MISMATING IN MANHAflAN
Sarah Jessica Parker has got it made. Thrift shops, department stores, Fifth Avenue. A girl could do no wrong in New York. Or could she . . ? Words: Catherine Bromley
dressed in the dark. In the 60—odd episodes she‘s appeared in so
far. I‘ve witnessed some car crash ensembles where perfectly decent items of clothing are matched with other equally perfectly decent items to form a perfectly horrific whole. However. having now visited the city where she shops - New York City. that is — I think I have the answer. Everything looks good in the shops there. It's a shopper‘s dream come true. It really is. If you go there. chances are you too will join SJP‘s school of fashion. I did and with one small exception. everything I bought
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coloured bunny rabbits hopping merrily
I ’ ve often wondered why Sex and the City's SJP looks like she got
across it. Reversible too. and just as hideous the other way round. Then I headed over to the East Village. to Filthmart (531 E 13th Street. between Avenues A and B) a rather shabby second-hand clothes store co-owned by Sopranos star Drea de Matteo. where I made my one sensible purchase of a five-day stay: an ultra-tight black and silver striped top. Given half a chance. I’ll wear it with a pink gingham ra-ra skirt.
Taking a brief pause for culture — an galleries. historical landmarks. bars — the next stop was streetwear store X-Girl (265 Lafayette Street). Here I bought a lime green hoody. once again reversible but. and crucially here. reversible to the practical colour of grey. Then. out of interest (and nothing more. as I‘m a badly paid joumalist). l swung by Fifth Avenue to snoop the posh shoe shops that the Sex and the City girls frequent. You know the ones — Jimmy Choo and Manolo Blahnik. Suffice to say. I‘ve never seen so many vile styles of heeled footwear. but if I could conceivably afford a pair. I'd wear them with everything. Even if they didn‘t go. Which they wouldn‘t. because they‘re all hideous.
So. to cut a short story even shorter. on day four of my five day stay. I‘m horsing around Central Park wearing tan trousers. a tweed coat and my new turquoise wool hat. bought in toy shop cum vintage clothing store Reminiscence (50 W 23 Street). I don’t own anything else turquoise. It was sheer and utter folly to buy it. But then that‘s probably what SJ P says to herself each and every day.
SEX-TRAVAGANZA
Channel 4 gets the New Year off to a cracking start with an evening dedicated to Sex and the City
Pub and club owners across the country will be wringing their hands in worry. Not only do they have to contend with a nation of hungover party people and piss-poor weather, they now face the threat from Channel 4's masterstroke: a night of unadulterated Sex and the City viewing.
In preparation for this televisual Sex orgy. invite round a few select friends. mix up cocktails from last night’s leftovers (a cosmopolitan is lemon vodka. cranberry juice.
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New York city
paradise, but good taste vacuum. Leave the credit card and fashion sensibility at home
lime and Cointreau). hide the remote control and set the video. Now you're ready to see in the New Year New York style.
At 9pm. Sex and the City Uncovered takes you behind the scenes to explore the series from conception to transmission, before the first episode of series five is shown at 9.35pm. Classic episodes from the series are shown throughout the evening (10.15pm classic Carrie. midnight Charlotte. 12.35pm Miranda and 1.10am Samantha). while at 10.55pm The Truth About Sex and the City focuses on the New York women who really live the Sex and the City lifestyle.
Iivin’: a shopper’s
22 THE LIST ' '2 Der: 2002—2 Jan 2003
pick up that speCial something.
Starry Starry Night. 7 9—27 Dowanside Lane. Glasgow. 0747 337 7837. Edinburgh alternative: Gladrags. 17 Hendersoii Row.01315571916.
Pamper at One Spa
Just a hop. skip and a jump across town is a pampering paradise: One Spa is a city girl‘s idea of heaven. Relieve the stresses of modern living in their Outdoor hydrotherapy pool. indulge yourself with a treatment. or just kick back and relax in the SumptuOLis sister restaurant Santini's. You deserve it.
One Spa. Sheraton Grand. Edinburgh. 0737 227 7777. Glasgow alternative: Oshi Spa. Langs. 2 Port Dundas Place. 01411 333 1500.
r.-? Sex at Whiplash Trash
'YOu vVOuldn't see Monica and Rachel shOpping for vibrators.' proclaimed Sex and the City publiosts. And yes. and yes again. the programme had arrived. If hardcore porn isn't yoiir idea of a girly pastime. then never fear: Whiplash Trash is a sex shop with its tongue firmly in its cheek. Soto speak. It's trashy. and has lots of quirky items like rude T-shirts and penis pasta. i/V/l/D/aS/i Trash. 53 Cockbur/i Street. Edi/7.007977. 0737 226 7005.
Glasgow alternative: Ann Summers. 55—57 Sauchiehall Street. 0141 331 0272.
Interiors at Nancy Smillie Hidden behind Byres Road next to DeCOurcey's Arcade — Glasgow's self -i')roclain‘ed answer to Covent Garden — is this heavenly ho'ne interior shop. It stocks everything fron‘ bedroom furniture and original art to funky lamps and citarn‘ing textiles that are simply div/ine. It's all yen, girly aml ab0ut as far fY'O'l‘ minimalistic as you can imagine. \.r\’e love it. Nancy S/Ti..'/7(3 Shot) and Ga/iery; 53 Cresswe/i Street. G/(ing‘.‘/. ()7-1.’ (934 42-10. Edinburgh alternative: Concrete Butterfly. Cowgate. 0131 558 7130.