Why Carrie Bradshaw Style Is Back
By Isabella Capponi
From Hailey Bieber to the girl sitting next to me on the subway this afternoon, I’ve been seeing the comeback of '90s fashion now more than ever. And I couldn't help but wonder: if Sex and the City was filmed today, I genuinely think that every single one of Carrie Bradshaw’s outfits would still be considered on trend in 2026.
The return of Carrie Bradshaw's style can be attributed to two main things: 1. the exhaustion from excessive microtrends over the past six years, and 2. the move away from the clean girl era of 2021–2024, when minimalist dressing was all the rage. We're moving away from hopping onto every single trend and finally entering an era of strong personal style. And who better to represent this than Carrie Bradshaw? The queen of personal style.
Consumers have since realized, after their microtrend T-shirts of 2020 have disintegrated in the washing machine, the importance of buying high-quality, long-lasting fashion pieces. An affordable and stylish way to do this is by purchasing secondhand designer items. Half the cost and the same quality as expensive new pieces.
Not just the quality of the pieces matters, but the type of pieces, too. Having items à la Carrie Bradshaw that can be mixed and matched with several things already in your closet means they'll never lose their stylishness. Slip skirts, statement heels, jewelry, designer bags, fur, leather, and vintage dresses are all pieces that stand the test of time and can fit into any era or trend.
A good pair of heels will elevate any outfit, and in true Carrie fashion, all of our looks below are perfectly paired with a vintage designer heel. Mixing high and low pieces is the formula for any great outfit. Shopping at stores like OnFemme is a great place to start because they offer a wide collection of both new and secondhand fashion across a variety of price points. Finding secondhand designer pieces can also be easy at flea markets, estate sales, and small thrift stores without breaking the bank.
Below are a few of my favorite outfit combinations.
Look 1:
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LOOK 2:
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Look 3:
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Look 4:
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Carrie Bradshaw dressed with confidence and personality. Her outfits weren't perfect, but they were memorable—and that's what makes her style still relevant to this day. Personal style will always be on trend, and it will always be the best kind of style because it's uniquely yours. If Sex and the City were filmed in 2026, Carrie wouldn't change much. She'd still be mixing prints, wearing something unexpected, and reminding us that the best style isn't about following rules…it's about having fun with fashion.