How Living Like TV Characters Transformed Our Lives in Boston

Written by Rachel Dirksen | Designed by Shelby Mitchell | Graphic by Emily Snisarenko

I Lived Like I Was in “Sex and the City” for a Week, and I Learned a Lot…

If you ask me, watching Sex and the City in its entirety is a rite of passage for young women. The hit HBO show has held major influence over pop culture since its start and long past its end in 2004. Almost two decades later, women of all ages can find a part of themselves in the four main characters: Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte, and Miranda. As a single 20-something woman living in Boston, I found myself referring to moments in the show in scenarios I experience on campus, in dating, throughout the city, and in my relationships—but most importantly, my friendships.

As I began to really take notice of the subtle influences Sex and the City has on my life and how I perceive relationships, I decided I was up for a challenge. The goal: live like I am one of the main four characters for a whole week. I wasn’t too sure what that entailed, and didn’t really have a plan of action. All I knew was I was sure to learn something about myself, and maybe even see the city of Boston in a new light.

When I began this challenge, the one non-negotiable I had was to make sure I put extra effort into my appearance every day. The fashion in Sex and the City is one of my favorite parts of the show, but it is a bit extreme for a college student. As the spring semester began, I found myself throwing on sweats and a hoodie every morning before class. My goal was to at least make sure I was wearing something other than a groutfit, even if it’s not a perfectly coordinated outfit paired with Manolo Blahniks.

As I woke up on the first day of this challenge, I dreaded putting on an elaborate outfit, one that I would normally wear on a night out or for a formal occasion. I decided to opt for my favorite pair of trousers and a leather blazer for a streetwear-inspired look. Although this might not be something we would see on Carrie Bradshaw, it is something that gave me confidence. Spending time on my makeup every morning seemed pointless with mask wearing, but I made myself follow through with the process. I found that I enjoyed waking up early and having a little time to pamper myself before the day ahead.

As the week progressed, I began to realize that there is a theme among the women’s fashion in the show; they are dressing for nobody but themselves. I doubt Samantha Jones wakes up in the morning and decides to dress to impress the men or women she sees on the street; she does it because it makes her feel good. That is exactly how I felt—good about myself. I noticed a shift in the way I approached my classes, work, and social events. I walked into every room with more confidence and a sense of security in myself.

With this newfound confidence, I took any opportunity to socialize beyond my normal weekends with my girlfriends. I went to the Institute of Contemporary Art to see a new exhibit, embracing the elegance of Charlotte York. Afterwards, I went to a rooftop bar/restaurant in Seaport called Yotel. I was dressed in thigh high boots and an all-black outfit that could only be described as sleek, inspired by Samantha Jones. It was the perfect night out with friends.

Carrie Bradshaw is not one to shy away from treating herself, famously purchasing designer shoes and a Vogue magazine instead of saving for the ridiculous New York City rent. I took on this energy of luxury, and decided to treat myself to little things throughout the week. I treated myself to my favorite coffee at Blue Bottle, even though I knew I could have made coffee at home. I also did numerous face masks, and spent maybe a little bit more money than I should have at Sephora. It may not have been the most responsible of decisions, but sometimes you need a bit of luxury in life, just to make sure you’re really living.

Set in a less-internet-age, one thing the characters of Sex and the City missed out on during their epic adventures was the magic of dating apps. I deactivated my accounts for the entire week, going off the dating grid. Although I’m not one to be entirely invested in dating apps, I did begin to realize how rare it is for Gen Z to meet potential dates in person. I was unfortunately not approached by handsome bachelors every place I went, unlike the show. Although social media and dating apps have their fair share of negative outcomes, they provide the chance to connect with people we may have otherwise overlooked on the street.

Arguably the most important theme from Sex and the City is the importance of female friendships. Charlotte, Samantha, Carrie, and Miranda all have their moments of tension amongst themselves, but at the end of the day, they are always there for one another. They may spend a majority of their time discussing their current romantic interests (occasionally violating the Bechdel test), but I realized that commiserating and evaluating one’s romantic pursuits is sometimes what bonds women together.

In the famous words of Carrie Bradshaw, “Maybe our girlfriends are our soulmates and guys are just people to have fun with.”

The time spent with my girlfriends during this week was more valuable to me than any date I could have been on. Sharing our stories, struggles, and laughs—as cheesy as it sounds—is sometimes the best form of therapy. There is nothing more uniting than the human experience of being a woman, particularly a woman in a city.

New York and Boston are not necessarily one in the same, but they share the same energy and excitement that only a big city can provide. Walking down Commonwealth Ave, Newbury Street, and Boylston while feeling my best was sort of an out-of-body experience. I wanted to interact with the city in the way Samantha or Carrie would. I smiled at strangers, said hello to people as I walked by, and complimented anything I found myself admiring about other people. It felt amazing to do something other than walk with my airpods in, ignoring everyone else as much as I could. When you’re feeling comfortable in your own skin and in the right mindset, walking can become so much more than getting from point A to point B.

This leads me to my biggest takeaway from this week—life is about experiencing. This doesn’t mean you need to be invited to the hottest club or movie premiere like the women of Sex and the City, it means you need to live as though high on life. Live with glamor, elegance, poshness, boldness, purpose, and charisma. Say yes to plans that you normally wouldn’t, make a night-in a bit more luxurious with a face mask and take-out sushi, wake up twenty minutes early to put together an appearance that makes you feel confident. Find your luxury.

Think about how you feel when you’ve done something out of the ordinary—attending a concert, taking a vacation, or maybe even just a nice dinner with your girlfriends. Look back at those experiences. More than likely you don’t remember every detail of what you did, but you do remember how it made you feel. Those exciting moments take us out of our mundane mindset and that can be so refreshing. You don’t need an extravagant excuse to achieve that feeling. This week brought me to the conclusion that life is truly about showing up to every moment, whether big or small, with an attitude of confidence, excitement, and a little bit of luxury.

Carrie Bradshaw herself said it perfectly, “... The most exciting, challenging and significant relationship is the one you have with yourself.”