If you’re like us, you’ve probably wondered what famous people add to their carts. Not the JAR brooch and Louis XV chair but the hair spray and the electric toothbrush. We asked Candace Bushnell — the author of Sex and the City, who’s performing a one-woman show at the Café Carlyle — about her “elegant” sneakers, her favorite trench coat, and the celebratory drink she can’t live without.
I got this floss in a gift bag about three years ago at a party before COVID and have been using it since. It’s more of a natural type of thread, which feels better for me. I don’t know how healthy it is to be rubbing plastic in between your teeth all the time.
I remember my father bought me my first Chapstick when I was 8, and back then, it only came in one flavor. Now I usually get strawberry because it has a nice, subtle taste. I have to put it on before applying lipstick. I always have it in my bag. They’re on my nightstand, in my bathroom — all over the place.
I’ve always had long hair ever since I was a kid, so I’ve used a lot of hair elastics over the years. I like that scrunchies don’t pull at your hair. I personally prefer the big velvet ones because they look nicer. I wear them while running errands and exercising, and since I’m almost always running errands and exercising, I wear them for most of the day. I don’t usually wear them out to lunch, and I would never wear them to dinner. What’s also great is if you put your hair in a couple of scrunchies at night, it will save your blow-dry.
I discovered Susanna Chow from my stylist, Nolan Meader. I wore this coat during New York Fashion Week everywhere. It’s very chic but also warm. They also made it in hot pink, but with a coat, I need to be able to wear it all the time. A coat is important in New York because it is part of your outfit. People always tell me, “You have so many coats.” That’s because you have to wear a coat probably two to three quarters of the year. It’s an important part of the wardrobe. One other thing about New Yorkers is you’re always limited by closet space. So this black leather trench coat has a practical element to it.
I’m a locavore: There’s a Lanvin shop near my apartment, and I buy my sneakers there. When I find something I really like, I’ll stick with it instead of trying something new. I have four pairs. They’re supercomfortable, very light, and kind of springy. I pretty much wear them every day because I walk a lot — about four miles a day — like everyone in New York. I like the ones with rhinestones on the heel because they have that elegant Lanvin aesthetic. They’re tasteful and subtle, not too over the top like other fashion sneakers.
I had a column at Vogue back in the early ’90s, and these were the fashionista-insider shoes. They eventually became Carrie’s signature shoes in Sex and the City because they were my signature shoes. I’ve kept some pairs through the years, like my black patent-leather boots that are part of my show. I kept another pair that was a precursor to the Hangisi that Manolo gave to me personally. I still wear Manolos but mainly kitten heels because they’re a comfortable height and I can wear them from day to night. I love the ones with the buckle on the front that I own in multiple colors. Again, it’s another thing that works for me and is comfortable, so I’ve stuck with it.
These are great because they’re biodegradable. Rolls of them end up everywhere — in all of my pockets and bags. I have two standard poodles, Pepper and Prancer, so poop bags are essential. If I’m in the city, I take the dogs out about five times a day. They do have a pretty regular schedule, which is especially important for big dogs. People who have small dogs can be a little more sloppy. If a small dog goes to the bathroom in your apartment, it’s not the end of the world. If you have a big dog in your apartment, you really don’t want that to happen.
I’m just crazy about Tom Ford perfumes. Every time I go to the Tom Ford store, I go and smell their different scents. I don’t know why; there’s just something about them that I find compelling. I wear this one just about every day before going out. It’s definitely flowery, but it makes me feel confident when I wear it.
Belvedere has a classy bottle — that might be what first attracted me to it. The vodka itself is clean and a little bit more organic than others. I started drinking it with cosmos before I started writing Sex and the City back in the early ’90s. Cosmos became my drink, and to tell you the truth, I still drink them. To me, it’s a celebratory drink. I like serving them at parties. I stick to a classic cosmo, but the most important thing is to make it with freshly squeezed lime juice. But if I’m in a pinch, I use Key West’s lime juice.
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