April Ludgate had the most intriguing arc on Parks and Rec. There have been many storylines in pop culture where people take a job reluctantly only to find themselves growing into the role and deriving inspiration from it. April too was introduced as a slacker who found herself in an unmotivating government job, only to eventually find a kinship with those around her.
April’s wardrobe was used to show her growth throughout the series from intern in season 1 with her college wardrobe to her political campaigning in Washington and then her role in the Parks department, where her style got sharper. And some of April’s outfits have been nothing short of iconic.
10 The Denim Jacket
Season 1 April didn’t really care about the job and didn’t dress for it either. At the beginning of Parks and Rec, April had almost no work ethic and was a slacker, and the showrunners tried to make it obvious through her fashion.
She would often be seen in oversized plaid shirts, henleys, hoodies or denim jackets, and anything that didn’t need a whole lot of effort to style. But her wardrobe was always quite trendy and featured a lot of classic outerwear picks that were repeatable. This chambray-style denim shirt is a great example; it’s laidback, casual and yet quite pairable with work-friendly numbers.
9 The Spray-Painted Jacket
April wore this printed Marc Jacobs hoodie in season 1; the hoodie is styled and cut like a motorcycle jacket and makes a lot of sense for April instead of a flashy, leather jacket that draws too much attention.
It’s spray-painted and quirky and also has a really unpredictable color palette. April wore it with a white vest underneath and paired it with a canvas bag, which added a lot of edge to her look.
8 The Yellow Hoodie
April has worn this yellow hoodie on many occasions, most notably in season 4 when she drove Andy to the Grand Canyon. This yellow hoodie is convenient go-to outerwear, and although April was a low-key dresser, she did fit into any one box and this color is a good example of how she liked to be a bit unpredictable even though the outfit is casual.
Her sartorial nonchalance also made April the best-dressed person in the Parks and Rec department. She paired this sporty hoodie with a printed blouse and not an athleisure pick or something grungy, which made the look more refreshing.
7 The Owl Jumper
April’s owl jumper was one of her most memorable outfits and turns out it had some high street credentials as well since it was an Isabel Marant number. April was quite fond of kooky animal motifs and prints, which was really intriguing since it was a direct contrast to her daunting, icy demeanor.
It’s possible that she subconsciously leaned towards childlike, fantastical design elements to make herself somewhat approachable. But this stylized jacquard knit number also proves that April was decidedly moving towards a more mature, self-assured wardrobe.
6 The Parka Jacket
April’s hiking style was effervescent, chic and still had an effortless quality about it. On camping trips or outdoor retreats, she usually depended on sturdy, reliable options that go with everything, like this versatile green parka jacket that she wore in season 6.
It’s designed like a hunting jacket, so the double storm flaps, raglan sleeves and cobra hood stand out, especially because April styles the jacket with a casual top and some slim-fit chinos, which is an unusual pairing.
5 The Striped Shirt And Skirt
By the final season, April had got a hang of how to balance power dressing with her individual sense of style. This look is a great example because it exudes confidence and yet doesn’t come across as too stuffy. April pairs a simple striped shirt with a printed A-line schoolgirl skirt.
The styling is quite simple and yet works incredibly well to establish April’s personal sense of playful, relaxed fashion. In fact, April repurposed many basic, workwear staples to team them up in a more interesting way, so she could have a great wardrobe without having to spend too much.
4 The Collared Sweater With Bow
April has had the most significant transformation over the years on Parks and Rec. But her choices in fashion never stopped being spunky, even after she had to adapt to a more formal lifestyle.
Her style is actually quite a contrast to her boss Leslie’s sense of fashion since the latter is a rather safe dresser. April paired this sharp bow-collared sweater with a short leopard jacquard skirt by Marc Jacobs. It made a rather understated statement but definitely suggests that April was dressing to make an impact in the later seasons.
3 The Yellow Cardigan
April Ludgate is the source of many great Parks and Rec memes because she is hilarious, cool and nonchalant, and chances are her character doesn’t spend more than a few minutes planning a look. While the show never explored how much time she spent choosing an outfit every morning, her fashion choices gave out a lot of clues.
This chic, yellow textured cardigan was worn by April at Donna’s wedding rehearsal, so April simply picked a dressier version of her usual go-to cardigans to go to an important event. Surprisingly, she made the look work since she wore the cardigan with a chic mini skirt, which dressed it up a bit.
2 The Camel Sweater
This J Crew camel sweater screams April Ludgate: it’s eccentric, chic and grown-up at the same time. Whenever April opted for casual wear in the later seasons, she usually picked interesting, noteworthy pieces such as this one.
The rib-trim neck, the hand-drawn tassels, and the plush cashmere finish suggest that April spent more time curating her wardrobe as she rose in the ranks and also was able to spend more on her clothes. Season 1 April would probably never have purchased this for herself.
1 The Floral Crop Top
April had always been a rebellious dresser, which is why she often went out of her way to wear something people didn’t expect her to, be it cashmere cardigans, chunky cable knits or even polka dots. Of course, she styled them all to fit her personal style, which made her fashion so interesting.
Even when she picked florals, for instance, she chose something with a refreshing silhouette. This cropped, sharp floral blouse has a contrasting stand collar and exposed back zip. So it’s essentially designed like a sporty, after-gym outfit that April repurposed as a summer blouse.
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