Parker talks stilettos, ‘Sex and the City’ and ‘Divorce’
Gorgeous actress and fashionista Sarah Jessica Parker, who propelled the mega-sales of stilettos with her wardrobe on HBO’s “Sex and the City,” surprisingly doesn’t consider herself much of a shopper.
“I think I’d surprise you if you looked in my shoe closet,” she said withalaughwhenImetherearlier this month at her SJP Collection Pop-Up Boutique in the Shops at Crystals in CityCenter at Aria.
“I’m the opposite of that character I played on television. I love shoes. I love what they do for a woman. But I’m somebody who holds on to things for a long time and wears them for a long time. I like the value in something comfortable. You’ll even find some flats — it’s not just high heels.”
Sarah was here for two days of appearances to launch her “Strip Collection” of shoes, handbags and candles inspired by Las Vegas andexclusive to TonyHsieh’s Zappos Couture. He was at the popup that looked as if it had been plucked from Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue to set the stage for a luxurious event filled with fashion and Carrie Bradshaw’s favorite cosmopolitans and Champagne.
It was a turnout of the tops as if HBO’s hit series was filming at a swank Park Avenue penthouse, and Sarah mingled with Las Vegas VIPs including Crystals Senior Vice President and General Manager Farid Matraki; MGM Resorts board member and Infinity World President William Grounds; Vdara Hotel & Spa General Manager Mary Giuliano; Bardot Brasserie Executive Chef Josh Smith; and Audra Baldwin, wife of CityCenter President and CEO Bobby Baldwin.
Sarah, a glamorous 50-yearold, says she’s been interested in shoes even before her hit HBO series began and is serious about her new collection partnered with Manolo Blahnik CEO George Malkemus and available only from Zappos.
“Our manufacturer in Italy comes to New York three or four times a year, and I sit with him on
Sarah showed me her own Nicolas Cage in “Honeymoon in shoes she was wearing from the Vegas,” and for the final marriage collection. It’s her design with fabscene in a small Las Vegas wedric from a dress she once wore. For ding chapel wore a stolen showgirl our interview and welcome recepoutfit with The Flying Elvises, the tion, she wore a snakeskin-patskydiving team of Elvis impersonators.ternedpantsuit.Atrue,delightful and charming woman to interWhile in town last week, Sarah view, Sarah is genuinely excited took part as a surprise guest on withhercreationsnowbeingmar“The Downtown Podcast” and keting from Las Vegas: attended one of the final sold-out
“I love the collection. It’s exactperformances of “The Essenly what I wanted to create.” tial Diana Ross: Some Memories
Boxes of her shoes were flying Never Fade” at the Venetian. out the doors on her visit so fast Our chat took place moments that Tony himself was running after she received the green around to storage areas to restock light for her new HBO comedy product.Manyofourtown’sglamseries “Divorce,” in which she’ll our girls walked out in their new play, obviously, a divorcee. As pairs carrying their old shoes in a its producer, she’s excited about SJP shopping bag. her return to the small screen.
“I’m delighted to launch our Thomas Haden Church portrays collection with Zappos Couture,” her (ex-?)husband, and Molly Sarah said. “It’s been really excitShannon and Talia Balsam play ing to work with Zappos over the close friends of Sarah’s characpast few years preparing for this ter, Frances. No airdate has been launch. Their enthusiasm and announced, but it is to be filmed understanding of our brand has this year in New York. beenthrilling.It’sgotanadventurSarah told me she remained in ous Las Vegas sparkle to them.” touch with her girlfriends from
From the names of shoes such “SexandtheCity,”whichranfrom as “Carrie” from her role on “Sex 1998 to 2004 and had two spinoff and the City” to the little ribbon big-screen movies. found on each product represent“I don’t miss the show as much ing her own childhood, each style as I miss the cast, but if there was has a story as personal to the to be a third movie, I’d seriously wearer as it is to Sarah herself. think about it.” She added, gig
Sarah chatted with me about gling: “I’ve done just about every life in Las Vegas compared to New state of romance on television, York. She has been happily marfrom being stranded at the altar ried since 1997 to film and Broadand now to marital woes and way star Matthew Broderick, and divorce. You see, it’s as I said: I’m they have three children: 5-yearall the opposite of what you see on old twins Marion and Tabitha and television.” son James.
Sarahin1992starredalongside all the designs and then take part in the marketing and sales programs,” Sarah said. “He’s been in the shoe business for 30 years, so we’re dealing with the best.
“I enjoy this aspect of business. It’s so different from television. It’s good for an actress to have another interest. I have my others, like the fragrance, but designing a wardrobe for a woman is really rewarding. I set out to take this shoe opportunity to make reasonably priced, sexy shoes that would last and be of real value to a woman working hard for her money. I think we’ve succeeded well.”