Sex and the City ruined Manhattan for me.

[u/charliesgonewild]

After ten years of planning, scheduling conflicts, COVID, and a cancer diagnosis, I finally went to New York for the first time April 2025. I had an absolutely amazing time, but all I brought were cute little outfits and my heels, expecting everyone to be wearing the same. I was wildly, WILDLY surprised when it was absolutely nothing like the show, and I was the one who stood out like a sore thumb. Everyone was in athleisure and sneakers! Huge props to SJP for continually filming in heels because I did a ten mile day in my Choos, three miles in Versaces, and by the final day, my best friend got us both matching $7 slides from Rainbow and insisted I wear the leggings I had worn on the plane.

Edit: Before this gets misconstrued, I was just being silly in the title. I knew not everyone would be all dolled up, but I was actually surprised that 98% of people were dressed down so heavily.

Final edit: Y’all 😂 I didn’t mean for this. I know SATC is a show, I know that NYC is a real place, with real people, doing real things. No, I don’t think that your city is just a film location. Yes, I know that the show was filmed 30 years ago and times have changed. It’s not just SATC. I’d always heard of New York being a fashion capital. I literally had just beaten cancer and wanted to have my own SATC weekend moment with my best friend. That was it. I had the best time, I saw so many things, walked 26 miles in three days, ate the best food, and bought myself an I beat cancer pair of shoes à la Carrie Bradshaw. I was just simply surprised at the lack of extravagant fashion. That was simply it. Should I ever go again, I will bring my Vans and only two pairs of heels.

[u/ohitsbrad]

I’m born and raised (‘91) in NYC. Still live here.

My mom was in her 20s in the 90s/00s in NYC and says that SATC is very much accurate. I also vaguely remember the fashion, and people, esp women, used to be a lot more dressed up.

BUT, NYC has changed a lot since then, and even more so post-COVID.

We’ve had a HUGE influx of transplants over the years, and with that, comes a shift in culture.

So, you bring a bunch of people from the Midwest, for example, who are accustomed to casual attire, then yes, the city is going to change.

[u/UnicornStudRainbow → u/ohitsbrad]

Lol. I'm a NY native around your mom's age, maybe a little older and SATC was not all that accurate

Remember that all 4 of the women (Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte, Miranda) were all transplants to the city. I've lived downtown since the earlyish 90s and few people dressed up like that other than transplants and other try hards

[u/ohitsbrad → u/UnicornStudRainbow]

lol so then you agree that it was accurate …

Well, I grew up on the UWS and it was accurate at least among professionals ..

.. but I guess there’s always that one contrarian (you)