Even before their long-overdue television reboot in 2021, we never stopped thinking about the gorgeous Sex and the City hats and stunning outfits the show defined. The original series set fashion trends, influencing the way we dress, and accessorize our outfits with the perfect shoes, bags, and hats. It was a fashion moment of which women’s hat styles were central.
For long-time fans of Sex and the City, the long awaited sequel is a chance to take a trip down memory lane. You can relive all the fun and craziness of this iconic franchise (book, cable TV show, movie… you name it, and they have it). You can bring your haute couture current. And you can see the latest Sex and the City hats.
For first-time viewers of And Just Like That, this is a chance to appreciate the cultural force that drove fashion trends in late 90s. A revival that brings most of its original cast back is not something that usually happens. Mind you, even an all-time classic TV sitcom like F.R.I.E.N.D.S could only score a reunion show but not another 10 episodes.
Let’s go over some frequently asked questions. While we’re at it, we’ll show you the best Sex and the City hats and outfits seen on and off set. As a side note, this article is spoiler-free.
How many seasons and episodes of Sex and the City are there?
There were 94 episodes of Sex and the City that premiered between 1998 and 2004. The show is based on a book by the same name written by Candace Bushnell and first published by Warner Books in 1997.
Sex and the City follows the lives of four inseparable New York-based women in their 30s to 40s. Despite having different lifestyles and sex lives, they support and confide in one another.
In addition to all the Sex and the City hats and outfits showcased, it was a pioneer in name-dropping luxurious brands and famous designers. According to BBC News, the series’ cultural impact was revolutionary in revitalizing casual discussions about sex.
Throughout its run, the show garnered over 40 awards and over 150 nominations. With a motion picture release, a sequel, a prequel television series, and now a reboot show, Sex and the City has been on HBO for more than 20 years.
Who is Carrie Bradshaw, and where did she live in New York?
Sarah Jessica Parker (born Mar. 25, 1965) plays the protagonist, Carrie Bradshaw. Both the character and the actor are hat girls. In her 30s, the narrator and main protagonist is a New York Star columnist. The interior location used as Carrie’s residence was a brownstone on the Upper East Side. But her stoop – where the exteriors were shot – is in the West Village at 66 Perry Street.
In Sex and the City, Carrie Bradshaw lived in the West Village, which is a popular gay neighborhood in Manhattan. The West Village has some of the city’s best restaurants and night spots. The West Village is where the cool kids live, while the Upper East Side is for the older, and rich crowd. Carrie is definitely a cool girl. And she loves fashion and hat styles.
The show follows Carrie as she gets involved with various love interests and sex partners, most notably Mr. Big played by Chris Noth (more of him later on).
In SATC, Carrie makes fashion statements with ballerina skirts and vintage faux fur. She owns god-knows-how-many pairs of high heel shoes. Carrie helped make Manolo Blahnik shows and Fendi purses household names.
Patricia Field (born Feb. 12, 1942) is an American costumer credited with inventing the modern leggings for women. She is the show’s stylist and also gets credit for hats and outfits worn on the show. Field was nominated for 5 Emmy Awards, with 1 win, and nominated for 6 Costume Designers Guild awards, with 4 wins.
Outside of her Carrie persona, Parker is often seen wearing stunning headpieces. Here she is in a magenta fedora hat with a cobra necklace, black velvet jacket and elegant pink dress.
Sex and the City followed Carrie’s quest in finding requited love with her on-again, off-again love affair with Mr. Big, and how much she learned from her life experiences and sometimes unwarranted failures.
What is Charlotte’s job, where did she live and how old is she?
Charlotte York is portrayed by Kristin Davis (born Feb. 23, 1965). Also in her 30s, she works at an art gallery. Charlotte brings energy and optimism to the group.
In the earlier part of the series, she lived at 275 Central Park West. But the exterior shots were filmed on location over at Upper West Side. It’s no surprise that she has one of the more luxurious flats given her wealthy upbringing. Later on in the show, she’d be able to keep the posh apartment at 930 Park Avenue in Upper East Side, as part of her divorce settlement with her first husband, Trey Macdougal played by Kyle MacLachlan (born Feb. 22, 1959).
In terms of fashion, Charlotte screams anything and everything pink. She is one for a max preppy look, but she can also rock a conservative style. Charlotte’s fashion ranges from neatly tailored all-American classics to wearing fashion brands like Ralph Lauren and Chanel.
