Of all the criticisms fans have had about the Sex and the City reboot And Just Like That, one of the more disappointing elements of the series has been the absence of Patricia Field, the iconic costume designer behind Carrie Bradshaw’s legendary style. With big Manolo Blahniks to fill, we wanted to once again be in awe of Sarah Jessica Parker’s vast collection of designer, and eagerly awaited to glean her style evolution after all these decades. And while some looks were killer, and the cast is as stunning as ever, the general consensus was that there was something missing. Not just in the perplexing plot choices but also in Carrie’s wardrobe, which has been met with a lukewarm reception. This morning, though, a glimmer of hope came in the form of fresh AJLT set photos for the show’s third season.
Pictured filming in New York City’s Gramercy Park, SJP epitomised her on-screen alter ego while strutting down the sidewalk in a stunning dress and overcoat combo from Simone Rocha’s Spring/Summer 2024 collection and Aquazzura heels.
The tulle dress featured a corseted bodice and layered skirt with full-stemmed roses stitched into the sheer layers. Though it was shown on the runway alone, the show’s costume designers, Molly Rogers and Danny Santiago, ingeniously paired the dress with a coordinating anorak-style coat to create one ethereal ensemble. With its diaphanous fabrication and romantic silhouette grounded by utilitarian details like pockets, zips, and drawstrings, as well as the rawness of the florals, it’s a look that perfectly encapsulates Carrie’s approach to fashion (and life).
Modern, fresh and boldly experimental for a walk in the city, the look was pure Bradshaw heaven and even felt reminiscent of the character’s iconic opening credits tutu dress—perhaps a more mature version.
The images come after initial photos from filming, which show Parker with another lively look.
Sporting a vintage colour-blocked sundress and a crossbody bag in a slightly clashing aubergine tone, viewers were thrown by the choice of, wait for it, orthopedic sandals. Cute, in our humble opinions, but would Carrie ever?
The highlight of the look, though, was her ginormous gingham Maryam Keyhani hat, which was sculpted high above her head. Chic, bold and sun-safe, it feels perfectly on-brand to us. Some naysayers were left to heckle behind their screens, but as she once told Jack Berger, “This hat is fabulous, and you just said that to hurt my feelings.”
As more snaps are revealed from the set, however, it’s become clear that the fashion on AJLT will not be making a triumphant turnaround.
Below, see every other sneak peek we’ve seen of the season’s fashion choices as the cast continues to film across NYC.
Is a date night on the cards for Carrie? It looks like it… although, it wouldn’t be off-brand for her to wear this bedazzled bodycon midi to any old outing. With matchy-matchy accessories and power shoulders, though, it’s not as head-turning as some of her more famous outfits.
Sadly, Miranda, who was once the acme of cool in her dungarees and menswear-inspired suits, seems to have gone full coastal grandma in this recent sighting. Carrie’s look, on the other hand, is a little more confused—slightly more true to character, but still not quite right.
On June 25th, Charlotte York, played by Kristin Davis, was photographed in a vibrant floral shirt dress and patent stilettos that weren’t a far cry from what her character has worn in the past.
Sarah Jessica Parker’s layered ensemble, while inexplicably intriguing, doesn’t quite seem to meet the Bradshaw standard.
In another behind-the-scenes look, SJP put an uncharacteristic twist on her denim overalls look, not just in her Rene Caovill bedazzled pumps, but with a blouse printed with the New York City subway map. As an avid cab-catcher and stiletto-wearer, repping public transport doesn’t quite seem true to Carrie Bradshaw, but she is a proud New Yorker.
While appearing to film a funeral scene, Sarah Jessica Parker resurrected a style from the cemetery of forgotten noughties trends: dresses over pants. Given this is Carrie Bradshaw we’re talking about, this revived aesthetic would never be rendered in a conventional form.
The look consisted of a sheer off-the-shoulder midi that cascaded into a draped slip and was paired over calf-grazing leggings.
It’s often joked that womanhood often involves lugging around many bags. Well, even the glamorous Carrie Bradshaw isn’t immune to this modern-day struggle. As she stepped out in a fuschia-pink cocktail dress—dressed down with a blue and brown knit cardigan and tan Vivienne Westwood gladiator heels—Carrie sported three bags: a slouchy shoulder bag and printed tote, both by Vivienne Westwood, as well as a retro white suitcase.
Walking down the steps of her NYC Brownstone, Parker was pictured wearing a blue satin and tulle dress with a champagne-hued overcoat and sparkling pumps. But to eagle-eyed fans, the look was all too familiar. Though it’s unclear if the outfit ties into the AJLT storyline, many quickly pointed out its similarity to the iconic Sex and the City finale look, where Carrie runs to Big in a near-identical blue tulle dress with a gold-flecked cream blazer, as the Eiffel Tower lights up behind her.
In other photos, Parker was spotted in a vintage Karl Lagerfeld-era Chanel blouse that featured a sheer, multi-colour print and balloon sleeves. In true Bradshaw fashion, she paired the bright top with an even brighter purple skirt featuring a flare that looked straight out of Studio 54. And, of course, she slipped into a pair of colourful, bejewelled stilettos.
This story first appeared on GRAZIA International.