The “Sex and the City” might be dead but the legacy of Carrie Bradshaw in terms of style is undeniable. She embodies the dream of every woman – to look pretty, fabulous and stylish.
A city like “New York” is unforgiving to women without style. If you are to be accepted in the society and get ahead, you need to be mindful of your looks. You need to dress like Carrie Bradshaw. But does dressing up like a fabulous New Yorker mean blowing money and spending an arm and a leg?
Learning to look great without spending too much money is the sort of skill that can get you far. You can get Carrie’s style without the “Sex and the City” budget; after all, every piece she wore was simply handed by the movie’s sponsors. You can dress up like like a fabulous New Yorker ala´ Carrie Bradshaw even without the SATC budget; all you have to do is apply these tips:
1. Get inspired by celebrities
Look at someone like Madonna; she started out as a young Italian woman from Detroit with no New York connections. She knew how to make an outfit work, how to stretch essentials and accent them with truly unique pieces, and she managed to look presentable enough to net those crucial meetings and get into the right clubs.
2. Take time to learn to look great for less
Establishing your own style and doing it for less takes time. Dressing up perfectly does not come overnight. It’s fine to experiment until you find what works best on your body type, taste and budget.
3. Go for something classic, go vintage
Living in New York and keeping up with style can take toil on your bank account. It’s even a pain if you’re on a very limited budget. To simply copy what’s on the catwalk is very expensive, plus not everything from the catwalk translates to everyday style.
But a city like New York is open to those who are willing to combine classic style with contemporary flair and flourishes. You must take advantage of it. Inject vintage on your style and learn to modify, it will make you stand out.
4. Get inspired but never get fixated
Dressing like Carrie without a “Sex and the City” budget is something that can be accomplished by any woman who is willing to put in just a bit of work in terms of searching for the right outfits at the even better prices.
The first thing you have to tell yourself is that certain things should just stay on the screen, and not be an aspiration for your own closet. While it might have been cute when Carrie was fretting over how to buy a new pair of designer shoes at some Fifth Avenue store while still making rent on time, you don’t need to have that same struggle.
5. Need designer shoes? Go vintage or consignment
If you must have designer shoes, realize that going vintage or going consignment can often save a whole lot of money. Likewise, it is crucial to realize that having a great pair of shoes is often enough to sustain your outfit.
You don’t need a closet full of them–until your budget can support that kind of habit. Try to get one timeless and versatile pair of sophisticated black heels, and then go with something a bit more spontaneous and bubbly.
6. Learn to mix and repeat
Carrie’s outfits are supposed to represent that great New York style that everyone has been raving about for years, and the reasoning for this is that since the show was depicting real New York, you were seeing the real fashions of a forward-thinking writer who had been unlucky in love.
While outfits might not have repeated on the screen, in the real world, people know that mixing and matching is the way to get the most out of any wardrobe. Be sure to pick up basics that can go with just about anything, and realize that having understated essentials can make your fashion soar.
7. Secure the basics for creative ensembles
The right pair of sophisticated and smart high-waisted pants or a classic little black dress can be the basis for a more exciting and colorful ensemble.
Spend on those pieces that you’re going to be wearing more often, and try to not blow the bank on something that is very obviously this season. Carrie herself bemoans having out of season clothes cluttering her closet and wrecking her budget, so don’t make that same mistake!
By shopping around a little more, actually restraining yourself when you see a sale you can’t afford, and being sure that you have the essentials covered, you can look just as chic and carefree as Carrie, Samantha, Miranda, or Charlotte. Just learn how to stretch your budget, and you’ll have a wardrobe that’s as long-lasting as it is contemporary.
Now it´s your turn. How do you dress up like a fabulous New Yorker?