In 1998, Sex and the City graced screens and caught both the eyes and hearts of many. The series made a prominent mark on media, culture, and fashion with an enduring popularity to this day. With stylish high-low dressing, potential loves around every corner, and neverending excitement with friends. The show at surface value could be deemed frivolous or shallow due to the glamour and playfulness, but it is one that is deep with much impact on how women conduct or express themselves in the different chapters of their lives. From inspiring the wardrobes of many through numerous iconic style moments that are empowering and eye catching, helping designers, such as Manolo Blahnik, become a household name and to transforming how women are depicted in media as well as the looks and friendships of women off-screen. Famously people wonder, Are You A Carrie, Charlotte, Samantha, Or Miranda? Which begs the question: what is the deeper meaning behind this? What do these characters represent? To answer these questions we will be looking into the portrayal of tropes or archetypes into clothing individually, depictions of traits visually in interaction with one another and the overall anatomy of style within a group.
To begin this analysis, we must acknowledge the group’s dynamic. The four-girl ensemble, playing into the lady, Charlotte. the tomboy, Miranda. the lover, Samantha. and the outlier who is traditionally the main character, in this case, Carrie. This is visually conveyed from the beginning with the Blonde Brunette Red Head trope, with Carrie’s dirty blonde curls she stands out but not in a manner that overpowers. Each is as visually dominant as the other, conveying their innate dynamic is without hierarchy. This group is composed of the Four-Temperament Ensemble, each with a distinct strong personality that is equal to one another. With this, there is not a leader and their unique harmony and balance of individuality are what defines their friendship. This is the core of the show, despite the fact, much of the plot follows their love lives and career, Sex and the City is about womanhood, and each unique expression and experience of this is significant.
With Charlotte, we have the traditional feminine in the form of a Phlegmatic. She is fiercely loyal, idealistic, timid, ditzy yet book smart, optimistic, and idealistic. Charlotte embodies the heart of the series, she begins on a track and holds herself to stark rules and conventions.
THE RULES QUOTE HERE
Initially, she aspires to the archetype of the lady and aligns her image to this as she finds comfort and solace in this. She feels that by embracing this mold of femininity, she will attain what she is striving for in life rather than having the concept serve her. She believes in the beauty of life, but attempts to construct this, but hinders herself. When She lets go of outdated rules and holds herself to ways of being to allow for herself to naturally be and enjoy as well as respect tradition, she finds true fulfillment in the new life has to offer while remaining in touch with her roots.
Her love for heritage and tradition is overtly exhibited in her looks through the classic, unapologetically girly, and preppy garments. If you’re interested in developing a preppy style, The Guide To Preppy & Ivy League Style | Wardrobe Curation: Women/Menswear is available now.
Charlotte is as neatly tailored as her mind, conservative, and has a downtown style with uptown class. She is a cool winter in terms of seasonal palettes and opts for ruffles, bows, and polka dots for detailing. With a penchant for designers such as Ralph Lauren, Burberry, Prada, Tiffany & Co, she embodies the designer quote: Beautiful design makes a beautiful life. Charlotte’s development is an internal growth that does not change her style but rather allows for her style to become an extension of her over a cage that she confines herself to. She is the heart and lightness of the show, despite being the most closed-minded, for equilibrium, Samantha is the dark feminine to Charlotte’s light. This is a contrast trope where to characters are overtly feminine in differing ways. Their traits and beliefs play off one another as the sweetness and innocence in juxtaposition to the maturity and openness create a balanced dynamic that allows for the naughty and nice to coexist and be celebrated even if individually this does not align at all times.
Samantha has a Sanguine temperament, she is open-minded, spontaneous, curious, and goal-oriented. She is a self-made woman and nonconformist who wants to make the most out of her time and enjoy herself in every facet of life. She is daring and bold as well as professional when the occasion calls, with a wardrobe to match. Samantha takes the art of power dressing to a new level as this is present in and out of the office. She goes for skin tight dresses and halter necks to suiting in lush hues with the architectural structure to match.
