The Best Thing I Ever Thrifted With Sex and the City Costume Designer Molly Rogers
Ever wonder where Carrie Bradshaw gets her vintage clothes?
I have been worshipping at the altar of Sex and the City since the show debuted on HBO, when I was in high school. Right before we graduated, my high school boyfriend bought me my own version of Carrie Bradshaw’s nameplate necklace – by the same designer — but mine said “Ginny.”
The show was still on the air when I graduated and, as this was prior to streaming, I bought all the available DVDs and brought them to my first year of college at SMU. The football player who lived in the dorm next to me would come over and we would watch the episodes tougher. Eventually, other members of the football team came by and it became something of a tradition. When I would see members of the team on campus, they would start humming the SATC theme song. It’s one of my fondest memories.
The show drew in both men and women because, well, it was one of the first times in entertainment in which women openly talked about sex! That made it remarkable on its own, of course, but there were other layers: the female characters were professionals, they were unmarried, and they were still living full lives. And, of course, they happened to be wearing some incredible outfits.
Sex and the City was transformative and a huge part of its impact stems from the fashion. The fashion was its own character — it conveyed a sense of confidence and personality and gave credence to the notion that fashion is so much than frivolous.
And that’s where this week’s guest comes in. Molly Rogers is a longtime fashion stylist whose work in the costume department of Sex and the City — and on the sequel series, And Just Like That — is incredibly well-regarded.
Molly is a longtime collaborator with Pat Field, who served as the head stylist on Sex and the City (Molly assisted Field on the show). On And Just like That, Molly — along with fellow stylist Danny Santiago, also a big favorite of mine — serves as costume designer.
If you are even peripherally interested in fashion or pop culture, you know that Carrie Bradshaw is the most stylish fictional character to ever exist. And Molly dresses her. So if you know Carrie, you know Molly.
Molly is also a true lover and appreciator of vintage who thinks outside the box when it comes to dressing and styling. She is, in short, as iconic as Carrie Bradshaw herself and I am honored that she is sharing some of her best finds ever — including a technicolor dream coat I’ll think about for the rest of my life — with What’s Left.
“I am a costume designer and I live in Miami and New York City. My credits include The Devil Wears Prada, Sex and the City (all seasons of the television show and two of the movies) and And Just Like That, to name a few.
Globalization, superpower entities like Amazon (along with fast fashion) have whittled down the world to mass consumption choices. The pleasure and uniqueness of shopping vintage is such a joy and an exciting way to add personal touches to style.
I love pieces that add a whimsical element to an outfit when dressing Carrie Bradshaw— I like there to be a nod to something with humor.
I believe all the fans know of the pieces in Carrie’s closet — but most of the pieces that never made it into an episode are some of my favorites! They died a sad, sad death by never making it into a scene and are now stored in Sarah Jessica Parker’s archive in New York City.
Some of the pieces that never made it into a scene include a straw hat found in West Palm Beach at Dina’s that had a mirror in the crown — so you could check your lipstick on the boat.
But I can’t name just one favorite! There are too many prized finds. One that does stick out for being such a rare, destroyed beauty is a floral panel found in Yonkers, New York (in a secret place). I wanted to use it under Carrie’s dress for Mr. Big’s funeral but the script had Carrie saying she didn’t want any flowers at the service. Plus, it felt too dressy for that scene, as she is in mourning. So, we had to kill it.
Instead, we added it to a coat back.
It was just so fragile with beautifully aged flowers. You really have to examine it up close. It cost maybe $200 during the prep for season one of And Just Like That. I knew it would be a hit in the fitting room because of Sarah Jessica’s affinity to flowers.
We have since picked it apart and stolen flowers from it to use in other places. It remains in Sarah Jessica’s archives.
I also love any robe or caftan by Bill Gibb. Carrie rarely wears a new robe at home so most of what you see her in [in those scenes] is vintage.
Accessories-wise, any pair of Charles Jourdan shoes is usually also a hit with me!
Below is the first pair of shoes ever purchased for Carrie in 1997, from INA, a consignment store in Soho. Sarah Jessica still has them today.
There are so many incredible pieces that don’t make it into a show but everything that does is so scrutinized — nothing really gets overlooked.”
RAPID FIRE
VC: What happens to the clothing when the show wraps?
MR: Warner Brothers owns all the clothing… or the girls take their favorites. Sometimes, I treat myself to something when I am shopping for the characters but that is usually for my home — furniture or art work. I love accessories and usually find a vintage bag I love or a piece of jewelry.
VC: Talk to me about the pigeon [ed note: the JW Anderson pigeon clutch worn by Carrie in season 2 — I love a novelty bag! It’s sold out but there are some alternatives by the designer here].
MR: I knew the pigeon would go big, especially when I watched SJ use it in the scene. She is a master with props and pulled a stick of gum out of its wing — classic!
VC: What fashion moments do we have to look forward to in season 3 of And Just Like That?
MR: There is a dress coming up in season 3 that is an incredible vintage find from London. We literally had to remake it on a mannequin and it is all metallic thread — not sure it will translate in high definition. I can’t wait to see how it’s received.
VC: How is hopping for a character different than shopping for yourself?
MR: When you are shopping for a character, you have a list to fulfill, per the script — and you have real bodies, not model bodies. You take all of these details into consideration.
It’s work (and can be pleasurable!) and you are under extreme time constraints. But my rule shopping for others and myself is: never pull anything you don’t love. Even if it’s a flannel shirt, it should be the best one out there!
An absolutely huge thank you to Molly for taking the time to answer all my questions. I will spend the rest of my life trying to track down her secret spots ;) The third season of And Just Like That premieres May 29 on Max.
ODDS & ENDS
If you’re seeking more style inspo and interior recommendations, you’ll find it at Design Defined, a weekly newsletter from Apartment Therapy. AT has been very kind to me over the years and I am big fan of their staff, particularly home director Danielle Blundell, who shares her style advice, along with trends and fun decor finds, in the newsletter.
Try them all: Monastery makes some of my favorite skincare but boy is it pricey. I love their little bespoke facial kit, which costs $32 and includes a small sample of most of their products. You can use them to DIY a facial (the brand gives you instructions) or try each product separately.
Something I made recently: This miso-chocolate mousse, which was easy to whip up and entirely vegan and free of refined sugar (it contains maple syrup and vanilla so it does taste like dessert, but isn’t overly sweet!) I added a dollop of coconut whipped cream (refrigerate a can of coconut cream and whip it in a cold bowl with some maple syrup or agave or sugar, if you want, and a little drop of vanilla).
Add to cart: The new Trader Joe’s garlic butter potato chips are heavenly. They are a little sour cream and onion tasting but more rich. The bag is smaller than a traditional chip bag (which is a good thing, I assure you, as these are easy to plow through).
Custom art: Something I get asked about all the time is the record painting that hangs in my bedroom. Mine is an original John O’Hara on canvas; you can commission your own, framed and on paper version, here.
I saw an interview of an actress wearing the Dior "newspaper" dress today! A classic. I think it was Jenna Ortega. She was asked if she and another actress planned the look they both wore to the Met Gala.
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