And just like that… we find ourselves transported back to the magical world of Manolos and Manhattan for the series finale of the Sex and The City reboot, airing tonight. Whether or not you were won over by the return of the older-but-not-necessarily-wiser Carrie Bradshaw and co, the third season of Michael Patrick King’s whimsical follow-up has caused chatter among new fans and die-hard stalwarts alike.
Of course, whatever you think of Carrie’s questionable decision-making skills (in love, in finances, in life), her outfits continue to amaze. Ranging from the classic LBD to the less conventional crop top and questionable hat combo, our favorite Vogue columnist was never one to disappoint in the style stakes. True to form, And Just Like That has continued to throw up some scene-stealing style moments, including her rose-stuffed Simone Rocha dress and the return of her backwards Chanel blouse (worn the right way around this time). As we bid adieu to Carrie’s forever-inspiring wardrobe, read on for a breakdown of her most memorable looks, old and new.
Her tutu
Even those who can’t quote any Sex and the City episode verbatim will recognize this look. It’s officially Carrie’s first outfit—a tiered tutu teamed with a pale pink tank top and strappy sandals for the show’s opening sequence—and it very much set the tone for what was to come. Several years ago, costume designer Patricia Field revealed that she sourced the tutu from a showroom bin, and bought it for just $5.
The newspaper dress
SJP became the unofficial poster girl for John Galliano’s famed newspaper dress, first worn by Angie Schmidt in his fall 2000 Christian Dior runway show. Carrie wears said SATC staple in season 3 episode 17, “What Goes Around Comes Around,” when she once again bumps into Natasha in a restaurant (and is relieved of her Manolos by a particularly enterprising mugger). Carrie later rewore the dress in the second (much-derided) Sex and the City movie, as seen above.
An LBD like no other
An uncharacteristically simple look, Carrie nonetheless pulled out her traffic-stopping LBD (okay technically, it’s charcoal) in season 2, episode 15, for a date with Vaughn Wysel—and then a post break-up download over lunch with Miranda, Charlotte and Samantha.
The revenge dress
Considering her turbulent love life, plenty of Carrie’s looks could be classified as a “revenge dress.” But foremost among them is the white, bias-cut slip she wears when she sees Big leaving his engagement party (season 2, episode 18). After the fabulous four draw comparisons between Big and Carrie’s love story and the classic 1973 movie The Way We Were, a wistful Bradshaw takes it upon herself to quote lines from the film when she bumps into him. Iconic.
Winter warmers
It’s fair to say that the first Sex And The City movie (let’s ignore the second) may not have been up to snuff with the beloved series in terms of plot lines, but one thing we could count on was Carrie’s relentlessly impractical wardrobe. Embarking on a New Year’s Eve pilgrimage to join a heartbroken Miranda eating Chinese food alone, Carrie gave us this iconic—and very on-brand—style moment. Snowproof? Unlikely. Ice-ready? Also no. Peak Carrie Bradshaw eccentricism? Absolutely. Amidst the chaos of the follow-up movie, this was a heartwarming moment between two strong, independent women who just wanted to spend NYE with a pal.
The bare waist and belt combo
Because… why not? Here Carrie dons a patterned lime-green low-rise skirt, complete with a matching belt fastened around her bare torso and a knotted pink shirt. Note: the excess fabric of her top is tucked-into her bra for maximum exposure.
A floral midi that was made to get wet
Two versions of this floral midi dress—from Richard Tyler’s resort 2001 collection—were sourced for episode 18, season 3, due to the fact that Carrie finds herself taking a surprise dip in Central Park’s boating pond with Big. One of the dresses was sold for charity in 2001 and the other—which previously took pride of place in SJP’s own archive—was subsequently donated to Australia’s Museums Victoria.
The “naked dress”
Easily Carrie’s ultimate first date look (season 1, episode 6). She wore the skimpy DKNY slip—dubbed the “naked dress” long before the Kardashian-Jenners were standing scantily-clad on the steps of the Met—for a photo shoot to promote her newspaper column, then deemed it fit for her first romantic rendezvous with Big. We all know what happened next.
Boho babe in the city
This is the kind of look that would’ve had early noughties Sienna Miller in a chokehold. The denim capris, the silk bandana and the billowing boho blouse—this is peak chaotic Carrie. With a sensible shoe, this is a look that could almost be considered practical for a day traversing the concrete jungle, but, of course, with the addition of a couple of skinny stilettos, this ensemble is elevated into another memorable style moment that we can appreciate but probably won’t be recreating. Ever ahead of the curve, Carrie appears to be rocking the sheer shoe trend sweeping the streets in 2025. Toes out for tastemakers.
The OG crop-top queen
Emily Ratajkowski didn’t invent the ab flash. Carrie owned quite the collection of crop tops, boob tubes and bralettes, including the black long-sleeve top she wore with a striped skirt (both Prada spring 2001), a Gucci belt bag and heels the night she encountered Aidan flirting with a bartender (season 4, episode 7).
The shirt that (nearly) got away…
Aidan wasn’t a fan of Carrie’s distressed Roberto Cavalli outfit, and she pledged to throw it out when he moved in to make room for his clothes. But in Bradshaw’s world, love conquers all… except fashion. She couldn’t bear to part with it, and the episode draws to a close with our heroine sauntering down the steps of her brownstone clad in her Cavalli.
A miniskirt with a twist
Carrie’s green satin miniskirt from Vivienne Westwood was the very definition of business at the front, party at the back—it featured a tulle bustle. Bizarre? Maybe, but Carrie made it work. She paired said mini with a crisp button-down shirt and cherry-red stilettos.
The Carrie dress 2.0
A stand-out look from And Just Like That, in many ways this powder-blue Norma Kamali dress is textbook Bradshaw: bright, body-con, and by a New York designer. But its demure midi-hemline, and the addition of a longline blazer and sleek up-do, gave it the grown-up, sophisticated polish that defines Carrie’s still playful wardrobe in the 2020s.
A Chanel shirt, worn backwards
One of her wilder outfits. If the tie-dye capri pants and turquoise bandana weren’t enough to make the look off-kilter, then her decision to pair it with a colorful Chanel shirt—worn backwards and unbuttoned—surely did the trick.
Business casual
This look is objectively terrible: the cropped sleeves, the Butlins staff-style tailoring and chunky tie, but somehow, it’s quintessential Carrie. Across six seasons, we’ve been treated to several questionable and corporate-inspired looks from Miss Bradshaw, but this one sticks in the mind for its whimsy-meets-Liza Minnelli appeal. Somehow, the mismatched proportions are charming in a cartoonish way, the ankle-grazing trousers say “The world is my oyster and Manhattan is my playground”. I’d advise against trying to recreate this look unless you want to garner some confused and concerned glances at your 9 to 5, but for Carrie, we’ll let this one slide.
