If you’ve ever watched old episodes of bastion-of-00s-culture Sex and the City, hungover and alone on a Sunday, completely bemused by the outfits Carrie, Samantha, Miranda and Charlotte wear — from date night flamenco costumes to bra-cargo short beach combos — don’t worry, you’re not alone. Splendidly bitchy, eagle-eyed Instagram outfit @everyoutfitonsatc is there right with you, on a never ending quest to catalogue every bizarre fashion choice on the show, the good the bad and the ugly.
Started in 2016 by Chelsea Fairless, a designer at Female Trouble, and writer/director Lauren Garroni, old college friends from Parsons School of Design, the account has amassed over 345,000 loyal followers, and quickly established itself as an encyclopedia of the fabulousness, ridiculousness and pointed-toe-heel-ness of the 00s greatest show. Earlier this month, when the news broke that Cynthia Nixon may just consider running for Governor of New York, the Insta gurus — just like Carrie when she dated the kinky city treasurer — branched out from fashion into politics, officially endorsing Nixon (if she embraces her character’s corporate style choices).
We slid into Chelsea and Lauren’s DMs to ask them for some more political and fashion predictions, and find out which SATC gal Trump is most like, as well as definitively answer that lifelong question “Is Carrie Bradshaw really just the worst person ever?”
Let’s get straight to the point: who would be a better NY governor, Cynthia Nixon or Miranda Hobbs?
Chelsea: Hard to say. Miranda’s legal background would definitely be an asset but Cynthia Nixon’s history of activism and her social connections would be a major plus as well.
Lauren: I’m going to go with Cynthia Nixon, mostly because I wouldn’t put it past Miranda to not be embroiled in some viral street rage incident that would badly damage her political career. I imagine Miranda’s governing as being style similar that of Chris Christie.
Are there any iconic Miranda outfits that Cynthia should channel as governor?
Chelsea: I would love to see her resurrect her somewhat butch early series suit looks. A power lesbian vibe would be cute for the Governor’s office.
Lauren: Miranda always favoured a skirt suit situation in the workplace and I’d love to see some structured Armani or Vivienne Westwood skirt suits in Albany.
Who’s really to blame for the subways (which obviously Cynthia would fix)?
Chelsea: The subway is a real quality-of-life killer for most New Yorkers, I blame the government, especially that golden shower fetishist politician that Carrie dated for a minute.
Lauren: The creators of Sex and the City. They created a generation of New Yorkers (myself included) who came to the city, in the last 15 years, with unrealistic expectations about real estate, the practicality of high heels on cobblestone, and the availability of cabs.
Would you say Cuomo is a Miranda, Carrie, Samantha or Charlotte? What about Trump? Pence?
Chelsea: Trump is an even less fuckable iteration of Richard Wright for sure. Pence calls his wife “mother” which seems like something that Trey MacDougal would do because of his raging mummy issues.
Lauren: I think Cuomo is a Miranda, but with Carrie tendencies. I believe when Trump looks in the mirror, the reflection looking back at him is Mr. Big. Pence is definitely some Trey / Charlotte hybrid.
What do you think people like so much about the account? Is it realising the clothes are ridiculous or something kinder, being nostalgic for the show and the fashion it championed?
Chelsea: People love Sex and the City, period. They are still obsessed with these characters almost 20 years after the first episode aired — and clothes played such a major role in how their personalities were defined. But yes, a lot of the fashions were insane and therefore easy to make fun of. I think with our account we’re able to articulate what a lot of people are were already thinking about the clothes. But at the end of the day, we have the utmost respect for Patricia Field and the entirety of her vision.
I have a background in fashion research and half of that job is finding images that you already know exist. I remember looking for images of something specific from Sex and the City once and wishing that there was a comprehensive database of all the looks. And then I mentioned that idea to Lauren at dinner last year and she suggested that we start an Instagram. The bitchy commentary was kind of an afterthought actually.
Lauren: Even 20 years on, there is no show that has come close to it. It is still the pinnacle of self-possessed, professional woman not intimidated by sex with insane designers closets to match. Which is saying a lot, because viewing the show again with today’s eyes the fashions, story lines, and dialogue can be a tad dated. While many have tried to emulate the show, no one has taken its mantle.
Yes, the account was started on a lark, but it has turned into a great repository for all our early-aughts fashion knowledge that previously we had no use for. Chelsea and I met in college at Parsons School of Design and the “voice” you see on the account is how we’ve always spoken about fashion. When we graduated there was no place in fashion for sardonic commentary, but in the last five years high fashion and meme culture have blended together.
Finally, be honest, is Carrie actually the worst?
Chelsea: She is the worst but Carrie has several redeeming qualities as well. She’s funny and charismatic, which offsets the self-involvement a bit. If she didn’t have that she’d just be Hannah from Girls in a slightly higher income bracket.
Lauren: Carrie on paper is indeed the worst. However Sarah Jessica Parker’s effervescent personality elevated what would otherwise be a character you’d never want to be friends with to an aspirational figure. Our company is called Miranda Solidarity, though, so no matter what we do, it will always be guided by the ethos of Miranda.