Carrie Bradshaw’s Lifestyle Could Be Problematic, But Her Style Still Stands The Test Of Time

Other than that blonde, naturally curly (c-c-c-curly!) hair, I’m fully aware that Carrie Bradshaw and I are very different on many levels. But it doesn’t stop me from imagining myself living her life, like this moment when I’m sitting in my room writing this blog post.

I wasn’t a part of the era when Sex and The City made its debut and became a phenomenal hit. It was Gossip Girl that swept my underdeveloped preteen brain away.

Until my late adolescence, I first watched SATC, and it was mind-blowing. But after years of re-watching, with the exploration of self-identity and the development of the value system, I’m no longer the teenager who blindly worshiped everything the show conveys.

Fashion, the city, love, friendship, they could easily make us overlook other issues in the show, such as lack of diversity, fake feminist behavior, middle-class privilege… Regardless, the fashion in the show is nothing short of legendary. Looking back from more than two decades later, we can only agree that Carrie Bradshaw has always been ahead of the game.

Cinched-Waist Shirt

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It’s safe to say that we all at least saw once elsewhere that resembled this look. The cinched waist white shirt has been a trend for quite some time. And yes, it was Carrie who started this sartorial masterpiece by borrowing from Mr.Big’s closet and wearing his button-down shirt with an Hermès leather belt and strategic zhooshing.

The Slip Dress

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Whether it’s the asymmetrical floral dress or the minimalism white slip dress, they are the looks you can easily pull off once the weather warms up. The off-the-shoulder ruffle and fluttery sleeves correspond to the drapery of the dress, bringing out splendid femininity. Or to choose the effortless, chicest lustrous silk-satin slip, the soft cream hue itself adds to the romantic feel, and the figure-skimming shape keeps up simplicity and elegance. Not sure what shoes to pair with? Try crystal-encrusted PVC mules— one of last summer’s hot trend—see how Carrie Bradshaw showed us 20 years ago.

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In the book “Fashion on Television: Identity and Celebrity Culture,” Helen Warner articulates that celebrities’ images serve to “support the modern philosophy that through the development of fashion ‘everyone can be anyone.'” Which explains a big part of the reason why we find fashion fascinating.

It’s the fantasy that hides behind fashion. It’s fashion that weaves boundless possibilities for us to escape from reality and be someone else temporarily. And Carrie’s style demonstrates this philosophy. What’s wrong with spicing up more fun by staging scenes in head while choosing outfits!

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Look at this notable Carrie-believed Parisian style resemblance. Women around the world love to emulate Parisian style for its effortlessness. Even if it’s not really Parisian, the way she includes a beret into a spring-summer dress is what we could all recreate some time.

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Though Carrie didn’t intentionally dress as some other characters (Not that we know of, she might secretly think of someone!)in this outfit, I can see it resembles Jackie Burkhart’s cheese maiden uniform in That ’70s Show. With that little puffy sleeves and a pop of 🍊, it’s just bubbly and sweet for a beautiful day.

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The combination of bubble hem and tulle spell for layers of delicacy, and it will swish beautifully on either side of the road under the Eiffel Tower, or at your home. Some may say that this combo looks outdated and over-the-top. But in retrospect, the swingy silhouette that the voluminous tulle with tiered ruffles creates is what remains intricately favored by celebrities that they would choose to dress on big fashion night.

Apart from the style, it turns out that, instead of Carrie’s glamorous life, now I want the uncertain future of my own. For better or for worse, Carrie Bradshaw stayed in the past, and she could no longer change. But I could, and I did. She was a marker of my growth and looking back at her, I’ve realized how much I’ve grown.

I know there’s someone who has been on the same emotional journey like me, but just because we’re no longer yearning for Carrie’s life adventures, doesn’t mean that we can’t continue to love her style. Life, lifestyle, and style are very different.

Blake lively’s once said in an interview:

“Style is how you say: This is who I am today.”

—- quoted in Helen Warner “Fashion on Television: Identity and Celebrity Culture”

We can dress to be anyone, but we’re not going to lose ourselves for that.

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