HOW SEX AND THE CITY HAS TRANSFORMED STYLE TODAY
Camila Bonilla
In wake of the revived HBO show, And Just Like That, the original 90s comedic drama Sex and the City has resurfaced in today's internet culture. The original show follows four women in their thirties as they navigate love in New York City. Its reboot, And Just Like That, propels us a decade into the future, where we follow their new life positions in marriage and other realities.
What does Generation Z have in common with women in their thirties exploring these relationships? The girls of this generation have found themselves connecting to these women, who have all somehow found their way into our hearts as viewers.
Each of the girls come into the show with unique personalities that everyone can draw from. Carrie, the narrator of the show, is driven by her passion for fashion. Charlotte is optimistic and determined to find her fairytale love story. Samantha, who has a passion for her career in publicity, is less concerned with matching herself to one person, but is instead looking for a good time. Finally, headstrong Miranda finds herself in surprising situations during this quest for love.
PHOTO: Vogue Australia
In addition to heart wrenching stories, much of the relevance of Sex and the City stems from its remarkable, and sometimes unconventional, fashion looks. Each of the characters have distinct styles that reflect and enhance their individual personalities. ​
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“I really like Charlotte’s style,” says Moana Marx, a sophomore, when asked about her favorite character’s fashion style. “I think it’s so classy, so timeless. Don’t get me wrong, Carrie pops off though she has some questionable pieces as well. I think Charlotte is the most consistent, because it was good when the show was [originally] filmed and it is still good now. It’s something to keep in mind in terms of your own fashion and what lasts, you know.”
Charlotte embodies a mostly preppy and classic style, donning brands such as Ralph Lauren for her sweaters and Chanel for her suits. She mostly appears in pink, reinforcing her feminine persona.
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However some characters like Carrie inhabit completely different fashion personas. Carrie definitely fluctuates when it comes to her stylistic choices. She loves to wear her staple Manolo Blahniks but is keen to switch up everything else — often matching crazy skirts with patterned tops in unpredictable manners.
The viewers' ability to recall scenes just from an outfit is a testament to the show's styling capability. Take for instance: featured to the right is Carrie in the ‘naked dress’ which she wears right before her first date with Mr. Big.
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Miranda dresses to impress in power suits, while Samantha likes to bling out large jewelry accessories. Both also reflect their personalities in their external wear. Both hard workers, Miranda often seeks out more professional attire in her wardrobe and Samantha enjoys using her well-earned money in rewarding herself in luxury pieces.​
PHOTO: Harper's Bazaar
Regardless of the girls’ individual differences in style, it is irrefutable that they, as a collective, have a large power over our internet culture. These girls are constantly prevalent on Pinterest, making a mark on the inspiration boards for most young adults today. If anything can be said about these four, it's that they know how to make a statement, whether that be in statement dresses or in piercing stilettos.