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Sex and the City 2 opens up this week, and all the buzz has gotten us thinking about all the fantastic shoes that have strutted through the series over the years. Most of these shoes have been worn by Carrie Bradshaw, who calls her shoe obsession a “substance abuse problem” in the first season. When Carrie gets evicted from her apartment, she deduces that she must have spent $40,000 on shoes over the years and that she will “literally be the old woman who lived in her shoes.” As someone who recently had to invest in a hefty shoe-rack, and has already run out of room on said rack, I can relate – although I really hope I haven’t spent $40,000 on shoes.

Carrie comes face to face with the urban shoe myth

Through Carrie’s shoe obsession, Sex and the City helped catapult designers Manolo Blahnik and Jimmy Choo to international fame. In 2002, we see how deep Carrie’s shoe lust runs when she discovers the Manolo Blahnik “Campari” mary janes, which she always believed was “an urban shoe myth.” I remember falling in love with those shoes along with Carrie and while I could never afford Manolos, I have learned that Charles David makes an affordable substitution.

Many shoes made their appearances in correlation with Carrie’s seemingly bad luck with shoes; back in 2000, early in Season 3, Carrie misses a ferry to meet a politician friend due to lost shoe. Carrie is left on the dock, running after the ferry yelling, “I’ve lost my Choo! I’ve lost my Choo!” These particular Jimmy Choos, one of Carrie’s favourite, were a feather-trimmed sandal that were discontinued shortly after the episode aired. However, due to the popularity of the series, they were put back into production in 2008.

Also in season 3 of the series, Carrie had the misfortune of being mugged. Carrie pleaded with the mugger, “You can take my Fendi baguette, you can take my ring and my watch, but don’t take my Manolo Blahniks.” Unfortunately for Carrie, this mugger had great taste in shoes and took off with the Manolos. Mugged for Manolos! How much does that suck?

Carrie in her ill-fated Christian Louboutin ruffle heels

Later in 2002, when Miranda goes into labour, Carrie has the great misfortune of having Miranda’s water break on her fabulous pair of Christian Louboutin ruffle heels! Nasty! These are from Louboutin’s 2001 collection, so they’re hard to find, but Louboutin has since made newer ruffle heels, and Carvela makes an affordable substitution, too.

Carrie’s precious silver Manolo d’orsays

In 2003 during season 6, Carrie lost another pair of Manolos, this time after attending a baby shower at Kyra’s – an old friend of Carrie’s. Kyra requires everyone to remove their shoes, much to Carrie’s dismay. At the end of the party, Carrie discovers that her silver d’orsay Manolos are missing. To add insult to injury, when Kyra offers to pay for the missing shoes, she refuses to pay the full $485 price – saying that it’s ridiculous to pay so much for shoes. Carrie feels like she’s been “shoe-shamed” and pontificates on a woman’s right to shoes (you go girl). In the end, Carrie announces a wedding to herself to celebrate her single lifestyle, and registers with Manolo Blahnik for one item – silver d’orsay heels, which Kyra gifts upon Carrie.

Carrie Bradshaw in (L to R): Jimmy Choo “Atlas”; Balenciaga silver heels; Dior Extreme Gladiators

The arrival of the first Sex and the City movie saw a plethora of fabulous shoes on the big screen. To name a few, the Jimmy Choo “Atlas” sandals, Balenciaga silver heeled stilettos, and the Dior Extreme Gladiator sandals – which Carrie wears in three different colours. I actually have a knock-off the Dior gladiators in a purple snake print; they’re one of the highest, yet most comfortable shoes I’ve ever worn, so I can see how Sarah Jessica Parker was able to run in these heels. I highly recommend! Try the Steve Madden “Madalynn” for an affordable version.

Carrie wears “Something Blue” for her wedding

Carrie also sports a pair of Manolo Blahnik “Something Blue” buckled heels that are the first shoes in Carrie’s closet in her and Big’s home – these shoes became insanely popular after the movie and may have saved the company from going under! Says Manolo himself, “We had a very good year last year, thanks to those stupid satin shoes. That shoe saved our company.”

The influence Sex and the City has had on style is immense, and I assume this will continue with the release of the sequel. I hear we’ll be seeing some Brian Atwood, Christian Louboutin and Giuseppe Zanotti! Check out Running with Heels for shoe spoilers! I think for my favourite SATC shoes, it’s a toss up between the Dior gladiators and the Balenciaga heels, but it’s so hard to pick! What are your favourite Sex and the City shoes?