Sex and the City is a timeless show known for dealing with relationships, reflecting life in New York City, and most importantly, its status as one of the most iconic fashion guides of the 1990s. Each episode, Carrie, Miranda, Samantha, and Charlotte discuss and work through life and relationship problems while donning immaculately planned outfits. The women are not only trendsetters on the New York social scene, but also display some of the most flawlessly chic outfits of any show since. ‘90s fashion has definitely made a comeback in 2020, and looking at Sex and the City, it is easy to see why!
What I find particularly interesting is that each character has their own unique style that matches their personality, while also integrating popular fashion trends of the time. Carrie’s looks are an eclectic mix of bold pieces and colours, with an incorporated love of Manolo Blahniks, Samantha rocks a combination of striking power suits and brightly coloured body-hugging pieces, Miranda mixes menswear and statement jewelry for a working woman style, and Charlotte is all about feminine preppy pieces.
While each of the women wear some fabulously unforgettable outfits throughout the show, I contend that Charlotte truly is the fashion icon of the series. Her style is both classic and preppy, with a flair for perfectly tailored form-flattering silhouettes and timeless romantic pieces. Charlotte is known as the Park Avenue Princess, and she is unafraid of rocking ultra feminine pieces that represent her personality. From pink accessories and bows to bold polka dots and her love for pearls, Charlotte is adventurous in experimenting with different patterns and pieces while keeping her looks classy and polished.
There are too many fun Charlotte outfits to list, but below are some of my favorite outfits of hers that make her the style icon of the show:
Charlotte is the queen of paying attention to small details, like adding silver hoops to give this look a polished finish. Normally I would not be a fan of a sleeveless turtleneck, but Charlotte pulls off this trend by wearing it in black and giving it a more elegant look. Charlotte works as an art dealer, and with outfits like these she really embodies that art gallery vibe. The understated elements of this outfit give it a timelessness that makes it just as stylish now as it was then.
2. Her Checkered Interview Outfit
This outfit is one that only Charlotte could ever pull off. Pairing a checkered vest with a patterned tie, Charlotte somehow makes the two contrasting patterns look great together. Furthermore, while a vest can usually be an outdated and unflattering wardrobe choice, Charlotte makes it look chic and classy for the perfect interview outfit.
Faux fur is definitely a look that comes in and out of style, but this jacket will always be fabulous. By matching the jacket with a black dress and boots, the outfit looks classy and allows the jacket to be the main focus of the look. Additionally, Charlotte elevates the outfit by accessorising with small detailed touches, like the Van Cleef necklace. By coupling the bold fur-lined jacket with a designer necklace, Charlotte transforms the look from dress-up to grownup.
In the episode where she visits the self-help section of the bookstore, Charlotte’s black Polo sweater constitutes pretty much everything you could want in an outfit. Charlotte’s style embodies the essence of Ralph Lauren, and she even says in another episode that she used to be a teen model for a Ralph Lauren store in New Haven! Pairing the sweater with a hot pink purse helps to brighten the look and emphasize the logo on the sweater, which really ties everything together. She makes wearing Polo look like a casual day-to-day outfit, which totally represents her preppy style.
This winter look is one of my favorite cold-weather outfits of the series! While all of the women in Sex and the City are dressed in multiple designer pieces each episode, Charlotte tends to incorporate Burberry into a lot of her winter outfits, and always makes it look sophisticated. The coat paired with the black turtleneck and silver hoops completes a winter look that makes me wish it was raining so that I could copy it myself! Charlotte has some of the best rain and casual outdoor looks of the show, which are made even more fabulous by her mix of small chic jewelry and striking outerwear pieces.
While these outfits are, in my opinion, definitely some of the most iconic looks of the show, there are countless other memorable outfits throughout each season. It is certainly worth checking out Sex and the City on HBO to get your daily dose of ‘90s style inspiration and to catch up on some hilariously entertaining plotlines. Better yet, a new revival of the show has been confirmed and is returning to TV! Sadly, Samantha will not be returning to the new limited HBO Max series, but there will be plenty of new entertaining story lines and fabulous fashion!