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The iconic tulle skirt, famously worn by Sarah Jessica Parker as Carrie Bradshaw in Sex and the City, is currently up for auction for a staggering sum. However, the tutu was not always valued at thousands of dollars.
Julien’s Auctions is currently hosting an auction for a three-tier skirt in a beautiful oyster white color. The skirt features a satin waistband and is estimated to be worth between $8,000 and $12,000. Bidding started on January 11th with an initial bid of $2,000, and it has now reached a current bid of $9,000. This stunning tutu is part of Julien’s “Unstoppable: Signature Styles of Iconic Women In Fashion” collection.
For those who love the popular HBO show that aired from 1997 to 2004, the tutu worn by sex columnist Carrie in the opening credits will be familiar. In the iconic scene, Carrie twirls through a bustling New York City street while wearing the layered skirt and a simple pink tank top. She becomes famous for getting splashed by water from a yellow taxi.
According to the tale, Patricia Field, the costume designer for Sex and the City, discovered the skirt in a bargain bin in Manhattan’s garment district. Initially, series creator Darren Starr wanted Sarah Jessica Parker to wear a blue dress from Marc Jacobs’ 1998 spring runway collection in the opening credits, but Field preferred something more timeless and versatile for the actor.
Her decision to dress Parker in the white tutu was so pivotal for Field that she recounted it in her 2023 memoir, Pat in the City. “I imagined pairing the short, tiered tulle skirt with a small tee or tank for a look that was both contemporary and cool,” she wrote. “I also thought Sarah Jessica would be able to relate to this crazy skirt because of her background as a ballet dancer. Just as important, though, the tutu-style skirt was whimsical, adventurous, and unexpected.”
The estimated value of the ‘Sex and the City’ tutu is between $8,000 and $12,000.
In the 2008 movie adaptation of Sex and the City, the famous tutu makes a comeback when Carrie asks her friends Miranda, Samantha, and Charlotte to assist her in organizing her closet. As they go through her clothing, Carrie puts on a fashion show for her friends to help decide which items to keep and which to get rid of. Not surprisingly, the tutu was one of the items that made the cut.
In a video interview for Vogue’s “Life in Looks” series in 2022, Parker disclosed the owner of the cherished tutu. According to Julien’s, there are five tutu skirts used in the opening credits of the series. The tutu being sold at auction is one of the original five and comes with a certificate of authenticity signed by Field.
Many individuals assert possession of the tutu, but the And Just Like That star believes Pat is one of them. In addition, Michael Patrick [King] is also said to have one. The star went on to share that she herself owns one of the five tutus. It can be assumed that the scene required a splash, leading to the use of four, five, or six tutus.
The exhibition “This Is New York: A Century of the City in Art and Pop Culture” will take place in June 2023.
Along with Carrie Bradshaw’s iconic white tutu, there are other noteworthy vintage pieces available for purchase. These include Paris Hilton’s champagne evening gown featured on the cover of her 2006 self-titled album, and a black and white cocktail dress designed by Catherine Walker and previously worn by Princess Diana. The tutu from Sex and the City also comes with copies of the movie and first season of the original series on DVD.
The source for this information is the Independent website.
