She Even Dresses Like Cybill

The Series: “Cybill,” CBS, Mondays at 9:30 p.m.

The Setup: Account of the complex life of twice-divorced actress and mother Cybill Sheridan (Cybill Shepherd, pictured).

The Costume Designer: Robert Turturice, whose credits include an Emmy award for his work on “Moonlighting,” the movies “Clean and Sober” and “Big Top Pee-Wee,” as well as many television movies.

The Look: Cybill does schlumpy better than anyone. That’s schlumpy as in casual, not slobby. While the list of sitcom counterparts dressed in boring staples from the Gap-J. Crew axis is too lengthy to mention, Cybill has a breezy, personal approach to dressing in her down time. After all, who else on television has an entire wardrobe of high-top sneakers, platform tennis shoes, spectators, loafers and flat, lace-up boots?

As with every aspect of a new series, Cybill’s fashion strategy is evolving and becoming more on target. (Word of advice: Avoid the career-girl blazers.) One recent homey standout--baggy overalls paired with a fruit-motif cardigan sweater and high-tops. The easy-does-it approach carries into evening with outfits such as a black beaded tank shirt and beaded pajama pants worn with a red silk chiffon jacket. Of course, Cybill plays against her fashion foil, best friend Maryann (Christine Baranski), forever over-coiffed and overdressed in over-tight, over-bright suits in “The Nanny” spirit.

The Technique: Turturice shops for Cybill, as if the struggling actress were shopping for herself. He buys pieces rather than outfits and regularly hits the sale racks (where he found her St. John beaded pants), as he does for Maryann. “I process it the same way the character does rather than ‘Here’s an outfit,’ ” Turturice says.

Quoted: “Unlike Maddie on ‘Moonlighting,’ which was a character so far removed from Cybill Shepherd, this character in concept is very close to Cybill and at times is an extension of her, so the clothes tend to be close to who she is and her fashion sense. It’s very collaborative,” Turturice says, adding that Shepherd puts a premium not only on comfortable clothes but comfortable shoes.

Try This at Home: Black pants as a wardrobe staple. Cybill’s come easy, full, loose, tailored, as well as in the form of jeans and leggings. “It does several things--I use black as a neutral. It goes with everything, and if you have a great blouse or jacket or vest, you can really punctuate it. Also, it streamlines dressing,” Turturice explains.

Sources: Cybill’s wardrobe is heavy on CP Shades and Beebe pants; Equipment, Cafe and Nicole Miller shirts, Carushka leggings and exercise gear, plus a smattering of designer pieces such as Moschino and Donna Karan. Maryann wears everything from Christian Lacroix to Thierry Mugler and Saks Fifth Avenue’s private label suits, often embellished with Turturice’s braids, buttons and trims.