When you think of Sex and the City, you might associate the show with friendships, relationships, gossip, and, of course, fashion. The show’s main character, Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker), is known for her unique, trendsetting fashion. As a sex columnist, she stays up-to-date on the latest fashion and how to dress to impress a man.
Carrie’s fashion evolved throughout the show’s six seasons and the subsequent films. In the earlier seasons, her style reflects the late 1990s, but then she transitioned to the early 2000s. She was often the first person to know the current trends. Take a look at her complete style transformations. Which season is your favorite?
Season 1 – Bohemian Fairy Tale
During the first season, viewers meet Carrie, a single newspaper sex columnist who is living lavishly in New York City. She already has an elaborate wardrobe, but her style is different than what you know from the later seasons. Her fashion is playful with her iconic blue Fendi coat and high-heeled sandals. When she’s attending late-night parties or dates, she wears mini-dresses that show off her figure, stilettos, etc.
The show’s makeup artist Kabuki (for the first two seasons) and costume designer Pat Field described Carrie’s style in the first season as “bohemian fairy tale.” Carrie styles her signature curly (crimped) hair that viewers miss in other seasons. Kabuki commented, “I used a lot of pearly highlights around the eyes and along the cheekbones and would often smudge glittery black pencil around her eyes.”
Season 2 – Plenty Of Black
In the show’s second season, Carrie starts wearing black clothing to show her dark side. When she attends a party at an S&M-themed club, she wears a black leather halter-top, a full pleated skirt, and a top hat (which seems unusual for the character, but it somehow worked).
Her makeup in the season is consistent with the first season, but it’s also fresh and youthful. Kabuki commented, “I just wanted to play it safe…I’d mist her face with Evian water for that dewy, fresh feeling. It kept the makeup from looking heavy and went with her character’s youthful vibe.”
Season 3 – Fashionable Blooms
During the show’s third season, Carrie meets successful furniture designer Aidan Shaw (John Corbett). While in this relationship, Carrie wears fashionable, floral clothing that feels like she’s walking in a garden. On one date, she wears a Marni jacket, a white tank top, pink Chloe pants, a purple silk flower, and a Christian Dior purse.
Makeup artist Judy Chin commented, “We wanted to show pure Carrie as we know her: black mascara, flushed cheeks, and a bit of pink liner on the lips topped with clear gloss.” She looks distinct this season, and she certainly influenced many fashionistas who wanted to look just like her.
Season 4 – Impressive Prada
Towards the beginning of the show’s fourth season, Carrie is struggling in her on-again, off-again relationship with Aidan. She wants to prove she can be a good girlfriend, fiancé, and future wife. She decides to be spontaneous and surprise Aidan at a bar, wearing an impressive Prada top and skirt with Manolo Blahnik nude pumps. She also wears a Gucci fanny pack that seemed to bring back the ‘90s fanny pack.
Unfortunately, Carrie is heartbroken when she finds Aidan flirting with the female bartender. Their engagement doesn’t last much longer after that, and this changes Carrie’s fashion.
Season 4 – A More Serious Carrie
After she breaks up with Aidan, Carrie’s fashion changes drastically in the second half of the fourth season. She’s single and she feels alone. As summer transitions to autumn, Carrie starts wearing more serious clothing to match her mood.
In addition, she also chops off her hair in a cropped haircut. While some fans prefer her longer hair, the hairstyle mirrored her emotions at the time. She also looked sleek and modern for her new job at Vogue magazine.
Season 5 – Professional Carrie
Carrie continues to wear professional clothing in the show’s fifth season. She’s publishing her first book and she has more challenging work at Vogue. She’s becoming a successful writer, and her style matches her professionalism. For example, at her book’s launch party, she wears a feathered Anna Molinari dress that looks different from her typical slip-dresses.
Her makeup also changed this season. Chin reflected, “Carrie’s brows were a group effort. Both Sarah Jessica and I weighed in on the grooming. Her two brows are very different, so we just went with it. I’d fill them in very slightly with a seal brown pencil and extend them out a bit, like I did here, for a bit of glamour…The asymmetrical nature just adds to Carrie’s charm.”
Season 6 – French Fashion
In the show’s final season, Carrie is spontaneous and moves to Paris with her Russian boyfriend, Aleksandr Petrovsky (Mikhail Baryshnikov). Carrie doesn’t waste any time being inspired by the French fashion scene. She wears Versace, Chanel, Balenciaga, Christian Lacroix, and Louboutins. She grows her hair out, in which hairstylist Mandy Lyons created two extreme textures for one hairstyle. Carrie wears ponytails that give her “a very sweet look.”
However, Carrie’s relationship eventually ends, and she returns home to New York City. She wears her signature “Carrie” necklace and she brings back the blue Fendi coat she wore in the first season. New York is her home, and she fully embraces the city.
Sex And The City: The Movie – Bold And Beautiful
In 2008, Carrie returned to the big screen in Sex and the City, a film continuation of the television series. Four years after the show ended, Carrie’s style has changed even more. She’s sleek, modern, and she walks down the sidewalk in New York City with stunning dresses.
Carrie has never looked better. She turns heads—for all the right reasons. Many of her fashion choices are nostalgic for the television series but presented in a whole new way.
Sex And The City: The Movie – Her Wedding Gown
In the film, Carrie is finally going to marry her on-again, off-again boyfriend, Mr. Big (Chris Noth). Everything is perfect and no one can forget her elaborate Vivienne Westwood couture dress. The dress has been referenced as one of the best wedding dresses in television history.
However, Mr. Big leaves Carrie at the altar. Of course, this is devastating and Carrie’s fashion changes to match her depression. Chin explained, “I think of this as Carrie’s dark period. I was thinking goth. I just drowned her in black liner.” Carrie adds auburn and honey-gold highlights to her hair, and she wears darker clothing. While she’s still beautiful, she looks as though her fashion is the last thing on her mind.
Sex And The City 2 – Nostalgic Fashion
In Sex and the City 2, Carrie wears clothing that is nostalgic of the original television series. Chin said, “For this movie, I wanted to bring back the old Carrie.” She wears a playful lavender full skirt, a designer tee-shirt, a taupe patterned shrug, and she carries a beaded handbag. Carrie is confident and sophisticated—the Carrie Bradshaw we all know and love.
Essentially, Carrie just looks “cool” in the second film. She’s living in an uptown apartment (back together with Mr. Big), and she’s serious. She’s natural, fun, and she is finally comfortable. She has completely transformed as a character—both with her fashion and her personality.