If You Were A Charlotte, Here Are The 12 Pieces You Need In Your Closet If You’re 40ish
by The Candidly Team
The full spectacle of fashion in SATC was obviously always fun to watch. But there was only one character whose clothes we consistently wanted to physically put on our bodies. And that, of course, was Charlotte.
Not just because they were wildly pretty, which they were. But the way the genius that is Patricia Fields dressed Charlotte showed a much deeper understanding of what will look great on women for all of time.
Things like:
Perfectly tailored silhouettes that are incredible on curves
Prints that are light and fresh and don’t make us look 100-years-old
Waist-nipping, femine tops
Skirts with just the right amount of fullness for those of us with bigger bottoms
Feminine yet sophisticated details like sleek headbands and subtle bows
Charlotte was prim but dripping with style, and nothing was a trend, which is why we can go back and look at all of the clothes you’re about to see below and STILL want to wear every single outfit even though SATC premiered TWENTY SIX years ago.
But enough words. Let’s get to the clothes.
1. The Horse-Forward Sweater
Nothing has ever made jeans look more polished or made us type into Google faster than this sweater. We never found it. But we did find one with that same sensibility that made us similarly swoon.
Benetton Sweater With Horse Inlay
We truly believe Charlotte would appreciate the longevity of Benetton since surely she wore it as a teen alongside her Ralph Lauren modeling days.
Price: $134
2. THE SEA OF A-LINE MIDI SKIRTS
So rarely was Charlotte seen in pants, and yet, we hardly missed them, because her skirt collection seemed the stuff of myths. Just wearing a skirt instead of pants immediately makes you look “styled.” Not to mention few things are more flattering than a good A-line midi. It makes all waists look smaller and gives those of us with bigger hips and butts some slimming coverage and nice lines. And for those of us who are more straight and flat on the bottom, it makes us look like we have curves.
Hill House The Delphine Nap Skirt
This is a brand we firmly believe Charlotte York would have shopped immediately. The prints are like spring itself, and the thick elastic waistband and floaty skirt make it fit like a dream.
Price: $128
Free People Lowen Midi Skirt
This might be our favorite solid midi skirt ... ever. The back is elastic so we don’t feel suctioned, but there’s that smooth band in front to make everything look as custom fit as Charlotte’s entire wardrobe.
Price: $60
3. THE LIZ TAYLOR PINK DRESS
What was more uplifting in all seasons of SATC than seeing a depressed Charlotte, fresh off the Elizabeth Taylor E True Hollywood Story, peel herself off the couch, put together this look, and high tail it to Brady’s birthday party? We don’t love to admit it but an amazing outfit can change your mood. And not to sound like a broken record here, but that feeling is almost always all about the fit.
kate spade bow belt
It wouldn’t be Charlotte if it weren’t wrapped up in the most understated bow. Incidentally, we will be wearing this particular bow belt with every black dress we own from now until we die.
Price: $58
Quay After Hours
This shape looks gorj on every face. Every, single one.
Price: $65
4. THE PERFECTLY TAILORED BUTTON-DOWN
If we have any hope of achieving a chic capsule wardrobe, we have to own a perfectly fitting white button-down that frames our silhouette jusssst so. But we also need enough space to be able to hail a cab with the full mobility of our arms. Enter this shirt.
The Shirt The Icon Shirt
The brand is called The Shirt because all they set out to do was make perfect-fitting button downs, and well, they did it.
Price: $118
5. The FLATTERING FIT-AND-FLARE DRESS
The real genius of a fit and flare dress, in addition to the fact that it’s timeless, is that you don’t feel like you’re in a shapeless muumuu but you also don’t feel like you’re in something skintight that makes you want to skip the bread and bury every bulge under some sad piece of outerwear. Charlotte looked comfortable in every single one of her dresses, and that is our entire goal as well.
Boden Stripe Jersey Wrap Midi Dress
How many times did we die over this neckline on Miss York? Also, no print is chicer than a stripe.
Price: $170
J. Crew Fit-and-flare shirtdress in lightweight oxford
The perfect pleating. (Charlotte loved a well-placed pleat). The cinched waist. The STUNNNG puffed arm. If Charlotte herself was reading this list, we feel certain this is the dress she would buy if she could only buy one thing. Which of course is ridiculous since she’s dripping in money.
Price: $168
Hill House The Ribbon Ellie Nap Dress
We mentioned Hill House as being a thoroughly Charlotte brand. Their most famous dresses are fitted at the top with smocking that looks excellent on everyone and full, floaty skirts. It all feels like sleepwear but looks incredibly chic.
