I revisited Sex and the City last summer–just the original six-season run and the first film; not the sequel, for obvious reasons–during a particularly quiet season for new television. Like many shows from the late-nineties and early-aughts, SATC is riddled with tonal misfires and cultural faux pas, which are often cringeworthy, and sometimes offensive. But the costume design still resonates with me.
One of the show’s most iconic style moments appears in the opening credits: Carrie, in a pink tank top and tiered tulle skirt, looked whimsical if a bit chaotic as she’s splashed by a passing bus. I’ve worn many iterations of that look over the years, but have since culled most of my own tulle collection. Still, when I came across the Alice + Olivia’s Chara Tiered Tulle Minidress, an elevated and more cohesive take on that outfit, I clicked “add to bag” and checked out without stopping to consider when I’d actually wear it.
And for several months, I didn’t. It just hung in my closet, like a reminder of my impulsivity. Until February, when I packed it for a trip to New York and wore it out with a cozy faux fur jacket, half-expecting to regret it. But I didn’t. It was impractical and a little absurd–though, somehow, not out of place.
