Sarah Jessica Parker is not typically seen with a manicure — nor is her iconic Sex and the City character, fashionista sex columnist-turned-podcaster Carrie Bradshaw. Now that Parker has returned to screens as Carrie for season 2 of And Just Like That, some people couldn’t help but wonder… why doesn’t Carrie have a penchant for manis?
Parker’s personal reasoning remains rooted in practicality. “I never do my nails,” she said in 2011. “I’ve probably had nail polish on my nails twice in 10 years. That’s it. I have manicures only when I’m working and I’m like a butcher when I do them at home.”
In 2016, she told People why she prefers to simply keep her nails buffed and clean. “I use my hands a lot,” she said. “I cook. I clean. I do laundry. [Nail polish] is not practical in my life given what my hands need to do every day!” On occasion, she’ll make an exception. “For ‘a red carpet, I will wear a dark green or something specific.” she explained.
Recently, the actress sported a short glossy black manicure, matching her black-and-white polka dot Jenny Packham dress for the Sex and the City 25th-anniversary party in Downtown, Manhattan earlier this month.
As for her fan-favorite character, Carrie uses her stove as storage and isn’t one to clean or do laundry like Parker. Known for her playfully eclectic designer ensembles, glamour-hungry Carrie would theoretically be a prime candidate for a bright and playful manicure, but the character is also always seen with bare nails.
“Carrie’s a writer, so she would have been typing originally on a proper typewriter,” Parker explained to Glamour. “She would have learned typing in high school, and she was a practical writer and a necessary writer and a romantic writer.”
Parker said that she feels that manicures for Carrie “seemed (a) futile because it would always be messed up and (b) an obstacle on the speedy road toward thoughts being written.”
Noting that other writers may not have trouble maintaining their manicures while typing easily, she feels like “it just never seemed that it was where Carrie would spend her time expressing herself.”
Another caveat to colorful nails is that they don’t shoot in order, so for the sake of episode continuity, it’s best to keep that detail neutral. Executive producer Michael Patrick King said, “You’re moving from scene to scene, so practically speaking, it’s problematic to have a nail color that’s got to match every single scene. It gets in the way of speed and economy.”
However, with that being said, we might see some bold nail polish moments in season 2. Just as Parker forayed into the mani zone with black nail polish for the anniversary event a few weeks ago, Carrie will also be stepping out of her comfort zone with some bright nails. “I thought it would be interesting to do, given the outfits and given the environment in which those scenes take place,” she said.
Even King took notice of the difference during filming. “I thought, ‘Wow, she’s wearing nail polish! And it’s a dark nail polish, which is interesting and surprising.’” According to the producer, the manicure is immediately noticeable because Carrie is carrying a micro-mini bag while in Brooklyn. (Is she visiting Steve? Has Miranda come home from Los Angeles?)
King mused, “I guess she just decided, ‘I’m going to Brooklyn, I’m wearing this glittery thing, I feel like I want a little fun.’ But once again, it’s always spontaneous. Carrie Bradshaw is spontaneous. She decides, ‘I’m going to wear this or that. I’m going to wear this long slip tutu to go get coffee. And, oh, maybe I’ll put on nail polish tonight.’ What’s great about the character is she is not guarded by rules. Even rules she makes up.”
Episodes 1 and 2 of And Just Like That are available to stream today.
