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For those who have noticed (and disliked) Carrie's bobby pin trend (like myself), I just came across this article:
Bobby Pins are the New Black
by Nichole Robertson
Jul 28 2003
The reign of the trucker hat is nearing its end. Not because East Village wannabe hipsters finally figured out John Deere green is over. Not because a "Porn Star" trucker hat was spotted on a housewife from Missouri. But because you can't see bobby pins when you are wearing an over-sized trucker hat.
It's true. Thanks to Sex and the City's Carrie Bradshaw, we have an even odder trend threatening to replace the trucker hat: bobby pins.
Not the pretty rhinestone-clad, floral, hand-made, girly-girl bobby pins. No. The kind you buy in the drugstore in packs of 50 for $1.99, the kind your grandma wears, the kind you use to hold back a stubborn stray hair.
A few weeks ago, during the season premiere of Sex and the City, Carrie, played by Sarah Jessica Parker, wore a mess (at least twenty) of jet-black bobby pins in her highlighted blond hair. There was no rhyme or reason to their odd placement. It looked like her stylist just threw a handful of bobby pins at Carrie's hair to see how many would stick.
Usually awed by Ms. Bradshaw's keen fashion sense, my husband and I stared in disbelief at the strange style and lambasted her with scathing judgment.
Raquel, a forum member on the official Sex and the City website echoed our sentiments:
"Please explain to me why Carrie had those awful black bobby pins in her blond hair. This is the worst I've seen this character."
Apparently, not everyone shared Raquel's disdain for five-and-dime chic. In the days following the premiere, the walk to my 6th Avenue office proved that the Carrie disciples had fully embraced the bobby pin look. It started out slowly—just one or two girls proudly sporting an almost-acceptable one or two bobby pins. But soon the numbers grew. More and more young women clipped on more and more bobby pins. Five. Ten. Twenty. It was unbelievable. If Carrie got a tattoo of Mr. Big's member on her forehead, would the copycats inevitably do the same?
My disbelief peaked last week when, during an editorial meeting, two of my colleagues showed up sporting similar multi-bobby pin styles. Amused by their sad attempt at coolness-by-association, we snickered and exchanged knowing glances. Obviously embarrassed, the two women watched the clock in anticipation of the end of our meeting and the return to the safety of their judgment-free cubicles.
Hey, at least they weren't wearing scrunchies.
There are plenty of legitimate reasons to adopt Carrie's style, because she usually nails it. Who didn't adore last year's charming feminine flower trend? But the average young woman should seriously reconsider any fashion trend that requires a trip to Rite-Aid or CVS.
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