When people look back on the hit show “Sex and the City,” they are transported to New York City, watching the four women, Carrie Bradshaw, Charlotte York, Samantha Jones and Miranda Hobbes strut down 5th Ave. in their iconic outfits.
“Sex and the City” holds some of the most memorable outfits of the late ’90s and early 2000s. People often rewatch the show solely to look back at these iconic outfits.
Patricia Field is the woman responsible for the well-known outfits from the show. She was nominated for five Emmys and six Costume Designer Guild awards for her work. Field was able to blend high fashion with thrift store finds, creating a defining style that changed fashion forever.
Since the show, Field has even written her own book, “Pat in the City: My Life of Fashion, Style, and Breaking All the Rules,” highlighting the time she took to create the costumes that matched the story.
She even mentioned how she found the striking pink tutu that Sarah Jessica Parker, the actress who plays Bradshaw, wore in the opening title sequence of the show in a $5 bin at a midtown fashion showroom. From there, she created a precise image in her mind of what would pair perfectly with the tutu to create a casual but eye-catching outfit. From there, Field was able to seize the eyes of the viewers and captivate the striking New York style of the show.
Curating the wardrobe of the four main women was no easy task. They each had their own style that matched their unique life paths. They were not simple characters; each woman was managing their career, romances and true friendships, forcing Field to think outside the box for each costume she designed.
Let us now take a look at each of the women’s most iconic looks:
In this episode, the women have decided to attend a baseball game at Yankee Stadium. They are seen wearing fur coats, which were hot in style in the late ’90s and a staple of “90s glam.” Fur coats were apart of the “boom boom” style in the 90s, creating a style that embraced luxury, hip-hop, and culture.
Here, York is seen taking her Tiffany and Co. engagement ring to be resized for another piece of jewelry. She is wearing a beautiful blue and white plaid strapless dress by Moschino. The dress is perfect for the summer and would still be iconic if worn today in 2026.
Bradshaw is seen in the iconic Christian Dior Daily Newspaper Print Dress designed by John Galliano for the Autumn/Winter 2000-2001 Ready-to-Wear collection. It is one of the most well-known outfits from the show. The dress is striking, and you can not help but stare at the unique print that was refreshing to see for the New York “Sex and the City” style.
In this moment, the girls are enjoying Flirtinis on the roof of Jones’ apartment, all matching in preppy bright pinks and purples. These outfits really complement each other and give a true sense of “spring has sprung.”
Simple yet iconic. The colors plus the florals plus the bag equals everything. Playing into York’s preppy style, Field delivered a soft, pink-focused outfit perfect for her daily strolls in New York City.
Samantha Jones served ‘quiet luxury’ even before it became a trend. This jacket was a go-to piece in Jones’s wardrobe as a successful PR executive in New York City.
If you are a fan of “Sex and the City,” you remember this outfit. The classic mini dress with the iconic aviator sunglasses really took this outfit to the next level. Many people look back on this outfit of Bradshaw’s and are in awe of the simple yet stunning aspects.
Knowing “Sex and the City” aired in the early 2000s, it was bound for some Y2K-inspired fashion and that is exactly what Bradshaw served when she wore this brown tube top, yellow cargo pants and a chunky heart necklace.
The core four appeared in light pastels for a summer wedding in the Hamptons. Who else is jealous?
Some things never go out of style, and that is florals. Bradshaw wears this beautiful floral dress with jellie heels while strolling along New York City in the springtime. And its no surprise that jellies are coming back. Jellies are the ultimate shoe for nailing that sweet spot between playful and adorable.
