The style of Sex and the City

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Angie is co-founder of YLF and its resident fashion stylist.

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The style of Sex and the City

— by Angie

on July 15, 2008

I thoroughly enjoyed the movie and would see it again in a heartbeat. But the fashion did not meet my expectations.

In the TV series Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker) was famous for her over-the-top haute couture and theatrical “Sex and the City” style. It was coveted by fashionistas everywhere. Unfortunately Carrie’s movie style leaves me cold. Unflattering voluminous floral frocks and trapeze coats, gaudy accessories, maxi dresses, an awful Vivienne Westwood wedding gown and loads of real fur ruled her look.

There were some looks I enjoyed:

A purple, high-neck, short sheath dress with black stud belt and stacked gladiator sandals. It had a plunging back and Carrie’s black bra peaked through. I didn’t like that part, but I loved the dress. She wore this outfit when she said goodbye to the penthouse apartment that wasn’t to be.
A turquoise, tailored, knee-length frock with uber long kimono sleeves. Carrie wore it to Charlotte’s baby shower.
A Christian Lacroix wedding gown with black sash and pearls. Carrie modeled it on the Vogue wedding dress shoot. My heart sank when she chose the Vivienne Westwood frock instead.

The best part of Carrie’s movie style was a long strand of chunky pearls that accompanied half her outfits. Even to bed! I also appreciated her cutting edge footwear style because they were walking works of art and she sported them effortlessly.

Miranda (Cynthia Nixon) gets my vote for best dressed and most stylish in the movie. She was absolutely radiant and her ensembles were for the most part tastefully eclectic. Charlotte (Kristin Davis) comes in second and Samantha (Kim Cattrall) stone last.

Did you like Carrie’s fashion and style? Which character would you rate as best dressed?

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20 comments · Add a comment

Pat

I agree that Miranda was the best dressed/stylish and Samantha the least. Was it just me or were Samantha’s suits all awfully 80’s and dated looking????????

July 15, 2008 at 7:08 am

shiny

I completely agree with your assessment, Angie. I thought the movie made Carrie into a caricature and fashion victim. Regarding the wedding dresses, this was probably a decision made by marketing people – who paid the most $ for the best product placement in the movie.

It was a fun movie regardless and I’d see it again!

July 15, 2008 at 7:44 am

Patience

I also enjoyed the movie. I’m never good at remembering the details of the fashion but I was attentive to them, of course. Overall, I wasn’t all that impressed with the fashion. I definitely remember the maxi dresses because I thought of you, Angie. They were awful. I don’t remember the name of my favorite wedding dress but I think it was the most Gothic looking one. I also liked the turquoise dress at the wedding shower and Samantha’s outfits least although I think they were true to her personality. The rest of the girls were all about the same to me. I think I was just paying the most attention to Carrie anyway. My favorites were probably Carrie’s shoes and the wide studded belt that she wore with many of her outfits. My least favorites were the handbags probably– just not impressed for such expensive bags.

I went with a couple of friends and the things they really noticed were the wide belts and the things she wore more than once– the pearls and the studded belt. Is there some significance to the pearls that she wears all the time?

July 15, 2008 at 7:52 am

Patience

To clarify, I liked the turquoise dress on Carrie. I did not like Samantha’s outfits.

July 15, 2008 at 7:54 am

Lannie

I didn’t see the movie, but I never thought much of the fashion on the show. To my eye, it was usually too over-the-top and sometimes just plain ugly. The only character I thought was (generally) stylish was Charlotte. I loved her 50s-esque look, with lots of A-line skirts and dresses. But for the most part, I think Pat Field’s styling is overrated. I know that might be an unpopular opinion, but I’d take the clothes on Gossip Girl over SATC any day!

July 15, 2008 at 7:56 am

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Ah ha. Interesting that I am not the only one with this opinion. Thanks for the complete validation, Shiny.

Lannie, you are not alone. I’ve never watched Gossip Girl, but the fashion in “the Devil wears Prada” was a cut about the rest. And certainly miles ahead of SATC.

Pat, I’m with you. Samantha’s style was “‘80’s Dynasty” inspired. Horrible. But I loved her little pooch.

Patience, you liked the same wedding dress and studded belt I did.

July 15, 2008 at 8:08 am

Monica

I loved, loved, loved SATC…and would see it again in a flash!
As for the fashion, it was all out there and totally over the top! Part of the movie’s marketing strategy I’m sure and an attempt to give us girls what we wanted! Carrie was Carrie and not always impeccable (that’s virtually impossible anyway!), but I think the biggest disappointment was definitely the wedding dress (not to mention the horrific make-up and hair acessory!). I also think that Charlotte was the best dressed of the four, absolutely stunning!

