I know, I know—she’s always been a little quirky with her style, and that was part of the magic back in the Sex and the City days. But this time, it feels like the magic went completely out the window and got run over by a city bus. Meanwhile, Charlotte York is out here carrying the entire fashion department on her perfectly coordinated, preppy shoulders. Honestly, if it weren’t for Charlotte, I’d probably have turned off the TV in sheer disbelief at some of these outfits.
Let’s get into it. First, let’s rewind a bit.
Back in the original Sex and the City, Carrie was a fashion icon. She made risky, unusual combinations look effortlessly cool. Remember the newspaper dress? The oversized flower pins? The sparkly tank tops mixed with designer skirts? We all kind of wanted to raid her closet. Yes, it was sometimes a little out there, but it worked. She embodied the spirit of a New York fashion girl who wasn’t afraid to mix thrift store finds with Manolos. That’s why it’s so heartbreaking to watch And Just Like That… and realize Carrie’s style has somehow turned into a chaotic mess of random hats, baggy coats, and clashing prints.
I don’t know who decided this was the direction for her character, but it feels like they took her old eccentric style and stripped away all the sophistication, leaving only confusion.
Let’s be honest: most of her looks are just…bad.
For example, there’s that giant teal jacket she wears with what looks like pajamas underneath. Or the weird hats perched on her head like she just came out of a community theater production.Some outfits feel like they were thrown together with no thought. Instead of Carrie looking effortlessly chic, she just looks like she got dressed in the dark after three glasses of wine. It’s almost offensive to the legacy of the original show. Carrie was never boring, but she also wasn’t sloppy. And Just Like That… doesn’t seem to know the difference.
While Carrie is out here wearing bizarre capes and orthopedic-looking shoes, Charlotte York Goldenblatt is literally saving the style reputation of the entire series. Charlotte’s wardrobe is flawless in every single episode. She’s always polished, elegant, and put together in a way that feels true to her character.She wears tailored dresses, crisp blouses, chic accessories, and classic heels. She knows what works for her body and her personality, and she sticks to it.
Charlotte looks like the adult version of the woman we met decades ago—someone who appreciates beautiful clothes but isn’t trying to be a fashion clown. And isn’t that the point? The characters have grown up. They’re in their 50s. There’s a way to be stylish without looking ridiculous. Charlotte proves it’s possible.
Miranda’s wardrobe deserves an honorable mention here because it’s also all over the place. Sometimes she looks fantastic—like when she’s wearing a sleek suit or a minimalist sweater and trousers combo. Other times, she’s wearing stuff that feels so frumpy it almost looks like a parody. But at least Miranda isn’t out here in bird hats and three coats layered at once. So I’ll give her a pass. It genuinely makes me sad that Carrie’s fashion has taken such a nosedive. She was the style leader of the group. She inspired an entire generation to take risks, to pair unexpected pieces, to have fun with fashion.
Now, instead of inspiring, she’s confusing everyone.
I know some people will say, “It’s intentional! Carrie is grieving and reinventing herself.” And sure, you can make that argument. But there’s a big difference between experimenting with personal style and looking like you lost a bet with your stylist. Even when she was heartbroken or broke or struggling, Carrie never looked this sloppy.
The Most Baffling Looks
Let’s quickly recap a few of the worst offenders because I can’t stop thinking about them:
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The Teal Puffer Coat: So oversized she looked like she was trying to sneak snacks into a movie theater under it.
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The Bucket Hat Disaster: No words. Just no.
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The Pajama Outfit: She literally wore silky pajama pants to lunch.
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The Dress-Over-Pants Combo: Carrie has always layered creatively, but this was a total miss.
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The Bizarre Headpieces: Carrie used to wear hats well. Now it’s like she’s raided the clearance bin at Party City.
And that’s just a sampling.
I know it’s “just fashion,” but when a show builds its reputation on style, it actually does matter. Sex and the City was a love letter to clothes, to shopping, to self-expression through style. The outfits were like another character in the story. So to see that element get treated like an afterthought (at least for Carrie) is frustrating. Charlotte’s wardrobe shows that you can grow older and still look chic. You don’t have to wear the same things you wore in your 30s, but you also don’t have to abandon any sense of taste.
I’ll always love Sarah Jessica Parker. She IS Carrie Bradshaw. But whoever styled her for And Just Like That… owes the fans an apology. Charlotte, on the other hand, deserves an award for Best Dressed Character. She’s the reason I still watch, just to see what she’ll wear next.