Growing older with ‘Sex and the City’ author
In the late 1990s, like many women in their 30s, I became enthralled with Carrie Bradshaw each week. I watched “Sex and the City” as a new mother, living vicariously through four single working women navigating the dating world in New York City — and salivating over the clothes.
The best part about the book is Bushnell’s voice, one that is replicated in the original series: Smart, aware and constantly observing, with a tinge of optimism. Even though life is hard, she seems to say, she’s a willing participant who is amused, sometimes baffled and engaged. And that it’s perfectly OK to be fabulous and open about human sexuality. Even to skip the sex/relationship part, which Bushnell decides to do after her divorce. “And so I decided for the first time in thirty-four years to be manfree. This also meant sex-free. At this point in my life, I’m not a casual sex person.”
I think it’s really important to point out that most great movies and TV shows start with a writer and/or a book. And I hope the newer “Sex and the City” fans give proper credit to Bushnell: There would be no Bradshaw without her. In fact, it all began with a column for the New York Observer in 1994 that was bought as a book in 1995 before HBO picked it up, according to Bushnell’s website. And now, it’s a social media sensation. The pictures of the actors and their clothes have gone viral, along with the nasty comments about aging and what’s “appropriate” for people my age, which strikes home.
Yes, we’re in our 50s, my generation of women, who came into their own during the run of “Sex and the City.” Look at us. We are independent, smart and successful. And we don’t need validation via a relationship. I started watching again because I was tired of my pandemic sweat pants, and I love the fashion. (I attended an Upstate Alliance for the Creative Economy event recently in Troy and people, no matter what their age, were dressed up. I even dug out a skirt and vintage necklace for the occasion.)
During the pandemic, I subscribed to some fashion magazines — restarting another habit I thought I left behind in the 20th century. Between the “Sex and the City” reboot and my pile of Vogue magazines, I’m ready to ditch the sweat pants for a designer dress (vintage, of course) and curl up to watch “And Just Like That.”