Sarah Jessica Parker Outfits That Are Delightfully Outside The Box (& A Major Dose Of Style Inspo)

Sarah Jessica Parker is best known for her role as Carrie Bradshaw in "Sex and the City." The character has been hailed by fashion giants for her wardrobe, with fans dying to get their hands on some of the pieces she wore on the show. But the fans are not alone in their admiration for Carrie's iconic style; Parker actually dons some of the costume pieces in real life from time to time.

Despite wearing some outfits that should have landed on the worst-dressed list, Parker has proven she's a style icon. The actress had already cemented her position as one of Hollywood's fashion figures long before Gen Z hopped on the "Carrie Bradshaw" trend, like when she hosted the MTV Awards in 2000 and took to the stage wearing 15 different looks. On one occasion, Parker addressed the crowd wearing a tuxedo-style corset and a top hat.

Considering the original series concluded in 2004, Parker's style is clearly timeless too. As of 2026, the now 61-year-old has maintained her stylish reputation by experimenting with statement outfits and accessories. From velvet balloon trousers and off-the-shoulder blazers to tangled necklaces and Renaissance-inspired dresses, the actor is not afraid to wear outfits that are delightfully outside the box. Over the years, Parker has also shown a talent for pulling off accessories and dramatic fabrics, including statement earrings, fringe skirts, and feathered hems.

Sarah Jessica Parker has been making headlines for her unique outfits ever since she attended the film premiere for "For the Boys" wearing an embellished jacket and velvet pants in 1991. The balloon trousers, by French designer Christian Lacroix, perfectly matched her pointed red satin heels. Her distinctive jacket, by designer Rifat Ozbek, featured embroidered side profiles of different people. With the rise of minimalism in the early 1990s, Parker was making an impact in the fashion industry before "Sex and the City" premiered in 1998. By successfully merging vibrant colors and mixed materials, Parker showed she could dress herself.

At the Screen Actors Guild Awards in 2000, Sarah Jessica Parker stepped onto the red carpet wearing a unique tailored piece: an off-the-shoulder pantsuit. The gray co-ord featured a red flower that rested on Parker's collarbone, as well as a row of small buttons embroidered down each sleeve. The actor wore minimal accessories to the event, which resulted in her voluminous curls taking center stage. The 2000s were all about micro pieces and velour tracksuits; yet again, Parker was doing something different. Instead of wearing the popular baguette bag at the time, the actor opted for a clutch.

Sarah Jessica Parker's natural hair color proves what you're born with isn't always a match, especially when she looks this good with bleached locks. In 2000, the actor hosted the MTV Awards in an array of outfits. Her fishnet tights, layered with an embellished mini skirt and a white vest, are arguably the most iconic look of the night. While fishnet tights were trending in the 2000s, with hit artists including Avril Lavigne donning the stockings, people usually wore them lower on the waist. It was a bold move for Parker since it completely contrasted with her more glamorous looks.

In 2004, Sarah Jessica Parker attended the Primetime Emmy Awards wearing a structured black dress that featured a feather skirt. She finished the look with a pair of strappy gold heels. Parker's hair was slicked and fell in loose ringlets. Her tight hairstyle drew attention to her feathered skirt that splayed out in different directions. Feathers were big in the 2000s, and they were often used as accessories to transform minimalist pieces into statement garments. Feather jackets, scarves, capes, and even headpieces were very popular on runways. However, feather skirts were rarely seen, unless they were on Parker.

As of 2026, Sarah Jessica Parker has attended the Met Gala 12 times. For her 2006 appearance, the actor wore a tartan gown designed by British designer Alexander McQueen. If she wasn't already known for her stylish traits, the actor cemented her fashionable reputation by posing alongside the designer while wearing a lace dress that featured a sweetheart neckline and tutu skirt. The look layered lace with tartan fabric. Not only are the contrasting materials so iconic, but Sarah and Alexander shared a special friendship that merged the sitcom world with the fashion industry.

Necklaces are the one thing you can skip when trying the statement jewelry trend, and Sarah Jessica Parker embraced this. When the actor wore a bold pink-and-purple print Alexander McQueen gown to honor her late friend, who passed away in 2010, she topped off the look with statement earrings. Parker wore her hair in a rare updo to showcase her diamond accessories, paired with a gray purse.

In 2017, Sarah Jessica Parker proved she was all about fringe. The actor was spotted wearing a metallic navy maxi dress. As '70s bohemian style trends made their way back into the 21st century, the actor was quick to embrace fringed garments for her evening at the New York City Ballet. While the decorative finish had been spotted on runways at New York Fashion Week, going full throttle with the design was still quite rare. Instead of being clad head to toe in tassels, fashion designers were producing garments that only featured fringe accents, primarily on bags and dresses.

In 2022, Sarah Jessica Parker stepped out wearing a mismatched look to the opening night of "Some Like It Hot!" on Broadway. The actor layered a sequin dress with a beige trench coat. While the long formal coat completely contrasted the shiny material of the dress, her odd polka dot shoes didn't exactly blend in either. Despite taking over as a major trend in 2025, she had already donned the pattern years earlier. As "messy girl" aesthetics became increasingly popular in 2026, Parker once again proved she was fashion-forward by accessorizing with a knotted pearl necklace.

Just when you think she's done it all, in 2025, Sarah Jessica Parker combined Elizabethan fashion trends with modern tailoring. As a judge for the Booker Prize, the actor posed on the red carpet wearing a gown that clearly drew inspiration from the late renaissance and early Baroque eras. As Gen Z continue to hop on "regencycore" trends, and Netflix's "Bridgerton" dominates television, Parker's nod to renaissance gowns reinforced her lasting influence in the fashion world. The actor modernized her formal look with a pair of brown stilettos and accessorized with an embellished chocolate handbag and a crystal necklace.