Sex and the City Style: Why Women Love It, Men Hate It
The fab four. Photo courtesy of Warner Brothers.
But she's an interesting character, that Carrie. For as many "oohs" and "aahs" that the film's daring wardrobe may incite, there are plenty of "huh?" and "what?" moments, too.
"That's the beauty of Carrie Bradshaw," Sarah Jessica Parker recently told Bravo's Andy Cohen. "The triumphs and the, you know, very public mistakes."
But one group of the population believes that "SATC" style is almost always a mistake: men.
Many of our Y-chromosomed friends just don't "get" the high-fashion aesthetic and find many of the looks downright unattractive. "It just seems financially unrealistic to 90 percent of the American female population," says Steve Santagati, relationship expert and author of "The MANual."
Men respond to lines and curves, not labels and price tags, and Santagati feels the excesses of the film are not only lost on men but are also a turnoff. "It comes across as extremely high maintenance," he notes. And those who can't afford to buy Park Avenue real estate and walk-in closets might find that unappealing.
Carrie's prized possessions. Photo courtesy of Warner Brothers.
So why would a smart woman like Carrie (a relationship columnist, no less) try to push Prada on her jeans-and-T-shirt, motorcycle-riding man? Shouldn't she, of all people, know that most men are more concerned about how you look in your clothes than about the actual clothes?
Well, she didn't know better. Not then, and not when she prematurely stocked Mr. Big's bathroom cabinet with feminine supplies. Not when she moved to Paris to make it work with The Russian. Not when she wore stilettos to walk Aidan's dog Pete. And not when she wore a pink tutu in the street.
And that's exactly why we love her. If Carrie never made mistakes, she wouldn't be real. And if she only wore jeans and T-shirts, she wouldn't be an icon.
"For the women who unite to watch the movie, they are given a two-hour hiatus into the fantasy world of the 'Sex and the City' girls," says celebrity stylist Phillip Bloch. Most women know that the film's reported $10 million wardrobe is in fact fantasy, but it's just so darn fun to watch.
Carrie hearts Dior. But we knew that already. Photo courtesy of Warner Brothers.
"These characters have the same everyday problems and issues that real women do, except these girls will do it in couture designer duds and the cinematic glamour of New York City," says Bloch. Seeing Samantha rocking $1,650 gold harem pants in Abu Dhabi is amusing, but only a few women will actually attempt it in real life.
In fact, even the more agreeable fashion in the film (Carrie's endless parade of Christian Louboutins) won't likely make its way into the average woman's wardrobe. "The real characters they are portraying wouldn't even be able to afford many of these designer pieces," explains Bloch.
But there is good news. Most men don't actually care. At all.
"I'd like to see a woman dress in something that shows off her figure versus something high fashion," says Santagati. "No guy has ever said, 'I met this girl last night -- she had $500 shoes on!' Most guys don't know that a red sole means Christian Louboutin."
Bloch agrees: "Men are afraid of the price tag on a woman like that," he says, adding that "a real girl who can watch a game and throw back a few beers versus drinking Cosmos and throwing down your credit card" means much more to a man than your vintage Pucci collection.
So if the Harry, Aidan, Steve, or Mr. Big in your life was any factor in why you covet the film's pricey wardrobe, know that you can still work it in something half -- or a quarter -- of the price.
And if you're a real-life Carrie who just has to have a closet full of Dior, Chanel, and Lanvin and you don't care what anybody thinks, then StyleList salutes you. And we'll smile when we see you in the third row of the movie theater, birdcage hat bobby-pinned to your head, sky-high heels firmly attached to your feet.
Can't get enough "Sex"? Read about our favorite must-have products from the film.
Filed under: Fashion, Celebrity, News, Celebrity Style
Tags: aoloriginal, ask-the-editor, opinion, sex and the city, sex and the city 2, SexAndTheCity, SexAndTheCity2
Tags: aoloriginal, ask-the-editor, opinion, sex and the city, sex and the city 2, SexAndTheCity, SexAndTheCity2
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ErinScandalous, 5-28-2010, 12:33PM
It's funny to me that so many men will be anti-SATC just because. I've raved over the show for years, and received negative feedback from men (and a few women) for no reason at all. What's extra funny to me is how some of these same people watched the first movie, for whatever reason, and really enjoyed it. I'm just so happy the girls are back! lol
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