SEX & THE CITY: Fashion to the Rescue, Literally!

Walking up the steps of AMC theater #8, I feel a butterfly or two. Michael Patrick King has attempted to “Carrie” the SATC storyline into unchartered territory. And I am nervous. Can he successfully navigate our girls beyond “marriage and a baby”?

After all, sequels are notoriously risky. What are the odds that Carrie Bradshaw would morph into James Bond or Jason Bourne? 10 to 1.

Flash back a year or so ago, when the much anticipated SATC 1 premiered. During the heady opening week, virtually every screening was teaming with girl friends flitting about in embellished shoe candy. To celebrate the launch, my gal pals and I stayed overnight at the Ritz Carlton in McLean. After breakfast we attended a private viewing with 200 other glamazons. We laughed and cried and clamored for more.

Apparently Michael heard us. So, today I am dressed up for him and another SATC occasion. No pink tulle skirt this time. Instead, I opt for contrast in the form of a black Coup de Foudre bustier, Nicole Miller white cotton tulip skirt and 3 inch canvas black and white Marc Jacob platforms secured by a prim bow around the ankle.

With 15 minutes before show time, I add an extra bounce to my step. “I hope I can find a seat,” I murmur aloud. Turns out, I am the first to arrive.

15 minutes later, though. The theater is almost full. Yet, the earlier butterflies never return.

In the 12 years since the original SATC HBO show aired, our favorite series has lost some of its “sparkle.” This is not to suggest that Patricia Field’s 2010 costume choices are dull. Au contra-ire! The wardrobe selections are dramatic, colorful and fun. The copper sequined Christian Louboutin stilettos Carrie pairs with the white vintage Halston dress in scene 1 are uber chic. Love, love, love the black jumpsuit she wears to the party with Big. And the Christian Dior newsprint dress from season 3 is exactly what a stylish fashion investigator should wear out on a date with her man.

Fashion saves the day, literally! Without Field’s fashion eccentricities, SATC 2 would have derailed soon after Liza Minnelli concluded her rendition of “Put A Ring On It.” The word smith in me blames the weak script for most of the movie’s short comings. The lack of snap crackle and pop in the dialogue was a major loss. This second time around the jokes appears forced and the girls, with the exception of Miranda, cease being sympathetic and relatable.

Since SATC 1, Carrie and Charlotte have gotten virtually everything they “said” they wanted. Carrie finally marries Big, continues working as a successful writer and gains another dream closet. (This makes 2!). Charlotte is (still) married to Harry and is busy raising 2 baby girls with the help of a competent and highly trained nanny. Yet, both characters spend the majority of the movie finding fault with their perks to the point of almost destroying them.

Samantha on the other hand has remained exactly where we left her in SATC 1: single fabulous and in her fifties. But instead of gaining wisdom with age, Samantha regresses right before our eyes. Remember season 3 episode 16 (“Frenemies”) when Samantha gets out Samantha-ed by Claire Ann, another middle aged blonde? At the conclusion of “Frenemies”, Samatha declares that even she has a line that she will not cross. Yet, by the end of SATC 2, Samantha crosses the line and a dessert becoming the quintessential “ugly American.”

And then there was Miranda-Fan-tas-tic. She virtually glows in the mustard Bottega Veneta draped jersey dress she wore in the first scene. And, (gasp) the plunging black V necked gown with the metallic studs...(gasp)...was contemporary, edgy and sophisticated! Miranda has come a long way from the snarky sarcastic woman we met 12 years ago. The “new” Miranda consistently radiates positive energy and provides a much needed balance that grounds the other girls and in turn the entire movie.

It is highly unlikely that there will be a SATC 3. I’m not sad because I enjoyed the ride. In addition to adding a dose of glamour to the mundane, Carrie, for her part, always manages to sneak in a lesson before the credits roll. Today, we’ve learned that the quest for “sparkle” can be overrated if it jeopardizes what you’ve worked your whole life to build up. Who couldn’t benefit from this adage?