It happened in a flash. One minute Sarah Jessica Parker is walking down a Manhattan sidewalk in the And Just Like That premiere, and the next, the internet is melting down over a pair of gold-rimmed aviators. If you've been following the fashion evolution of Carrie Bradshaw, you know that her eyewear isn't just a utility. It’s a mood. Specifically, the way Carrie’s sunglasses on Just Like That (the revival series) managed to bridge the gap between 1998 nostalgia and 2024 high-fashion reality was nothing short of a miracle.
Most people think fashion is about the dress. It’s not. It’s about the shield.
The sunglasses Carrie wears—specifically those oversized, rose-tinted shields and the iconic Mykita aviators—function as armor. When the show returned, the stakes were impossibly high. Fans didn't just want to see what Carrie was wearing; they wanted to see if she still had "it." And "it," apparently, was a pair of $500 frames that sold out globally within forty-eight hours of the first episode airing.
The Mystery of the Mykita Franz
Let’s get into the weeds for a second because details matter. The most talked-about pair of Carrie’s sunglasses on Just Like That is technically the "Franz" frame, a collaboration between Mykita and Bernhard Willhelm. You probably recognize them as the flashy, gold-toned aviators with the high bridge.
Interestingly, these weren't actually new for the revival.
SJP originally wore them in the second Sex and the City movie back in 2010. Bringing them back for And Just Like That was a deliberate choice by costume designers Molly Rogers and Danny Santiago. It wasn’t just about looking cool. It was about continuity. It was a signal to the hardcore fans that while Carrie’s life had changed—widowhood, podcasts, aging—her "old reliables" were still in the rotation.
The Mykita Franz is made of stainless steel. It’s incredibly light. Despite the bulky appearance, they weigh almost nothing, which is why SJP can wear them in almost every exterior scene without getting those annoying red marks on the bridge of her nose. People often mistake these for cheap "gas station" glasses because of the mirrored finish, but the engineering is German and the price tag is decidedly Upper East Side.
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Why the Tint Matters More Than the Frame
You’ve probably noticed that Carrie rarely wears pitch-black lenses. There’s a reason for that.
Fashion experts and the show’s cinematography team know that dark lenses kill a performance. If you can’t see the actress’s eyes, you lose the emotional connection. Most of the Carrie’s sunglasses on Just Like That feature gradient tints or soft pink/amber hues.
- Rose Tints: These provide a "permanent sunset" vibe. It softens the harsh New York City light.
- Gradient Lenses: Darker at the top, lighter at the bottom. This allows the camera to catch Carrie’s expressions while still giving her that "celebrity in hiding" aesthetic.
I’ve seen people try to replicate this look with standard black Wayfarers. It doesn't work. The "Bradshaw look" requires a lens that lets the world see you while you're looking at it. It’s a delicate balance of vanity and vulnerability.
The Rise of the Shield Frame
In Season 2, we saw a shift toward even bolder silhouettes. The shield frames made a massive comeback. These are those wraparound, almost futuristic glasses that look like something a professional cyclist would wear, but somehow, when paired with a vintage Vivienne Westwood gown, they become peak chic.
Honestly, it shouldn't work. On anyone else, it would look like a costume. But the trick to how Carrie’s sunglasses on Just Like That stay grounded is the hair. SJP’s signature "effortless" waves (which actually take hours to style) provide a soft frame for the aggressive geometry of the glasses.
The Brands You Didn’t Recognize
While Mykita gets all the glory, the show is a graveyard of high-end boutique brands. We’ve seen Carrie sporting frames from:
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- Oliver Peoples: Classic, understated, very "writerly."
- Gucci: Usually the oversized, square acetate frames used for lunch scenes.
- Vintage Dior: Used sparingly but effectively for that "I've had this since 1994" vibe.
There’s a specific pair of tortoiseshell glasses she wears while reading in bed or working on her memoir. Those are just as important as the flashy aviators. They signify the "private Carrie." The glasses she wears when she isn't performing for the streets of Manhattan.
How to Pull This Off Without Looking Ridiculous
Look, we aren't all Sarah Jessica Parker. Most of us don't have a costume department following us with a steamer and a lighting rig. If you want to adopt the Carrie’s sunglasses on Just Like That style, you have to understand face shape.
Carrie has an oblong face. High cheekbones, narrow chin. This allows her to wear wide, horizontal frames that "break up" the length of her face. If you have a round face, those Mykita aviators might make you look like a thumb. That’s just the cold, hard truth.
If you're going for the look, try an oversized aviator but look for a "teardrop" shape rather than a straight-across shield. It’s more forgiving. And for heaven’s sake, skip the black lenses. Go for a "cognac" or "champagne" tint. It’s more expensive-looking. It’s more "Carrie."
The "Costume" vs. The "Wardrobe"
There’s a big debate in the fashion world about whether the clothes in the revival are "too much." Some critics argue that Carrie has become a caricature of herself. They point to the bird hats and the massive sunglasses as proof.
But here’s the thing: Carrie was always a caricature.
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From the moment she stepped out in a tutu in the original opening credits, she was telling us that she views the world as a stage. The sunglasses are her stage lights. When she puts on those gold Mykitas, she isn't just shielding her eyes from the sun. She’s stepping into character. She’s becoming the Carrie Bradshaw that New York expects her to be.
Where to Buy the Exact Frames
If you have the budget, you can still find the Mykita x Bernhard Willhelm "Franz" on the secondary market or through specialized boutiques. Expect to pay anywhere from $400 to $700.
For the Season 2 shield look, check out the Pierre Cardin vintage archives or modern iterations by Bottega Veneta. They’ve been leaning heavily into that "alien-chic" aesthetic that Carrie has been rocking lately.
But honestly? You don't need the brand. You need the attitude.
The secret to why Carrie’s sunglasses on Just Like That work is that she never looks like she's checking herself in a mirror. She puts them on and forgets about them. She wears the glasses; the glasses don’t wear her.
Actionable Steps for Your Own Eyewear Game
If you're ready to upgrade your sunnies to a Bradshaw-approved level, stop buying the $10 pairs at the checkout counter. They lack the UV protection and, more importantly, the structural integrity to hold a "look."
- Prioritize Lens Color: Next time you’re at a shop, try on the "ugly" orange or pink tints. See how they brighten your skin tone compared to flat gray or green.
- Check the Bridge: If the glasses sit on your cheeks, they’re too big. Carrie’s frames always "float" perfectly on her nose. This requires an adjustable nose pad, which you usually only find on higher-end metal frames.
- Invest in One "Hero" Pair: You don't need ten pairs of okay glasses. You need one pair of "who is she?" glasses. Save up for the Mykitas or a similar architectural frame.
- Embrace the Retro: Look for frames that have a story. Visit a local vintage shop and look for 70s aviators. Most modern "retro" styles are just cheap copies of the silhouettes Carrie is actually wearing.
- Match the Vibe, Not the Outfit: Don't match your glasses to your bag. Match them to your hair or your mood. If you're feeling bold, wear the shields with a simple t-shirt. If you're feeling low-key, wear the classic aviators with a blowout.
The fashion in the revival is meant to be polarizing. It’s meant to spark conversation. Whether you love the new direction or miss the old Manolos, you can’t deny that the eyewear is doing the heavy lifting. It’s the final punctuation mark on every outfit. And just like that, you’re looking at the world through rose-colored (or gold-mirrored) glasses.