Carrie Bradshaw Summer Outfit Formulas
Points for over-the-top femininity, pattern clashing, and crucial accessories
I’m re-watching Sex and the City while suffering from throat-numbing heartburn and restless nights of half sleep. A good New York City rewatch is just what the doctor ordered. I’m also fantasizing about my post-pregnancy style and Carrie is always the best inspiration. She has a way of styling that is so innovative, even twenty years later. That said, she’s absolutely insufferable behavior-wise during these seasons. Big sucks and Aiden rocks and I don’t know why this smart, savvy, extremely stylish woman doesn’t get that.
Anyway, let’s dive in.
Printed halter top, micro shorts, over-the-top feminine accessory
What a way to start!!!! I’m always in love with micro shorts. I think they make you look leggy even if you’re not.
So the formula here is the itty bitty shorts with a hyper feminine printed top (I think halter is perfect but it doesn’t need to be), topped with an over-the-top feminine accessory. Carrie has a flower brooch but you can do big colorful earrings or a party of anklets or and fun frilly hair tie. Just make it dramatic.
Rain/barn jacket, pleated or textured skirt, knee high socks, plaid element and peep toe sandals
Wow. So it’s a fall fit, sure. But it’s also a rainy summer city day option.
I’m very into barn jackets since I borrowed my sisters Toteme one, and I’ve always like the Burberry one my mom has (it’s so classic). Points for Carrie for choosing a color like yellow over a tan, taupe or grey. The plaid element here is crucial- it doesn’t have to be a scarf. It could be a bag or a hat. The knee high socks have to be thin and long enough to fit nicely into the peep toe sandals. Lastly, the skirt is however you like it. Ultra mini and structured like the viral Miu Miu, or looser and longer and woolier. If you’re planning on walking, I think a thin loafer could work here in place of the heels.
Same color dress/wide-ass belt and glitz purse
This look is flexible! Dress can be midi or mini or even maxi? Can be strapless or strappy or long sleeve. The key is that the belt and the dress are the same color and that the belt is very wide and honestly necessarily fabric oriented. This could be an elastic belt like Carrie here or an obi cloth belt or even a silk scarf that you already have in your closet wrapped as a sash. Matching the colors creates a cohesive silhouette but also inevitably confirms styling choices were made for this outfit.
The glitzy purse is non-negotiable and should be a very different color from that selected for the ensemble. Sequins or beads or little dangly mirror knobs are all effective. Search glitter/shimmer/sequin/beaded purse on your favorite resale sites.
Tonally similar but crucially *patterned* top and midi skirt
Not to be ignored is the black bra strap.
In this case, the top is sweetheart neckline with a slightly puffy shoulder. This supports the weight and length of the skirt. Though it’s not as important here as the tone matching. Sure, the top is pink with a dainty floral pattern and the skirt is multicolor stripe but they’re both *pink*. Find a fun, almost-juvenile top and a midi skirt that are the same color if you squint your eyes, but are actually clashing prints if you look clearly.
Carrie Unhinged Behavior Postscript:
