Rosalía's Newspaper-Print Dress Follows in Carrie Bradshaw's Footsteps—For Under $160
Our take

The recent buzz around Rosalía’s newspaper-print dress, echoing the iconic Carrie Bradshaw moments, speaks volumes about the cyclical nature of fashion and the enduring power of cinematic influence. It’s a clever play on nostalgia, tapping into a collective memory of Bradshaw’s fearless style while simultaneously making it accessible to a contemporary audience at a surprisingly affordable price point—under $160. This isn't simply about replicating a look; it's about capturing the *feeling* of effortless cool and creative expression that Bradshaw embodied. The trend's resonance also reflects a broader shift towards more playful, maximalist aesthetics, a counterpoint to the prevailing minimalism of recent years. Consider, too, the parallel with the growing appeal of brands offering elevated styles at accessible price points, as seen in [This Walmart-Exclusive Brand Looks Like Anthropologie—but Starts at Just $7], demonstrating a consumer desire for sophisticated aesthetics without the luxury price tag. The ease with which these trends are now adopted and adapted, often amplified by social media, accelerates their lifecycle and broadens their reach.
The Bradshaw effect, as it's become known, continues to shape contemporary fashion, proving that television, and particularly *Sex and the City*, remains a potent source of style inspiration. The key here isn't just the dress itself, but the narrative it carries – the sense of adventure, the unapologetic embrace of individuality, and the inherent confidence in expressing oneself through clothing. It’s a far cry from the rigid, often unattainable ideals of high fashion, and that's precisely why it resonates so strongly. We've also seen a similar embrace of unexpected footwear, with trends like Hailey Bieber's embrace of fall mules, as explored in [Who Says You Can't Wear Slippers Outside? Hailey Bieber Fall Mules Suggest Otherwise], highlighting a willingness to experiment and challenge traditional seasonal norms. This willingness to play with expectations extends to the broader landscape of style, blurring the lines between high and low, and encouraging a more personal and expressive approach to dressing. The accessibility of these trends, facilitated by fast fashion and social media, further democratizes style, allowing individuals to participate in trends without significant financial investment.
Beyond the immediate trend of newspaper print, Rosalía's choice signals a broader cultural moment where referencing pop culture icons is not just acceptable, but celebrated. It’s a knowing nod to the past, filtered through a contemporary lens. It’s also a testament to the power of celebrity influence; Rosalía’s endorsement instantly elevates the piece, transforming it from a potentially niche novelty into a must-have item. This phenomenon highlights the evolving relationship between fashion, celebrity, and consumerism, where authenticity and personal style are increasingly valued over traditional markers of luxury. The ability to seamlessly integrate high-concept designs into everyday wardrobes, as seen with the resurgence of Capri pants, now styled in more contemporary ways as detailed in [The 2 Chic Items You Need to Make Capri Pants Fall-Appropriate], further emphasizes this shift. The trend is less about owning expensive pieces and more about curating a personal style that reflects individuality and creativity.
Ultimately, Rosalía’s dress encapsulates a fascinating intersection of nostalgia, accessibility, and celebrity influence. It’s a reminder that fashion is not just about clothing; it’s about storytelling, self-expression, and the shared cultural experiences that shape our identities. The question now becomes: which iconic fashion moments will be reimagined and democratized next, and how will emerging technologies and platforms further accelerate the cycle of trend adoption and adaptation? Will we see a resurgence of other beloved television style icons, or will a new generation of digital creators redefine what it means to be a style influencer?
It seems all of my favorite fashion girls reserved their best Carrie Bradshaw-certified 'fits for a random week in August: While Kaia Gerber brought a Fendi Baguette bag to the 2026 US Open, Zoë Kravitz channeled the Sex and the City star's signature white T-shirt-micro shorts summer uniform. Now, Rosalía is dipping her feet into the Carrie Archives. The pop star appeared in Mexico City in a newspaper-print dress reminiscent of the Dior style Carrie famously wore in Season 3 of Sex and the City.
Ahead of her concert on August 27, the performer and her stylist, Jose Carayol, left pre-show sweats in her luggage. Instead, Rosalía flaunted Desigual's version of the iconic pattern. The $160 style from the Spanish brand featured a scoop neck and a collage of breaking news and crossword puzzles.

To complement her no-accessories-needed dress, the "Berghain" singer kept the look classic with vintage ballet flats from Dolce & Gabbana, slim secondhand Gucci sunglasses, and a teeny-tiny tennis bracelet.

While the Sex and the City costume was made by John Galliano, who showed it during the Dior Fall 2000 fashion show, the newspaper design goes back even further, to a 1935 Elsa Schiaparelli look. Since then, it has seen many iterations from even more brands.
Rosalía isn't the first It girl with a newspaper dress story either—and she certainly won't be the last. Real-life Carrie, Sarah Jessica Parker, revisited the Dior design while filming Sex and the City 2 in 2009. In true character style, she matched the print's maximalism with an oversized pendant necklace, a bedazzled coin purse, and sky-high Christian Louboutin stilettos.

Skipping ahead to April 2023, Emily Ratajkowski became the next New Yorker to give newspaper dressing a go. The My Body author traded a Galliano-era gown for a halter-neck midi dress from Miaou. Much like Dior and Desigual, the L.A. label splattered its logo all over the front (page). The hemline of her knee-sweeping skirt was asymmetrical, revealing the vintage Dior addition to EmRata's off-duty outfit: brown knee-high boots.

As recently as the May 2025 premiere of Hurry Up Tomorrow, Jenna Ortega and her stylist, Enrique Melendez, tracked down the cowl-neck dress worn by Parker on Sex and the City. It wasn't easy: Last year, Melendez told Marie Claire that Dior only agreed to share it for one day: "If we damaged it, we had to pay $250,000," he said. "I was almost in tears, because it fit [Ortega] like a glove."

Fashion insiders will also always have a soft spot for newspaper-print dresses. During the Cruise 2027 runway circuit, both Chanel and Dior debuted fresh newspaper perspectives. In late April, the former's new creative director, Matthieu Blazy, sculpted a ballgown, a tweed jacket, and a ruffled shirtdress out of French headlines. Two weeks later, Dior's Jonathan Anderson nodded to Galliano-planted roots—but the newspaper print decorated a bow-shaped bag, not a dress.




And just like that, with Rosalia's latest look, the newspaper print is still as relevant today as it was almost 30 years ago.
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