to stream on Peacock and Hayu in the UK and Ireland.
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