I’ve never had to walk a fashion show in itty-bitty Dolce & Gabbana panties, sandwiched between actual models, but Carrie Bradshaw did. In season four of *Sex and the City*, Carrie agrees to participate in her friend’s runway show, a mix of models and “normals.” These days, nontraditional casting is becoming the norm. Even Cathy Horyn, the revered fashion critic, walked in Demna’s collection for Balenciaga. While Carrie was initially hesitant, the promise of free clothes and a bit of peer pressure ultimately convinced her. A woman after my own heart.
In true fashion, Carrie’s situation is a perfect storm. The audience is a blend of friends, industry peers, and her newest love interest – a fashion photographer. To top it off, there’s a last-minute wardrobe change, some disastrously high heels, and the knowledge that Heidi Klum is walking right behind her. It’s a recipe for disaster. And, of course, she trips. As Stanford Blatch famously puts it: “Oh my God, she’s fashion roadkill!”
But fear not, reader! Carrie rolls with the punches, accompanied by the empowering tune of “Got To Be Real” by Cheryl Lynn. “I had a choice: I could slink off the runway and let my inner model die of shame, or I could pick myself up, flaws and all, and finish,” she narrates. “And that’s just what I did. Because when real people fall down in life, they get right back up and keep on walking.”
I have a few conflicting feelings about Carrie’s fall. On one hand, it’s heartwarming to see how her recovery inspires her friends to be brave. Miranda confronts a guy who ghosted her; Samantha embraces her body; Charlotte finally confronts her insecurities. But on the other hand, there’s a hint of schadenfreude, a feeling I also get from watching *The Real Housewives* or any other reality TV show. No matter what kind of day I’m having, they’re almost guaranteed to be having a worse one.
Carrie’s stumble is a hilarious and inspiring reminder that even in the glamorous world of fashion, life happens. We all trip up, but what matters is how we get back up. And sometimes, even a fall on the runway can be the catalyst for a moment of growth and personal empowerment.
