Sarah Jessica Parker Stuns in Minimalist Chic at the 1999 CFDA Awards
Last night at the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) Awards, Sarah Jessica Parker turned heads in an elegantly pared-back ensemble that proved less is truly more. The actress, known for her bold fashion choices both on-screen and off, embraced the Y2K aesthetic with an outfit that managed to be both casually cool and glamorously sexy.
Sarah Jessica Parker has been a fashion inspiration with real staying power, from her on-screen performance as Carrie Bradshaw in “Sex and the City” to real-life appearances. Her looks from the late ’90s and 2000s are a treasure trove of creative takes on trends of the times.
Parker, clad in head-to-toe neutral tones, let her enviable figure take center stage in a nude Prada tube top from the Spring 1998 collection and matching sateen shorts. The top’s barely-there silhouette showed off the star’s toned arms and décolletage, while the high-waisted shorts highlighted her long, lean legs—all without overly exposing. To give the easygoing look a ideal boost for the red carpet, Parker paired the set with pointy-toe pumps in a coordinating nude. The heels appeared to be a Marc Jacobs design, likely a slingback iteration of his buzzed-about mouse shoes.
What makes this easygoing 1999 look a great outfit? It’s simultaneously minimalistic and bold. Wearing shorts and a tube top to a formal fashion event? It’s cheeky and risk-taking in a way only SJP can pull off with such grace.
No SJP look is complete without an accessory for an added pop of pizzazz. The actress toted a petite top-handle bag from Louis Vuitton’s iconic Vernis collection, rendered in a pale butter yellow that contrasted beautifully with her neutral palette. The rare vintage piece, which now resells for upwards of $300, proved the perfect petite purse for Parker’s pared-back vibe.
What makes this effortlessly pulled-together 1999 look a sensational success? It manages to be both minimalistic yet make a major fashion statement. The tube top and shorts combination, while undeniably sexy, remains elegant rather than overly exposing. The nude color story allows Parker’s natural beauty to shine through. And the touch of Y2K quirkiness—hello, mouse shoes!—gives the outfit a playfully stylish spin.
Once again, SJP shows her fashion prowess by taking risks that pay off. Her CFDA Awards outfit proves that when perfectly executed, simple can be simply spectacular. We can’t wait to see what stunning style she’ll wow us with next!
