Carrie Bradshaw likely couldn't answer the question of how many pairs of shoes she has on Sex and the City. The freelance writer spent most of her money on designer shoes, and when she ran out of closet space in her one-bedroom apartment, she stored clothes in her kitchen oven. Sex and the City revolved around the friendships and relationships in Carrie’s life, but another big part of her life was her shoes.
In multiple episodes, Carrie made a point to showcase her shoes. One of her most iconic quotes on the show was uttered when she saw a pair of heels in a window and said, “Hello, lover.” Before Sex and the City ended after season 6, Carrie's biggest fashion moments revolved around her shoes, but living in such a tiny Upper East Side apartment didn’t leave her much room for her footwear, especially after she realized just how many pairs she had.
Carrie Owned More Than 100 Pairs Of Shoes
In Sex and the City season 4, episode 16, “Ring A Ding Ding,” Carrie was off to a rocky start when her former fiancé Aidan Shaw evicted her from her apartment since he bought it when they were engaged. Her day got worse when she went shoe shopping with her best friend Miranda, and she realized just how much money she spent on footwear. While Aidan and Carrie's relationship on SATC was messy, and their breakup was one of the show's worst, her breakup with designer shoes was a close second.
While in a shoe store, Carrie wondered where she was going to get the money for a down payment. When Miranda asked how many pairs of $400 heels Carrie had, she hinted at 100. “100 times 400, there’s your down payment,” Miranda told her. It was at that moment that Carrie realized not only did she have 100 pairs of shoes, but she had spent $40,000 on shoes. “I spent $40,000 on shoes, and I have no place to live?” she wailed in shock. In the end, she got help with her down payment from Charlotte instead of another one of Carrie's old boyfriends — and without selling her shoes.
Why Carrie Favors Manolo Blahniks
Carrie wore everything from Prada to Gucci on her feet, but her favorite shoe designer was Manolo Blahnik. The show's legendary costume designer, Patricia Field, told the Daily Mail that Manolo Blahnik was Carrie's go-to shoe. She noted that a man who ran a Manhattan show boutique, George Malkemus, gave her deals on Manolo Blahniks before they were in high demand. "George was more than happy to supply shoes when I began working on SATC, and Sarah Jessica was more than happy to wear them," Field said.
Once Sex and the City took off, Manolo Blahniks were more popular than ever. Shoes, especially Manolos, were a big part of Carrie's timeline on Sex and the City and added to her fashionista persona. Her love for her friends and partners was a big part of Carrie's character, but so was her love of high-quality shoes.