NY Post photo composite
And just like that — late ’90s style is back en vogue.
More than 25 years after “Sex and the City” first aired, the influence of Carrie Bradshaw — or, more accurately, the hit HBO show’s costume designer Patricia Field — can be spotted on the streets of the Big Apple, from sequin mini skirts and tulle tutus to Fendi baguettes and Manolo Blahnik pumps.
“I watch it and I’m like, it doesn’t even feel that dated,” fashion content creator Caroline Vazzana, who calls herself the “modern day Carrie Bradshaw,” told The Post, insisting that the costumes “transcend time.”
“The style still remains true today and still gives people so much inspiration,” the 32-year-old said.
And lately, count celebrities among those finding inspiration in Carrie’s closet.
Last month, Emily Ratajkowski stepped out in a Bradshaw-esque number — a gray dress that bears a striking resemblance to the widely re-created mini seen in Season 2 — and Kendall Jenner sported a two-piece archival John Galliano frock nearly identical to Bradshaw’s City Hall wedding suit in the 2008 flick.
Even Sarah Jessica Parker took a piece out of her character’s closet, re-wearing a Chanel blouse from the original series while filming for the reboot, “And Just Like That,” in August.
Meanwhile, fashionistas who love sparkles, tulle and strappy heels re-create memorable looks from the show — which was on-air for six seasons and inspired two films — and frequently share their copycat outfits on TikTok. Some New Yorkers even try to emulate Bradshaw’s style in their everyday wardrobe, using “Carrie Bradshaw” as a theme for their happy hour dress code.
“I’ve always loved to look back and create outfits that were popular and still have relevance now,” Erika Dwyer, a 25-year-old New Yorker who models SATC-inspired ensembles on TikTok, told The Post.
But we couldn’t help but wonder — what makes Carrie chic so timeless?
It might just be Carrie’s confidence. Gianna Caldera, a 19-year-old fashion student who wasn’t born when the show first aired, told The Post that Carrie is a conduit to help this generation, who rampantly began streaming the show for the first time this year, start “embracing personal style.”
Content creator Allegra Rosa said it’s “fun” to have a “dress-up outlet” as an adult. She’s particularly fond of the “bold fashion” and sense of “play” with various garments.
“It’s not just about color — it’s about texture, it’s about patterns, it’s about shape,” Rosa, 24, said.
Vazzana lauds Bradshaw’s “fearless sense of dressing” as one of the most alluring aspects of the fictional character’s wardrobe.
“Just seeing somebody like Carrie Bradshaw … walk down the streets of New York City so confidently in these bold, colorful, maximalist outfits, I was like, okay, I want to be like that person. I want to feel like that one day. I want to have that confidence one day,” said Vazzana.
And having re-watched “Sex and the City” more times than she’d like to admit, she now owns many replicas of shoes, garments and accessories seen in the series.
“You could watch it over and over again and pick up on a different piece, a different bag, a different shoe that she wore … and then you’re on eBay hunting trying to find a similar item,” she said.
While much of the show’s outfits can be purchased secondhand on eBay, where prices can be upwards of hundreds of dollars for one piece, it’s not always easy to find the clothes. At first, Field wasn’t dressing Parker “in head-to-toe designer,” explained Vazzana, who previously had the costumer as a guest on her podcast.
Instead, Field sourced items from vintage stores across the city, sometimes styling pieces from designers “you’ve never heard of.”
These pieces become sartorial trophies for the TikTok generation.
“The coolest ones are the vintage ones because you get them for like ten bucks and it’s like you have a piece from the show that now you could resell for a lot of money,” Betsy Braly, 33, the founder of Finding Carrie’s Closet, told The Post.
Scouring for items can “take months,” said the Bay Area style connoisseur, who has indexed many pieces from the show and organized them by season and episode.
Braly said that since Parker’s character “mixed a lot of high-end designer pieces with vintage finds,” many outfits are “attainable.”
“If you can only afford the skirt, then you could get everything else — and all of a sudden you’re dressing like Carrie Bradshaw.”
To really dress like Bradshaw, Caldera recommends a “standout accessory,” like a quirky hat or a unique bag a la her pigeon clutch.
“Anything that you think might be too much isn’t too much.”
“I think every New Yorker has a Carrie Bradshaw within them,” Caldera added, calling Bradshaw “a personality,” rather than “a character.”
“It’s just about letting her come out and expressing your style.”