In this photo, Davis wears a celestial blue argyle beanie with a matching pom paired with a navy blue bomber jacket.
Ever a traditionalist, she would be the type who would practice forced celibacy with a man who has marriage potential. Charlotte’s subplot revolves around her search for the perfect man to settle down with.
Where did Miranda live in Sex and the City, who was her husband and did she have a baby?
Miranda Hobbes is brought to life by Cynthia Nixon (born Apr. 9, 1966). Rounding out the cast in their 30s, she is known as a career-oriented individual in the series. It is often the other women in the group that encourage her to seek out and explore the dating world.
In the show, Miranda was known to live on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, at 78th and Amsterdam. The Upper West Side is a very desirable neighborhood, which she can conveniently afford given her professional qualification as an attorney. With a plain looking interior, the pre-war apartment is said to reflect her ever-so straightforward approach to life.
The fashion statement of the lawyer was elevated when complimented by her bold haircuts. She’s a power dresser. You would also notice that she wears blazers for definitive work scenes, proving she’s someone to be reckoned with. A master monochrome dresser, she is as gorgeous in a bossy office wear as well as in a casual outfit such as in dungarees.
This black felt fedora hat worn backwards by Nixon as she portrays Miranda is a strong headpiece to top her winter overcoat. We love how fierce her Sex and the City hat is, and the hat just goes so well with Nixon’s signature short haircut.
Her persona arc falls in love with a simple, blue-collar bartender named Steve Brady played by David Eigenburg (born May 17, 1964). They also navigate the concept of unexpected parenthood even though Miranda was initially diagnosed with a “lazy ovary” meaning one ovary has ceased production. She and Steve have a son named Brady Hobbes played by Joseph Pupo (pictured with Nixon above).
Why is Samantha not in the Sex and the City reboot, and how old is she now?
Completing the four-women power group is none other than Samantha Jones, played by Kim Cattrall (born Aug. 21, 1956), who is now 65 years old. Originally, Samantha was in her 40s and described as the most outspoken of them all. Samantha’s alpha traits in the show are almost the opposite of Charlotte’s bubblier, needier personality. Initially, her character lived in the Upper East Side neighborhood of New York City before moving to the hip and trendy Meatpacking District. The defining feature of Samantha’s apartment was her huge red bed, which of course alludes to her steamy sex life.
Fashion-wise, she seems like the contradictory equivalent of Miranda’s. The PR businesswomen’s stunning outfits are defined by bold color blocking, to contrast the latter’s monochromatic approach. She has a loud aesthetic, and her strong persona resonates with the way she carries herself. She is a femme fatale who wears power suits.
In this photo, she sports a Burberry bucket hat over a pair of couturier brown sunglasses. With the burgundy halter top, we can’t help but notice that this overall outfit gives off a strong Samantha vibe because of how commanding it is.
A long-running show like Sex and the City would not be complete without bringing its drama off the set. Sadly, Catrall wasn’t interested in returning.
Her unforgettable character would’ve been interesting to see in her 60s, though we understand that age may have contributed to her decision. There have also been rumblings that Cattrall wasn’t on good terms with her co-stars, particularly with Parker. The two have gone back and forth, and rumors even suggest that the root of the tension may be related to financial compensation.
Did they write Mr. Big off because of the rape accusations?
Last, but certainly not the least, is Mr. Big, portrayed by Chris Noth (born Nov. 13, 1954). Mr. Big’s name alludes to his big bank account. He’s a successful entrepreneur financier, but that’s not why Carrie loves him. Mr. Big, who resides on the Upper West Side, is Carrie’s main squeeze.
Unfortunately, Mr. Big’s role will not make it through the final season due to real-life sexual allegations against Noth. The show creators had to creatively write off Mr. Big, but in keeping with our no spoilers promise, we won’t say when or how. He is currently dealing with the allegations from multiple women, who have recently come forward against him.
The Hat Stops Here
And just like that, you’re now set to binge the new season on HBO.
Did you know that the title And Just Like That is an SATC inside joke that had actually come to life?
Almost twenty years later, we get to follow again the lives of Carrie, Charlotte, and Miranda again. They’re all further along, dealing with midlife challenges. So are many of us as well. And their Sex and the City hats and outfits are still defining today’s fashion moment, albeit not quite as boldly as these characters did in their youth. In And Just Like That, now and again Carrie Bradshaw can even be seen wearing a minimalist hat.