Handbags of Sex and the City: Top 4 Most Iconic Styles
When “Sex and the City” hit screens for the first time at the end of the 1990s, it did more than just rewrite the rules on how to love, care, and live; it completely revised what fashion should look like on television. From Carrie Bradshaw’s quirky style to Samantha Jones’ power dressing, the show became a fashion Bible of sorts for millions around the world. Though beyond the Manolo Blahnik heels and bold designer dresses, it was the handbags that truly stole the show.
Long before the rise of an Instagram influencer, SATC made a handful of designer handbags into instant pop culture icons, recognized in a heartbeat by the millions of viewers following the series. From playful minaudières to must-have “It Bags,” these arm candies became as integral to the characters’ identities as the city they called home. So, let’s take a trip down the memory lane and take a look at the top four handbags that became iconic thanks to the show.
1. Judith Leiber Minaudières
Recognized globally for their meticulous attention to detail, flawless craftmanship and whimsical designs, Judith Leiber evening bags and minaudieres are a frequent spot at the Red Carpets. However, few people know that it is thanks to Sex and the City that the brand went mainstream.
Basically, in season 4’s episode titled “The Real Me”, Carrie Bradshaw was spotted carrying a swan-shaped Judith Leiber minaudière during a charity fashion show. Admittedly, it was a little over-the-top, but Carrie managed to pull it off with her trademark confidence, capturing perfectly SATC’s greater philosophy: fashion is fun, personal, and sometimes just a little over-the-top. And since then, Judith Leiber minaudière bags have been synonymous with high-end, playful sophistication, appearing frequently on the Red Carpets and other high-class events.
2. Fendi Baguette
If there’s one bag that really became immortalized by Sex and the City, that would have to be the Fendi Baguette. First created back in 1997 by Silvia Venturini Fendi, this slender, petite bag was to be carried under the arm – similarly to the French bread it was named after. But how exactly did Sex and the City popularize it?
Well, in Season 3, Episode 17, Carrie gets mugged on the streets of New York, and when urged to give up her bag, she says, “It’s a Baguette”, highlighting just how special this particular handbag was. And the result? The Baguette became an instant cult favorite, selling over 100,000 units in the first year following its Sex and the City debut.
3. Dior Saddle Bag
With its unconventional, equestrian-inspired shape and distinctive logo hardware, the Dior Saddle Bag is arguably one of the most unique handbags ever created. But did you know that it has Sex and the City to thank for much of its meteoric rise?
Spotted on multiple occasions throughout the show, the Dior Saddle Bag was one of Carrie Bradshaw’s favorite handbags, appearing not just in the classic oblique, but also in denim and other variations. However, the scene that has really imprinted the Dior Saddle bag onto our minds has to be when in season 3 of the show, Carrie paired a white and gold Dior Saddle bag with a white top, pink pants and an oversized flower pin.
4. Hermès Birkin
It’s arguably the most desired handbag in the world, known for its exclusivity, craftsmanship, and a premium price tag: the Hermès Birkin. The waiting list for the bag can be several years long. And in Sex and the City, this became a main plot point on the episode 11 of the season 4, when Samantha Jones famously tries to get her hands on the handbag.
Samantha goes as far as to name-drop her celebrity connections at the store in order to bypass the waiting list. Spoiler alert: that didn’t work. Though the classic line, voiced by the SA at the Hermès boutique, “It’s not a bag, it’s a Birkin,” ended up becoming iconic, highlighting the Birkin’s reputation as one of the most desired handbags in the world.
Btw, several of the bag featured on this article also ended up appearing in the franchise’s later iterations, incl. the recent reboot series, And Just Like That. In particular, the Judith Leiber Minaudière (this time shaped like a cupcake) was spotted during the first Sex and The City movie, while the Fendi Baguette has stolen the show during the season 2 of And Just Like That, where it appeared in a brand-new, sequins variation.
