Why 'Sex and the City' is Still Relevant

When 'Sex and the City' premiered in 1998, not even SJP herself knew the kind of phenomenon it would become -- and still be to this very day, twenty years later. 

The blossoming of social media in the past decade has allowed 'Sex and the City' to be relived over and over again, and documented on various accounts. Instagram account @everyoutfitonsatc is a perfect example of social media's newfound fascination for the show. The account, which literally documents every outfit ever worn on SATC, highlights the timeless, hilarious, and surprisingly on-trend outfits worn by main characters Carrie Bradshaw, Miranda Hobbes, Charlotte York, and Samantha Jones. Though it's clear to see why the ladies can still be dubbed fashion icons years later, the resurgence of SATC in popular culture has also revealed something quite surprising about the show -- it still remains incredibly socially and politically relevant for women. 

🚬IT-GIRL AESTHETIC🚬 Bias-cut slip dresses, strappy sandals, and Marlboro Lights are the cornerstones of Carrie's Season One wardrobe. This minimal evening look holds up particularly well and Bella Hadid will probably be wearing it by the time we finish typing this sentence. (S1/EP11) #CarrieBradshaw #Minimalism #90s #Smoking #ItGirl

A post shared by Every Outfit on Sex & the City (@everyoutfitonsatc) on May 20, 2017 at 3:22pm PDT

Besides the fact that Cynthia Nixon, AKA Miranda, has officially announced her run for New York State governor,  the show delved into a multitude of political issues that plague American women to this very day. Whether it was family pressures, infertility, squabbles among friends, or the all-consuming problem known as love, 'Sex and the City' provided an honest, smart, and funny approach to every issue through the eyes of a woman. The show also dealt with serious issues like workplace inequality (ehem, Richard Wright), religion, and, of course, sex.

It is no wonder, then, that with the rise of Instagram and other social media platforms have allowed everyone to enjoy the series' hilarious quotes, killer outfits, and more. Instagram personality Dan Clay has built a career around dressing (in drag) as his online persona "Carrie Dragshaw". In each of his posts, Clay recreates one of Carrie's outfits and a caption to match. The writing is utterly on point with Bradshaw's voice, often including an "I couldn't help but wonder..." to fully recreate the fantasy. 

I had a thought: They say you learn something new every day. So are we all just schoolgirls at the University of L.I.F.E.? Where it's less chemistry and more Cavali, less gym and more Coach, and everything you really need to know you learn in a subway car (Lesson 1: The empty car is empty for a reason.) But if life lessons come every day, like mail, was most of it junk? I couldn't help but wonder: If life was the school and New York was the classroom, what had I learned? I learned Biology: Only love can heal a broken heart. Statistics: You miss 100% of the shoes you don't buy. History: Just because a relationship ends doesn't mean you failed. Accounting: Just because a dress is on sale doesn't mean you can afford it. Meteorology: Between cold winter nights and hot, juicy garbage—you can handle more than you think. Psychology: You can learn a lot about a person by how they act at a sample sale. Physics: You shouldn't waste your energy on negative thoughts and you shouldn't waste your time on negative men. Theater Arts: Petty drama doesn't make you more important. Culinary Arts: You have all the ingredients for happiness already—mix 4 girls in 1 large melting pot, add men...and serve hot. I suppose there's no Easy A in the School of Hard Knocks. But if life is a classroom, maybe ours could be one for the history books. #CarrieDragshaw

A post shared by Dan Clay (@dan_clay) on Nov 15, 2017 at 5:00am PST

Every girl who dreams of one day moving to New York City and becoming a writer has at one point dubbed herself a "Carrie Bradshaw wannabe" -- myself included. From the outrageous fashion to the heartfelt stories of love and loss, 'Sex and the City' created four fully-realized women with different values, ambitions, personalities, and lives. Carrie, Charlotte, Miranda, and Samantha are all realistic, intelligent, successful women who, despite popular belief, don't need men to make them feel fulfilled. That's something we need much more of in television, and in our day-to-day lives.