“Sex and the City’s” Carrie Bradshaw is Still a Fashion Icon Today
Written by Alex Speier
This past June marked 25 years since the first episode of “Sex and the City” premiered, yet the show is still gaining viewers today. The show revolves around the sex lives of four friends – Carrie Bradshaw, Samantha Jones, Miranda Hobbes and Charlotte York – as they navigate their late 20s and early 30s living in New York City. While each character has their own distinct personality, they all come together to share a common interest for everything fashion-related. The four women can be seen shopping for new clothes, shoes and accessories, attending fashion events and wearing designer outfits quite frequently, even when their paychecks were not supportive of these financial decisions.
Actress Sarah Jessica Parker played the role of the main character, Bradshaw, whose passion for fashion was arguably the strongest of all the characters. One way this passion was revealed was through a number of her famous quotes.
“When I first moved to New York and I was totally broke, sometimes I would buy Vogue instead of dinner,” Bradshaw said in Season 2, Episode 1, titled "Take Me Out to the Ball Game.” “I felt it fed me more.”
Throughout the entire series of “Sex and the City,” Bradshaw can be seen wearing many of the show's most iconic looks. Furthermore, many of these outfits add to Bradshaw’s fictional identity, shaping her into the fashion icon she is today. Whether she is dodging puddles wearing a tiered tutu and heels, grabbing a bite to eat wearing John Galliano’s famed newspaper dress, taking a dip in Central Park’s pond with her prominent love interest, “Mr. Big,” wearing Richard Tyler’s floral midi dress, or smoking a cigarette strutting in mismatched Louboutins, Bradshaw’s style has always proved to be memorable.
“I think Carrie’s style makes her stand out in the series,” junior Hana Razvi said. “Sarah Jessica Parker and her stylists played around with so many different brands, versatile accessories and colors…Carrie’s style is unmatched and iconic.”
Social media has also allowed for the show’s fandom to be able to connect and multiply across many platforms. It has even become a trend on TikTok for users to post videos of outfits inspired by or recreating Bradshaw’s style. Many of these videos have tens of thousands of likes, saves, shares and comments, revealing the mass influence Bradshaw has on wardrobes today..
Students at UW-Madison even find themselves inspired by Bradshaw’s style while crafting outfits of their own.
“Carrie wears a few sheer outfits with a bra showing underneath, which I just love,” freshman Bella Groenevelt said. “She looks casual but dressy at the same time.”
Furthermore, Bradshaw has even inspired junior Sophie Wilmerding’s plans for after college.
“I honestly wish I had Carrie’s confidence and creative vision,” Wilmerding said. “The way she mixes materials is inspirational. She has always made me dream of growing up in NYC and has influenced my decision to move there after graduation.”
Overall, while Bradshaw may not always serve as the best role model on the show when it comes to how she handles her friendships and relationships, one cannot deny the impact her character has made in the world of fashion.
Edited by: Nicole Borras, Sam Teisch, Lenah Helmke, Bella Matias, Katherine Rubinstein, and Lauren Veum
DEI Reviewed by: Katherine Rubinstein
