Last week, the relaunch of And Like That, a revival of HBO’s comedy series “Sex and the City”, was released. The show, which ran six seasons, won four Emmys and produced two movies. Today marks the start of a special shopping partnership with the costume designers of And Just Like That Molly Rogers, Danny Santiago, as well as ThredUP, an online resale site that provided much of the show’s wardrobe.
The partnership features three online stores that sell hundreds of pre-owned clothes, including many items from the original show. This is perhaps the most striking aspect of the partnership. Carrie, Miranda and Charlotte (who do not appear in this revival) were in their 30s and 40s back then. Their New York City lives revolved around runway labels and exclusive restaurant reservations.
Carrie Bradshaw, style icon and the evolution of Carrie Bradshaw
The iconic stylist Patrica Feld styled the looks that rubber-stamped some memorable moments, especially for Carrie, played brilliantly by Sarah Jessica Parker. After browsing at Barney’s, Carrie was seen smoking out of her Dior Saddle Bag; Dolce & Gabbana maxed out her credit card; shoe shopping at Manolo Blahnik. Slipping into acres of Atelier Versace tulle in smokey tones for a date night in Paris. To apologize to another woman, she wore a John Galliano for Christian Dior newsprint gown. Tottering into the maternity unit to visit her friend, she wore rose-colored Christian Louboutin sandals. Freshly unboxing Oscar de la Renta fuchsia Oscar de la Renta to wear for an evening at The Met Field did select significant vintage pieces in order to give Carrie her clashing uptown and downtown look. But, newness was the driving force behind the success of Sex and the City. Vintage was integrated into the designer wardrobe, and indie labels, Chinatown namesake necklaces or luxury purses, could became overnight sensations when Carrie sported them. Sex and the City represented aspirational living at its pre-recession peak.
The 1990s and 2000s fashion industry was dominated by a narrow, exclusive market with very little diversity, virtually no online shopping and no social media. Molly Rogers, who started her career at Patricia Field, said that “when I first started styling, the only option for thrifting was to scour NYC consignment shops. It’s incredible to see how ThredUP and other resale sites have made it easier to find secondhand styles.”
ThredUP is all about the And Just Like That partnership
Three distinct styles are available to shop in each ThredUP closet, which naturally leads to the assumption they represent a particular character from the show. The Statement Maker allows you to create unusual looks that work with secondhand brands like Alice + Olivia and Nanushka. Undoubtedly, consumers will assume that this reflects Carrie’s style as she was closely linked to her Manolos. The Polished Romantic is feminine and bright with florals and frills. It is inspired by Charlotte’s style and brands like Burberry, Rebecca Taylor and Chanel. The Laid Back Power Dresser, who isn’t afraid to compromise style for comfort, loves relaxed tailoring and brands like Loewe, Vince, Marc Jacobs. This gives strong Miranda vibes.
Labels are not as acceptable today than they were twenty years ago. The partnership addresses the a la carte sensibilities of today. Santiago, co-costume designer at And Just Like That, stated that it’s not about dressing up like a particular character. “I believe fashion should be fun and accessible for all and reflect every person’s individuality. This collaboration will help to do just that. ThredUP’s collections are a showcase of stylish options at every price and size. Yes, you can find thrifted Manolos!”
Carrie and, to a lesser degree, the other characters inspired a generation stylists, designers and consumers with her looks. Her style represented fashion’s fantasy and the joy of dressing up, before the pandemic-induced work from home made glamorous sweats and ruined glamour. Carrie was dressed to shop, but today, we shop in our pajamas and don’t even need to get up from the sofa. She once stated that shopping is her cardio.
ThredUP 2021’s report showed that 33 million people bought secondhand apparel in 2020. 76 percent of these first-time buyers planned to increase their spending on secondhand over the next five years. Its recent Thrift For the Holidays Report found that 62 percent believe that buying secondhand clothing/fashion gifts is more socially acceptable than it was 5 years ago. This shows that there is less stigma surrounding gifting or wearing pre-worn apparel.
Secondhand has been elevated to reflect our modern society that values diversity, inclusion, sustainability and other words not used as much 20 years ago. “Our mission at ThredUP is to inspire a young generation to think secondhand, and we appreciate Molly’s and Danny’s dedication to sustainable styling through thrift,” Erin Wallace, ThredUP’s VP for Integrated Marketing, said in a statement. “Television is driving shopping trends and this collaboration allows consumers to thrift the look in responsible, wallet-friendly ways.”
100 percent of the proceeds of the ThredUP And Just Like That .partnership will go to the Willie Garson Fund which directly supports connecting children in foster care with loving families. Garson, who was Carrie’s friend and loyal friend, died in the middle of filming of And Just Like That.
