Last night, Sex and the City fans gathered by the rooftop pool at the W Scottsdale for Steve Levine's "Carrie On" Fashion Show in celebration of the upcoming second film release.
Surprisingly, the gender divide wasn't as wide as expected. About a third of the audience were dudes -- though whether they were there to peep the fashions or in hopes of getting laid afterward by a cosmo-drunk SATC fan, we can't say.
What we can say is that the show itself was the smoothest running and most appealing Phoenix Fashion Week preview so far.
The scene was pretty tame considering how well-lubricated everyone was, and the fact there was a bona fide semi-celeb in the house: Frankie Muniz of Malcolm in the Middle.Several hotel guests from England we bumped into didn't even realize there was a show going on last night. "Is this like Nascar? Are they all going to crash into the pool?" another male VIP quipped when he noticed the catwalk's location. Sorry, dude. No such luck.
The show featured chic fashions from Macy's. First, there were clothes inspired by the ones worn in the New York part of the film. It was easy to spot the picks for each of the girls: Flirty dresses for Carrie, hot and tight numbers for Samantha, Miranda's power girl clothes and Charlotte's flowered sundresses and long-sleeved coats.
Most of them were winners -- sassy, chic fashions the average girl could wear on a date or drinking cosmos with her gal pals.
A trio of belly dancers writhed like snakes on the catwalk to introduce the portion of the show inspired by the Middle East trip the SATC girls take in movie number two. "What the hell is this?" griped a very vocal Aussie in the crowd as the dancers came out. He pissed and moaned until he noticed how sexy the slickly oiled Latina in the group was when she was undulating three feet from his face. Then it was, "woah, she's hot!"
The desert-inspired fashions ranged from sultry swimsuits to flowy, colorful skirts and safari wear. Most were stunners, but a few like this shapeless shift left viewers scratching their heads.
| The upscale version of a potato sack. |
In true SATC fashion, the male models were mainly there for eye candy. Gasps and squeals erupted from the crowd every time a dude walked the runway shirtless, which seemed to be the norm. Clothes? Who needs clothes to show off at a fashion show when you can just throw on a pair of cargo shorts and a scarf?
Let's hope that's all that Aidan, Big and Samantha's inevitable horde of hot young studs wear in Sex and the City 2.
Apparently, it was tough to get a spot on the runway this year. Aspiring actor and ASU grad Alan Greenspan (no relation to the former Federal Reserve Chairman) auditioned for a spot but got turned down because he was too short. "I'm only like 5'9" and a half," he said, shaking his head. "And I'm the tallest one in my family!"
Last night was more about the film than the clothes, at least for some rabid fans in attendance. Roommates Sarah, Hilary, Desiree and Maren of Tempe admitted to cashing in on connections to nab VIP seats because they all love SATC.
"We're obsessed with Sex and the City," squealed Maren. "We watch it every night." So who's Carrie in their fab foursome? Sarah's the sweet one, so that makes her Charlotte. But Carrie's everyone's favorite, so they know better than to catfight over being the star. Wise move, ladies.
If you missed out on the Carrie On fashion show, here are a few more SATC 2 parties that you can still get in on:
- For $55, eat a three-course meal and catch the midnight premiere of the movie at Biltmore Fashion Park on Thursday, May 27.
- Olive & Ivy in Scottsdale is hosting a Sex and the City 2 themed party on Thursday, May 27 with flirty cocktails, hors d'oeuvres and a fashion show. Cost is $25.
- From 5-7 p.m. on Monday, May 24, Macy's at Scottsdale Fashion Square is hosting a preview party and fashion show with looks featured in the film.
- Starting at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, May 26, Valley Melting Pot locations will offer a SATC dinner package for $39, which include cheese fondue, small entree and dessert, plus tickets to a nearby midnight screening of SATC 2.