From animal prints and overt branding to brash colors and exaggerated silhouettes, Samantha’s confidence and sense of self is channeled through her looks. While many shy away from showy branding, Samantha proudly adorns herself with powerhouse symbols and keeps up with the best fashion has to offer. For example, when she covets the 35cm Rouge Vif Clemence leather Birkin with Gold hardware.
If you’re interested in learning more about the world’s most coveted and valuable handbag, How a Woman Inspired the World’s Most Expensive & Iconic Handbag is available to watch now. Samantha defies how a woman should be and has a joyous unshaken spirit, even when those around her disagree with her ways. In spite of her powerful exterior, she is still human and doesn’t want to be hurt, hence utilizing the archetype of the lover. though to the eye, this archetype has sex appeal and appeals to tradition, the lover archetype is one that represents strength and a force of energy that is intense with urges to invent, create, or even produce a new reality. In Samantha, we see the need for freedom at surface value, but with more time also her need for connection.
Throughout the course of the show, she develops emotional vulnerability and a sensitivity that gives her further strength and connection to her loved ones through true acceptance. She finally receives what she gives, her carefree nature gives space for others to be more carefree and feel open and accepted. She is the “in between” trope providing a balance as Charlotte is the “nice” and Miranda is the Mean.
This is not literal, but rather due to her temperament as a Choleric in unison with the group. She represents the mind of the series. Miranda is ambitious, forthright, fiery, reliable, capable, bright, and capable. Her wardrobe is one to match with sensible pieces and a less is more approach. Miranda sports garments that carry menswear or distinct androgynous tones often.
She sports more sophisticated garments with a balance between the masculine and feminine. With caps, skinny suits, oversized blacers, puffer coats, dungarees, and no fuss dresses. Her style is centered around comfort and the office. She does experiemnt more vivid colors and keeps them in check with neutrals. Her grounded mindset is present in her styling. With natural beauty practices of makeup and hair to match.
Her style develops with her career. She is a valuable member of the team at work and in her friendship. As the tomboy archetype, she often collides with societal expectations and due to her nature being too elusive and unembraced. For instance, wearing a red dress on her wedding day being a plot point.
While some may write off her behavior as childish or snarky, she is a woman holding traits and behaviors that most expect women to quote unquote grow out of. She is blunt and knows herself. She is not behaving this way to be difficult as she is open to convention, but at her own pace rather than being pressured or whisked away.
Though in her time, Miranda would be deemed the least fashionable, she was simply the most fashion-forward with a wardrobe that is trending now and the likes of beloved designers such as Phoebe Philo and Hedi Slimane.
Setting trends and wearing designer then though, was the show’s protagonist. Carrie, the soul of Sex and the City, with a Melancholic Temperament: “To be, or not to be: that is the question.” personified. She is witty, creative, effervescent, attentive to detail, childish, and reflective. Carrie has an exaggerated eclectic style, a true fashionista who lives and breathes designer. To the point where her beloved wardrobe made waves in sales of real life. For instance, the iconic Fendi Baguette bags and Manolo Blahniks. Carrie’s fashion was of her time, extravagant fur coats, little silk slips, dainty tops, printed boots, statement accessories, and much, much more. Like a true fashionista, she wore iconic pieces such as the John Galliano autumn/winter 2000 Christian Dior newspaper dress for example. She also was not afraid of high-low dressing that would result in eccentric eye-catching ensembles with a disorderly, yet everything does work. Very similar to her own nature. She is naturally reflective and in tune with others, but is a bit out of touch. She often shops to fill emotional voids and uses clothing as a coping mechanism, but does strive to embrace who she is, others, and enjoy life in a whimsical manner. She brings a certain radiance with her and brings it out of others.
Together, the women of Sex and the City have transformed women on screen and off. From showing archetypes and ways of being to growing into ourselves, expressing our unique traits, and celebrating others. Showing that throughout every chapter and look of our lives, the bonds we build and how we grow into ourselves are the greatest label or love we have to share.
SOURCES: TV Tropes & Archetypes: https://tvtropes.org/ The Four Temperments: https://openpsychometrics.org/tests/O… Trends Started by Sex and the City: https://stylecaster.com/sex-and-the-c…
