And just like that, Carrie Bradshaw became a bargain hunter.
On Tuesday, July 27, photographers captured Sarah Jessica Parker in New York City on the set of HBO Max’s Sex and the City reboot — but while the 56-year-old actress embraced luxury in a Gucci x Balenciaga bag, a fan account soon identified her paisley maxi dress as a budget-friendly Forever 21 find.
The revelation that Carrie Bradshaw — she of the $40,000 designer shoe collection — now shops at Forever 21 has shocked longtime fans of show, and while some are pleased to finally be able to afford something from her closet, others are saying the character would ‘never’ be caught dead in fast fashion.
On Tuesday, July 27, photographers captured Sarah Jessica Parker in New York City on the set of HBO Max’s Sex and the City reboot
While the 56-year-old actress embraced luxury in a Gucci x Balenciaga bag, a fan account soon identified her paisley maxi dress as a budget-friendly Forever 21 find
The dress was dissected by And Just Like That Closet , and Instagram fan account, which found a photo of Carrie’s dress — which is from a past season and no longer available to buy
The dress was dissected by And Just Like That Closet, and Instagram fan account, which found a photo of Carrie’s dress — which is from a past season and no longer available to buy.
She wore it over a blue button-down shirt, strapped on the doubly-designer-made Gucci x Balenciaga bag, and added £275 Terry de Havilland heels.
The outfit has certainly earned mixed reactions, with some commenters complaining that the character wouldn’t wear it.
‘So Carrie went from stylish and sexy to frumpy?’ one complained, while someone else wrote: ‘Forever21 really? On a 50-something. Patricia Field would never…’
‘No. Can’t you let us dream a bit? Forever 21 is a no,’ said another.
Oh no! Some fans insist Carrie would ‘never’ wear Forever 21, and are particularly upset about the franchise including a fast fashion brand
‘We all have loved living vicariously through Carrie because she would wear what many people couldn’t afford to wear on a daily basis. Especially as a freelance writer in the beginning of the show. We love the escape and the fashion is what I live and die for, so to speak. Not to speak for us all, but F21 is not what we want queen Carrie wearing. Please put her in that gorgeous and often quirky glam we so love,’ one woman chimed in.
Many of the critics took issue with Carrie buying from a fast fashion brand, pointing out that the disposable, cheaply-made clothes are bad for workers and the environment.
‘Carrie in fast fashion?’ asked one fan, aghast, while another added: ‘Not Forever 21 Carrie! Please don’t be wearing fast fashion I bet you.’
‘Not Forver21 please! A bankrupt fast fashion brand that should really just disappear forever. SJP would never do that and so sad to see Carrie in it,’ said one more.
Yay! Other fas are thrilled she is wearing something they can afford
When the Instagram account pointed out that the dress is from a past season and Carrie may have bought it as a thrift store a dubious fan fired back, ‘Carrie Bradshaw would never thrift f21, that’s just nonsensical.’
‘Certainly there are other sustainable brands they could have opted for. The dress is cute but could they not have chosen better?’ asked another.
But not everyone is upset over the choice. One insisted that ‘it is definitely so Carrie to pair a $7 dress with $400 heels.’
‘Omg something I can afford?? Here for it,’ said another, while one more wrote, ‘I love that the dress is from an affordable brand!’
Others called it ‘stunning’ and said they are ‘loving this look.’
Throwback: The iconic white tutu that she wears in the show’s opening credits was picked up for just $5 at a thrift shop by costume designer Patricia Field
But she was mostly known for pricey designer looks, like this Christian Dior newspaper dress (left) or this Dolce & Gabbana dress (right)
It’s certainly not the first time Carrie has worn a bargain find. In fact, she frequently mixed in vintage pieces.
The iconic white tutu that she wears in the show’s opening credits was picked up for just $5 at a thrift shop by costume designer Patricia Field.
In 2008, she told the New York Daily News that she would even frequent the recently-shuttered discount store Century 21, saying she bought ‘tons and tons of clothes here for all four girls.’
But Field also said that on any show she is styling, she doesn’t like to buy pieces from popular chain stores.
‘You don’t [want to dress a character in] something like H&M because that’s distracting [for viewers if they recognize it],’ she told Fashionista.
Field is not working on the Sex and the City reboot as she has a conflict with another show, Emily in Paris.