Sex, Style & the City: Carrie Bradshaw's Iconic Looks
- Claudia Limaverde Costa
- 1 hour ago
- 4 min read
Sex and the City captivated audiences worldwide, exploring the trials and triumphs of four best friends navigating life and love in New York City. At the centre was the most iconic of them all, Carrie Bradshaw. Throughout the show’s run, Carrie never failed to step out in an unforgettable outfit, often featuring luxury labels such as Dior, Fendi, Jimmy Choo, and her personal favourite, Manolo Blahniks.
Sarah Jessica Parker embodied Carrie for more than two decades, and with the wrap of the spin-off, And Just Like That, she may finally be hanging up her Manolos. Throughout her 22-year tenure as the beloved character, viewers have watched her evolve through career highs, romantic entanglements, and lasting friendships; however, one constant has always been her love of fashion. From her playful tutu in the pilot to her lavish Vivienne Westwood wedding gown and her elegant looks in And Just Like That, Carrie has shown us that fashion isn’t just clothing, but storytelling. If Sex and the City taught us anything, it’s that the most important things in life are your girlfriends - and a great pair of heels!
In the pilot episode, we meet Carrie in a simple jewel-neckline pink bodysuit paired with a playful two-tiered white midi tutu and strappy heels. The ensemble perfectly captures her essence: never afraid to wear something whimsical and unconventional, she balances simplicity with drama to create an unforgettable look. While it appears expensive, costume designer Patricia Field later revealed that the tutu was sourced for only $5, proof that style comes not from money, but from creativity.
Carrie was never afraid to make a statement at weddings. In Season 2, Episode 7 (The Chicken Dance), she stuns in a Donna Karan gown from the Spring/Summer 1999 collection. The dress features a strapless fitted bodice with loose pleats that cascade into a train. Crafted from nude glittered fabric, the ruched gown sparkles beautifully in the light, cementing it as one of her most ethereal looks.
Among Carrie’s most unforgettable outfits is the Dior newspaper dress, designed by John Galliano for the Maison’s Autumn/Winter 2000 collection. Featured in Season 3, Episode 17 (What Goes Around Comes Around), the striking piece mimicked the layout of a traditional newspaper, reimagined as the 'Christian Dior Daily.' Its draped cowl neckline and asymmetric hemline created a silhouette that was both structured and sensual. Paired with a dazzling silver sequined bag finished with delicate white fringe, it proved once again that Carrie knew how to turn fashion into a headline of its own.
In Season 4, Episode 3 (The Agony and the Ex-tacy), Carrie pushed boundaries with what became one of her most debated looks. She accessorised a cropped pink shirt and a green palm tree printed circle skirt with a bold green polka-dot belt playfully cinched across her bare torso. Audiences were divided, shocked not only by the daring clash of patterns but also by the belt’s complete rejection of practicality. It was a quintessential Carrie moment: unapologetic, unconventional, and unforgettable.
Later in Season 4, Episode 17 (A Vogue Idea), she delivered one of her most sophisticated ensembles: a Westwood navy pinstripe skirt suit. The asymmetric neckline offered a dramatic twist on classic workwear, while the tailored pencil skirt gave the outfit a sleek finish. She accessorised with her signature ‘Carrie’ necklace and a gold brooch, adding a personal touch. Her simple makeup, paired with a smoky eye and glossy nude lip, completed the look: a powerful, understated statement with that unmistakable hint of Carrie.
Alongside her professional attire, Carrie also knows how to deliver a striking evening look. One example is a piece from Paco Rabanne’s Spring/Summer 2003 collection, featured in Season 6, Episode 11 (The Domino Effect). The sultry grey slip dress features an asymmetric skirt with silver detailing, paired with a black lace bralette and grey shorts to emphasise its daring, sensual edge. Completing the look, Carrie wore a smoky black eye and a dark nude lip, amplifying the allure of the ensemble.
Of course, no Carrie retrospective would be complete without her infamous wedding to Mr. Big in Sex and the City: The Movie. For the occasion, she wore an ivory Vivienne Westwood avant-garde gown with a pointed sweetheart neckline bustier adorned with a silver brooch and a voluminous puffed skirt. Nicknamed the ‘cloud dress,’ it featured gold-backed ivory satin for the bodice and ivory taffeta for the skirt. True to her style, Carrie elevated the look with a bold teal feathered headpiece topped with a stuffed bird, her ‘something blue,’ paired with a champagne-coloured veil. It was dramatic, daring, and undeniably Carrie.
While much has been said about her original looks, And Just Like That brought its share of fashion triumphs as well. One standout came in Season 2, Episode 1 (Met Cute), when Carrie dared to re-wear her wedding gown. This time, she styled it with a teal capelet that merged seamlessly into silk gloves, her beloved Manolos, and a matching teal headpiece with a birdcage veil. What might have been a fashion faux pas for anyone else became, in Carrie’s hands, a reinvention, transforming her infamous wedding dress into a symbol of joy at the Met Gala, giving it the happier ending it deserved.
In Season 3, Episode 1 (Outlook Good), she once again proved her fearless approach to fashion in a sheer dress by Simone Rocha from the Spring/Summer 2024 collection. The gown was adorned with white roses tucked into its tulle, adding drama and flair to an otherwise delicate silhouette. Beneath the sheer overlay, she wore a dark blue bralette paired with pink-to-white ombré shorts and open-toe sandals. At 50, Carrie showed the world that age has nothing to do with ‘serving a look.’
Carrie Bradshaw has long stood at the forefront of fashion inspiration, using style as both her passion and her language. Fashion has been the thread weaving through her friendships, work, and relationships, a means of expression and empowerment. Never one to shy away from bold choices, she channelled her personality and spark through unforgettable outfits, from the controversial belt to re-wearing her wedding dress. Again and again, she proved that there is no such thing as ‘too much.’ And in doing so, Carrie Bradshaw inspired women everywhere to embrace their individuality by one great outfit, and one great pair of heels, at a time.
Written by Claudia Limaverde Costa
Edited by Abbey Villasis, Co-Fashion Editor
