The Evolution of Carrie Bradshaws Fashion: From Thrift Store Chic to Generational Aesthetics
When Sarah Jessica Parker first met with the Sex and the City costume department in 1998, two items sat on a couch awaiting her inspection: a vintage clutch and a vintage fur. These items, purchased at a downtown consignment store, set the tone for years of fashion to come. Carrie Bradshaw, played by Parker, is the ultimate Cinderella story – an aspirational romance in style and substance. The character didn't become an instant icon by following the rules. Instead, she invented a style all her own: showing up for picnics in dirndls, wearing belts around her bare midriff, and pairing $5 tutus with stilettos that most of us could only dream of purchasing. That playful, seamless high-low blend – thrift store finds paired with designer couture – is her fashion fingerprint. It endures to this day, as young shoppers scour their local thrift stores for treasures to pair with more modern finds.
Maiia Krylova, founder of the popular Instagram account @carriebradshaws_outfits, believes the character’s signature style is “the ultimate expression of fearless individuality and emotional storytelling through fashion.” She explains that Carrie didn’t dress to impress others or to follow rules; she dressed to express exactly who she was at that moment. However, Carrie’s fashion maximalism seems to be hitting differently these days. Her outfits in And Just Like That…, the sequel series to SATC, have repeatedly gone viral, and not always in a good way, as fans scrutinize Carrie’s giant hats and pigeon purses and declare them over-the-top.
One could attribute a healthy portion of the critiques to ageism. “People really did not want the girls to change” in AJLT, says costume designer Molly Rogers. “They want to keep them in this time capsule, where Carrie’s at the gay club with the bandana around her arm and a see-through tank on.” Now in her 50s, some might think it’s time for Carrie to give up the wacky accessories and give Chico’s a try. But viewers’ sudden heel-turn might stem from deeper factors as well.
By all accounts, Carrie’s specific approach to dressing herself should be a huge hit right now. "Loud luxury" is “in” and has been for years. Think: fluffy furs, bold animal prints, conspicuous logos, and clothing in rich shades of red and emerald green. Productions like The White Lotus and Another Simple Favor have flaunted an ostentatious style, and artists like Chappell Roan and Doechii have also embraced (and subverted) the "boom boom" aesthetic of the ’80s with playful power suits. That’s not the only Carrie-coded trend that’s surging right now either. There’s also fashion maximalism, which often thrives during times of economic uncertainty. On runways and on TikTok, people are going all in on high-concept outfits, playful accessories, and lots and lots of layers.
Carrie and her hybrid wardrobe are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to SATC’s fashion influence. Consider also younger generations’ dedication to curating hyper-specific “aesthetics” as a way to wordlessly introduce themselves to the world. Each generation has taken slightly different lessons from that ethos. For example, Generation Z fully embraces the show’s fearless experimentation while millennials approach the show’s influence from a more lifestyle-focused perspective.
