In Defense of Charlotte York: You're the Charlotte of your friend group

She’s nice, she’s pretty, she’s smart… She’s a catch!

Via: Pinterest

I have been watching Sex and the City for a little over a year now. Before watching the show, I would always see how fashionable and glamorous Carrie Bradshaw was. When I started watching SATC I thought for sure that Carrie would be the character I would relate to the most as all I had ever known of her was to be a fashionable writer with a shoe-shopping problem.

Little did I know that Charlotte York would be the character I could relate to most. While I love Carrie’s glamour, I am not all about her drama. I also do not relate much to Miranda and am the opposite of Samantha… Funny enough, I think Charlotte would say the same.

Charlotte is a prim and proper art dealer who embodies the old money aesthetic so effortlessly. She is a traditional romantic who strives for a fairy-tale love story. Charlotte has refined taste that is the epitome of a classic Park Avenue girl and can be seen as the quintessential 'uptown girl' in contrast to her more adventurous friends.

I imagine Charlotte loves things like dinner parties, Ina Garten, and Architectural Digest. Charlotte looked amazing in all things pink and rocked Ralph Lauren sweaters better than anyone I have ever seen before. Charlotte embraces the qualities of optimism (something I need to learn from her), tradition, and supportiveness.

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I have loved seeing the trends on TikTok of girls saying which SATC character they are in their friend group. While I don’t see anyone in my friend group relating to Samantha or Carrie, we may have a few Mirandas but I am for sure Charlotte.

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I have had this nostalgic love for Ralph Lauren ever since I was a child and learned that Rachel Green worked at Ralph Lauren while my parents had Friends on TV. In grade school, my parents would always buy me cute little Polo dresses and shirts and I would put up a fight so I did not have to wear them because no one else at school was. Looking back, I would’ve slayed my childhood pictures if I had just worn the Polo dress. It would have elevated my childhood fashion game lol.

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In my old age of almost 24 (ohhhhh soooooo old lol) I have remembered my original love for Ralph Lauren and the aesthetic that comes along with the brand… AKA Charlotte York. The preppy, classy, elegant, old-money aesthetic, is the epitome of Charlotte’s fashion and life. In typical Charlotte fashion, I try to always present myself with grace and style while often striving for perfection (which tends to be a downfall at times).

If you are like me and have found yourself as the Charlotte of your friend group, you probably believe in the importance of manners, etiquette, and respect for tradition. You probably love sending handwritten thank-you notes and good brunch. You embody compassion and kindness while striving to be there for your friends through thick and thin, offering a listening ear or shoulder to lean on.

Of course, Charlotte is not without flaws. She can often be seen as a little stuffy and a bit naïve, but seeing her journey of growth throughout the show is a wonderful experience. After years of looking for her perfect match in all the wrong places, Charlotte married Harry, a short, bald, messy divorce attorney who was absolutely enamored with Charlotte. This was the exact opposite of who Charlotte usually dated, and yet, she surpassed her old superficial views and fell head over heels in love with Harry.

                   "Harry was bald and he talked with his mouth full, but I loved him.”
                                                              -Charlotte York

Getting to see Charlotte achieve her fairytale love was rewarding not only for the viewers but also for the Charlotte girls of this world. In a world where dating apps dominate the dating scene, I have learned that, for me, a powerful connection might not be with the person who liked my photo.

I am not sure how many times I have deleted and redownloaded Hinge hoping to find my person. I strike out every time. I am starting to think that my future husband might not be on an app, and he will come at the right time when I am least expecting it, just like Charlotte and Harry.

Via: Buzzfeed

Through her character development, Charlotte teaches us that life is much more than social status and perfection. She teaches us that life is all about compassion, empathy, standing up for ourselves, remaining optimistic, and believing in true friendships.

Here’s to embracing our inner Charlottes, celebrating the bonds of friendship, and finding our own happily ever after, one brunch at a time.

For Charlotte Inspo, follow my Charlotte York Board on Pinterest!

Thanks for reading!

Love,

Taylor @ The Diaries