Price: $150 -$248
6. tHE TANK THAT FRAMES YOU BEAUTIFULLY
The neckline is a big deal in all costuming because it’s probably the best part of all of our bodies no matter what shape or size we come in. So while a tank may sound obvious or unimportant, owning one with the exact right shape is game-changing and allows us to create looks like the above.
Negative Whipped Cami
This is the softest whispery fabric, but like we said, the shape is everything. With an A-line skirt. You’ll never look better. Or sort of quietly sexier.
Price: $75
7. THE STRIKING BLACK HALTER DRESS
We all remember Charlotte sashaying into a wedding wowing bystanders by looking 5x better than the bride. Emily Post manners aside, isn’t that reaction all we really want from an occasion dress?
Norma Kamali Halter Wrap Straight Gown
A more wearable version of Charlotte’s exact bride-upstaging gown.
Price: $185
8. The Chic, Pin-Up One Piece
Ok, this was from the movie, and we know the movies were NOT the show. But this suit deserves some credit. Classic but in a pop of color that excites.
J. Crew Ruched bandeau one-piece swimsuit
Behold - THE suit that you will try on and instantly feel good about. The ruching on the sides is just so flattering and the size range is amazing.
Price: $59.50
9. The SLEEK PENCIL SKIRT
Of course, not everything has to flare out to create a gorgeous silhouette, and no one understood that better than Charlotte who seemed to source all the best-fitting pencil skirts in all of Manhattan/ the world. Although, this next one we found, and we’re telling you, it’s magic.
Maeve The Colette Skirt
The fabric has so much stretch and yet we feel fully “held in” and smoothed in this skirt. The length isn’t too short but short enough to not age us 15 years. Comes in plus and petite.
Price: $98
10. The FITTED TEE
This one is another staple that becomes something more than a staple by molding to our natural curves in the most flattering way. By wearing a tee that’s fitted, we can go looser on the bottom and get a balance that gives us our best proportions - top to bottom.
Skims Cotton Jersey T-Shirt
We’ll be up front and tell you this t-shirt is actually one of the top selling things we ever write about. And we suspect it’s because we all just want that one tee that fits us this well. With a sweater gently draped over our shoulders. Perfection.
Price: $48
11. THE CLASSIC JEAN JACKET (AND BONUS BUCKET HAT)
Nothing is more effortlessly classic than a jean jacket. And it’s especially useful in balancing with skirts and dresses and all the more formal(ish) things we want to wear in daytime without looking too dressed up. Especially with the sun hat - sort of genius.
J. Crew New classic denim jacket
There are so many correct ways to wear a jean jacket, but if you’re after your best proportions where your legs look longer, get this one because while it’s spacious and has some blessed stretch, it’s also sliiiightly cropped, so we look lengthened from the waist down,
Price: $80 - $130
Hill House The Sun Hat
Hamptons anyone?
Price: $60
12. THE SEXY “WIFE” NIGHTIE
We act like dressing sexy was for Samantha and Carrie, but Charlotte’s looks, though more subtle and realistic, fell wildly into the realm of being sexy. There was just some elegance behind it. Her incredible collection of nighties was a testament to that.
Montelle Darling Gown
This one made us think of Chartlotte the split second when we saw it. “I’m your wife, I’m sexual.”
Price: $142
BONUS: THE ACCESSORIES
If anything was understated in all the SATC wardrobe, it was Charlotte’s accessories. Each thing was subtle and yet elevated her entire look to the point where we were googling silk headbands and searching every mall for a bow pendant. And ooooh, our search has ended.
The Sophisticated Headband
Anthropologie Ballet Ribbon Headband
The way the ribbon continues to drape down the shoulders. Every color is also prettier than the last.
Price: $16
The Bow Necklace
A bit more petite for everyday wear, but this pretty little necklace will get you endless compliments.
Price: $70
The Understated Diamond Earrings
Mejuri Pave Diamond Round Studs
If you can’t spring for single studs, we adore the pave setting of these real diamond earrings from Mejuri.
Price: $348
Images: Sex And The City HBO
At The Candidly, we try a lot of stuff so you don’t have to. We only recommend things we truly love, and that we think you’ll love, too. All products are chosen independently by our creative team, and all details reflect the price and availability of products at the time of publication. If you buy something we link to, The Candidly may earn a commission.
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