July 15, 2008 at 8:27 am

Joelle

I haven’t seen the movie yet either, but from the few TV episodes I did see I have to agree with Lannie. I tended to like Charlotte’s style the best of the 4 women. She wore a lot of outfits that would be very workable for my lifestyle, plus her brunette coloring is very like my own, so colors that look good on her would probably work for me. I remember Miranda’s style involving a lot of simple, elegantly cut suits in neutral colors, also very stylish and in keeping with her job as a lawyer, but then she did have that striking red hair and bright blue eyes to offset the subtle colors. I might look drab if I dressed that way. Maybe her outfits in the movie are more varied? Carrie was interesting to watch, but she often had way too much going on at once.

July 15, 2008 at 8:41 am

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Miranda’s style evolved. She looked better in the movie than she ever did in the TV series. I feel Charlotte stepped it up in the movie too. Her look became more contemporary. Really suits her.

July 15, 2008 at 9:10 am

San

I haven’t seen the movie yet either but am looking forward to it someday. I loved the show.
Charlotte was always the one I wanted to look like. She was so sweet and cute and dressed the part. (I look nothing like her)
The makers of the show did a good job of dresssing the girls for their personality so it is a good study in personality and style.
I saw a written interview with Kim Cattrall; she is living with a chef and says she has put on some weight. I think the weight makes her look cute and cherubic. I imagine the stylist had to change her style up to accomodate her new look.

July 15, 2008 at 9:12 am

Jeune

The wedding dress she chose was beautiful, but the dead blue bird on the side of her head made me hysterical.

July 15, 2008 at 9:54 am

K Lauren

Loved the turquoise dress – it’s supposedly vintage Emma Dobbs – Calif. from ’39 into the ’70s. But of course, ;^) you can get a knock off from costume designer/stylist website (Patrica Fields) – she does a pretty good job as costume but alot of her label is atrocious.
I know I always watched for the over-the-top outfits and to see how things were put together – which accessories, bags, shoes with which clothing – get new, fresh ideas and just see other ways to interpret style and fashion.
My “job” is in the costume realm and it’s neat to watch what others do to get a different twist on something or figure out new ways to put stuff together – I really like to study, listen and watch get ideas and inspiration.

July 15, 2008 at 10:58 am

sue

I am looking forward to seeing it again and really enjoyed it. I thought Miranda looked fabulous and all I can remember about Carrie is her wrapping that studded belt around almost every outfit. I loved it that Carrie was in bed with her pearls and the next day I busted out my long strand of faux pearls and felt fabulous myself!

July 15, 2008 at 11:51 am

Maude

I’m not planning on watching the SATC movie, so I can’t comment on the styles. I did, however, watch “Get Smart” recently and absolutely loved Anne Hathaway’s trench coats. Reading Angie’s posts on trenches has me in the mood to buy one, and I can’t get the coats from “Get Smart” out of my head!

July 15, 2008 at 12:03 pm

Antje

I loved the SATC movie. One of my favorite scenes was the “keep or toss” one, where Carrie tried on all these outfits and let the others rate them. I could have watched that for much longer, it was hilarious!

July 15, 2008 at 12:36 pm

Kristers

Also enjoyed the Fashion History moment of Carrie’s closet. [We miss the giant shoulder pads…we just won’t admit it!].

Would be nice if you could post the outfits you are mentioning. I didn’t remember the b/w wedding dress and would love to see it. The one she picked was very ‘cool whip’ but a previous poster is right, was probably a product placement item.

July 15, 2008 at 5:01 pm

The Conscious Snob

(website)

I thoroughly enjoyed the film and even purchased the accompanying book to review the fashions all over again. I believe Miranda gets the award for Best Dressed and Most Improved Fashion, while Charlotte was just more of the same. I loved Carrie’s shoes and her random mixes of vintage and current fashion. I ended up purchasing a long strand of pearls as well because she made them look effortlessly chic and sexy. Samantha looked amazing– or shall I say Kim Cattrall– talk about a hot mama! They were all beautiful and it was a wonderful movie to watch with girlfriends. Definitely a DVD to add to my SATC collection.

July 15, 2008 at 9:28 pm

cathy

I was letdown overall with the fashion in the film but can kind of agree that Miranda’s look seemed the best. It kind of seemed like the characters were dressed a little more alike than they were in the show, and yet dressier in a conservative way, as if to say that the 40s are all about being uber dressed. I’m afraid the film will reinforce the whole Real NYC Housewives thing. The floral frocks at the beginning of the film left me especially flat. Carrie’s apartment redo was truly fab though and very meaningful to me because my apartment is already decorated in many of the same colors. I’m hoping some of the interior design trends will pick up from the film.

July 17, 2008 at 4:01 pm

Joey

Haven’t seen the movie, because I heard it got bad ratings. But you all have changed my mind–the ratings here seem to all be very good–not seeing it only once, but wanting to see it again really says something!

I just saw 27 Dresses. Good movie and hysterical dresses!

July 18, 2008 at 12:59 pm

Shell pearls from Hong Kong’s Jade Market | youlookfab

(website)

[…] had lots of fun. She was inspired by Sarah Jessica Parker’s long strand of pearls in the recent Sex and the City Movie, so we set out to purchase those as well as a shorter chunkier strand. After a pleasant experience […]

October 28, 2008 at 6:51 am

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