Hi Ladies,

So, Friday was the BIG day! Friends had talked about it for the last year when swirling rumors were confirmed that Sex and the City: The Series would indeed become Sex and the City: The Movie. (Henceforth noted as “SATC: TS” and “SATC: TM,” respectively) Girl packs went out in droves, by the bus and plane-loads this past weekend to celebrate – my pack included. Though my group of friends didn’t converse about what ensemble, bob, lip color or peep toe bootie (Louboutin or Marni) we’d wear to the cinema, we did (and continue to) discuss which character we were most like almost ten years ago and who we think we identify with most after the screening.

This is a topic I’ve been contemplating for 9 years. Think I’m joking? Strut with me for a moment:

The year is 1999 (And unfortunately I wasn’t partying as hard as Prince would have liked, though I sashayed across the dance floor occasionally in a fierce pair of Nine West pumps). I am a senior in Dr. Steven Knadler’s Literary Theory: 417 class at Spelman College, a very small all-women’s, liberal arts college in Atlanta, Georgia. SATC: TS is a recent hit on HBO. I am wowed, fascinated, inspired by their power, strength, courage, complexity of the archetypal women characters, and, of course, their shoes. (Though a little quirky, costume designer Patricia Fields definitely knows how to tell a story with clothes.)

When asked to decide my semester-long literary exploration, I chose SATC: TS. (Others choose to critique E.L Doctorow, T.S. Eliot, and Jane Austen.) I tape record episodes weekly and then screen them in class. During each screening I lead the class in discussion about post structuralist theory. We use Michel Foucault literary criticism to dissect each character. No trait, flaw, hairstyle, and/or choice in outfit are off limits. SATC: TS is essence my classroom.

I earned an A- on the paper.  My classmates and I, and all SATC fans, learned about society (some good things, and other things not so) as well as ourselves from SATC: TS. On the most simplistic level, Carrie, Miranda, Samantha and Charlotte’s styles serve as code for who they (or we) were (or are) at any given time.

It’s interesting to see how their styles and personalities have evolved in the movie. The wonderful thing? While Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis, and Cynthia Nixon were filming SATC: TM, we were busy writing and recording our own script, one take-by-beauty-full-take.

As an ode to our beloved Sex and the City, do tell where your style, beauty, and personality loyalties are. Take a look at the “Self and the City” Assessment. Are you more like Charlotte or Miranda? A little of Carrie and Samantha? Do tell.

I’ll go first:

My SATC Personality: Straddle, since college, being somewhat Carrie-esqe (creative, free-spirited), Miranda-ish (career-focused), and yep, Charlotte-like (slightly traditional at times).

My SATC Style: 60% Carrie (My style is a little unpredictable), 15% Samantha  (flirty and sassy is good), 12.5% each Charlotte and Miranda (I certainly know how to dress for the board room).

My SATC Beauty:  Usually the fresh-faced Charlotte (but tanner!) and the dreamy like Carrie.

At the end of the day (or series) I guess, I’m most like Carrie: a helpless romantic on the inside (and out…I mean, who wears a tutu past age 9?) and eternal optimist who hopes that life will always be like a box of fine chocolates or smooth, berry lip gloss.

 

Carrie Bradshaw

Personality: Free-flowing, effervescent, optimistic

Style: Unconventional, daring, creative

Beauty: ethereal, colorful, playful

 

Miranda Hobbs

Personality: Confident, direct, settled

Style: Conservative, practical, sophisticated

Beauty: Clean, natural, simple

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

Samantha Jones

Personality: Assured, passionate, fun

Style: Sexy, bold, expressive

Beauty: Enhanced, statement-making, coordinated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Charlotte York Goldenplatt

Personality: Positive, sincere, loving

Style: Traditional, demure, refined

Beauty: radiant, soft, fresh