Glamorous women all over the world have had to wait no less than four years for the return of Carrie, Charlotte, Miranda and Samantha, the sassy heroines of the most fabulous show in television history, in Sex And The City: The Movie.
The film opens this Friday, but the anticipation has fuelled a wave of interest in touring the New York City hot spots where significant events took place in our heroines’ lives throughout the course of the television series — the purchase of the perfect red stiletto, for instance, or the dispatching of an unsuitable suitor.
The obvious place to start is at Patricia Field’s eccentric fashion emporium at 302 Bowery, between Bleecker and Houston St.
The stylist responsible for the looks sported by the SATC ladies, Field is responsible for transforming handbags and shoes into icons, with designer fashion brands clamouring to have their clothes and accessories worn by our four trend-setting heroines.
Accessorizing is always high on the agenda for Carrie’s set. Hunt for utterly impractical sandals at the Jimmy Choo flagship in the Olympic Tower at 645 Fifth Ave., or at Manolo Blahnik at 31 West 54th St. Stock up on ‘It’-handbags at YSL on 57th St., and Marc Jacobs at 301 West Fourth St., or at the cheaper Marc by Marc Jacobs store at 403-405 Bleecker St.
Feel more Samantha than Carrie?
Drop into Versace at 647 Fifth Ave. or Roberto Cavalli at 711 Madison Ave. to pick up something sexy in block red, yellow or gold. If you’re more of a Miranda, pick up some sensible Calvin Klein or DKNY at Bloomingdales on 59th St.
For a prim, bourgeois Charlotte-style look, pick up classic skirts and jackets from Ralph Lauren or ultra-flattering cocktail dresses from Narcisco Rodriguez at Saks Fifth Ave.
If Carrie’s innovative styles are more your thing, pick up some pieces from new designers at Barneys COOP at 116 Wooster St., the department store’s showcase store for cutting edge new designers.
After raking the boutiques, stock up on Miranda and Carrie’s favourite cupcakes at the famous Magnolia Bakery at 401 Bleecker St., before taking a break for a walk in Central Park, or peering through the window of the location that featured as the gallery that Charlotte managed, Louis K. Meisel Gallery at 141 Price St.
Have dinner at the restaurants and bars where the SATC girls meet to gossip, flirt and bump into ex-boyfriends including trendy pan-Asian restaurant Tao at 42 East 58th St., or French bistro Balthazar at 80 Spring St., or hip Japanese-Brazilian rooftop eatery Sushi Samba at 245 Park Ave. at 20th St.
Follow up with cocktails — Cosmopolitans, of course — at the girl’s hangouts including Lotus (409 W 14th St.), or Bungalow 8 (515 W 27th St.), or get yourself connected and on the guest list for Soho House, the private member’s club that Samantha gatecrashed and was caught out by Spice Girl Geri Haliwell (29-35 9th Ave.).
Looking for a late-night snack?
Drop by 24-hour Grays Papaya at West 8th St. at 6th Ave. where Carrie picked up typically New York hot dogs after her book launch.
Below, during a Sex And The City guided visit by On Location Tours,
participants indulge in cupcakes from the celebrated Magnolia Bakery.
Left, the women’s shoe dep- artment at Saks Fifth Avenue.
Pricey heels were a staple of the series, and in one episode,
Carrie actually gets mugged for her Manolos.
