The Style Archetypes of Sex and the City Still Define Us

Exploring the influence of Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte, and Miranda.

by Sareena Haq

Katie King

More than 25 years after Sex and the City premiered, one question continues to surface in current friend groups: Which SATC woman are you? The simplicity of that question hides something more interesting. When women identify with Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte, or Miranda, they’re not just choosing a personality; they’re also choosing an aesthetic. Each character’s wardrobe became its own language, shaping how millions of women understood style and the emotional logic of getting dressed.

What stands out when watching the series is how deliberately each woman’s style is constructed. These aren’t accidental costumes; they are character studies displayed in the outfits. Decades later, their distinct looks became the templates we still return to, consciously or not.

Carrie Bradshaw

Carrie Bradshaw’s style remains the most widely discussed because it embodied fashion as both instinct and experimentation. For Carrie, clothing is never just aesthetic; it is a form of emotional expression. She paired thrift-store finds with runway pieces long before “high-low dressing” entered the fashion vocabulary. She wore tulle skirts to run errands just because it made sense to her at that moment. Carrie represents the people who aren’t afraid to make bold choices, even the ones they might cringe at five years later. 

She is a genuine freethinker, someone who pushes the ball forward not for attention or shock value, but out of a deep love for fashion itself. 

Samantha Jones

In contrast, Samantha Jones embodies power in its most unfiltered form. As the unapologetically powerful one of the friend group, her confidence shapes every aspect of her wardrobe. Sharp silhouettes, saturated colors, and body highlighting cuts are not just stylistic choices but declarations of authority. Samantha’s wardrobe projects the same command she holds over her career, her relationships and, often, the men who underestimate her. 

Samantha’s bold aesthetic reminds us that authority can be expressed through color, confidence, and spectacle rather than subtlety.

Charlotte York

Charlotte York’s aesthetic is classically feminine, rooted in the same romantic idealism that defines her character within the friend group. As the group’s hopeless romantic, her belief in marriage, stability and traditional milestones is evident in her outfits. Pearls, soft pastels, and perfectly structured silhouettes are extensions of her desire for a life that unfolds according to her plan. 

Charlotte’s style speaks to the idea that wearing classic silhouettes and ballet flats will always remain timeless.

Miranda Hobbes

Miranda Hobbes’ wardrobe, particularly in the early seasons, is often dismissed as practical or understated. Her suits, tailored separates, and muted color palettes reflect her committed approach to work and life, signaling efficiency and self-sufficiency rather than glamour. Miranda dresses for autonomy, prioritizing function and comfort without sacrificing structure. 

Even then, her style quietly challenges expectations of femininity on television by showing that a woman could be ambitious, assertive and stylish all at once.

The lasting influence of Sex and the City proves that fashion becomes meaningful when it helps people articulate who they are or who they hope to be. We borrow Carrie’s spontaneity for a night out, Samantha’s fearlessness for a job interview, Charlotte’s classiness for a first date, and Miranda’s pragmatism for a long day. These characters give viewers a vocabulary for self-expression that still resonates today and maybe that’s why we still ask the question. 

It isn’t really about choosing one woman. It’s about recognizing that each of them, in different ways, teach us how to dress with intention.