Sarah Jessica Parker for Vogue Brasil
Few combinations are as memorable for fashionistas as the trio of Sarah Jessica Parker, New York City, and shoes. The eternal Carrie Bradshaw’s relationship with footwear began even before her iconic character. “My mother had a remarkable eye and taught us that style has little to do with money and everything to do with curiosity, care, and imagination. I think that’s where my love for shoes began. They seemed transformative to me, even as a child,” she says.
From then until now, there have been many scenes, photos, and even a niche brand to call her own, which ceased operations in 2024. Now, she shows her shoeholic side in the campaign “Obsessed with shoes. In every scene,” by Arezzo. The brand went to New York to photograph the muse. Below, you can check out our chat with SJP.
You’re an icon of the 1990s, both as an actress and as a character. What do you miss most about that era?
I miss the feeling of discovery. New York seemed endlessly surprising and full of possibilities. People were living their lives instead of curating them. Television and fashion were changing, and we didn’t know where it was all going. There was an innocence in that uncertainty that I remember very fondly.
What did you learn about style back then that you still carry with you today?
Style is much more personal than it is tied to fashion. Trends come and go, but the most memorable people dress in a way that reflects who they are. I’ve always believed that clothing can be expressive and joyful. Confidence doesn’t come from wearing the right thing, but from wearing something that is true to you.
Many young women in their 20s and 30s are discovering you and your style now. How does it feel to know you’re a role model for them, and what advice would you give them?
It’s a huge compliment, especially because each generation develops its own relationship with fashion. The interesting thing is that younger women aren’t simply recreating looks from the past; they’re interpreting them with their own vision, exactly as style should be. I don’t like giving advice, but if I had to give one piece of advice, it would be: trust your own vision. The most stylish people I’ve ever met are curious, observant, and willing to take risks. Fashion should be a source of pleasure, not pressure. Wear what makes you feel most like yourself and let your style evolve as naturally as you do.
Have you always been passionate about shoes, or did this fondness develop over time and with your acting career?
I’ve always loved shoes. Some of my earliest fashion memories are actually tied to going shoe shopping with my mother. We were a large family and money was often tight, so buying shoes wasn’t something that happened every weekend. I remember those trips feeling incredibly important: you thought carefully about what you chose because you were going to live with those shoes for a long time. My mother had a remarkable eye and taught us that style has little to do with money and everything to do with curiosity, care, and imagination. I think that’s where my fondness for shoes began. They seemed transformative to me, even as a child. Long before acting, I already understood that a pair of shoes can change how you carry yourself. My career has certainly amplified that relationship, but the romance started much earlier.
Which pair of shoes changed your life or has an unusual or funny story behind it?
I have a genuine fondness for the shoes I wore on my wedding day. They weren’t sky-high heels or anything particularly theatrical. I wore teal velvet shoes with a rounded toe and a classic heel. They were personal, practical, and subtly special, which is usually what I love most in a shoe.
What are your thoughts on the ” ugly shoe theory ,” which states that an ugly or unexpected shoe is always a winning styling choice?
“Ugly” is often just another word for “unexpected.” Fashion can become a bit predictable, and an unconventional shoe brings tension and personality. That said, I don’t think a shoe works because it’s ugly. I think it works because it’s interesting. If it adds character, confidence, or a sense of humor to a look, then it’s fulfilling its purpose.
You, New York, shoes — we’ve seen this movie before! What was it like shooting for a Brazilian brand in a city so connected to your history?
It was wonderful. New York is such an important part of my life, both personally and professionally, and shoes have been a recurring character in that story. Collaborating with a Brazilian brand that I love, in a city that means so much to me, felt like a celebration of creativity.
Source – Vogue Brasil
