Are You A Charlotte? — "A FAKE FENDI!?" (Dec 23, 2025)

Host: Kristin Davis
Guest: Molly Rogers
Podcast: Are You A Charlotte? (iHeartPodcasts)
Theme: A deep, humorous, and revealing look at the fashion and behind-the-scenes stories from Sex and the City Season 3, with personal anecdotes, untold tales, and industry insights.

Episode Overview

In this lively episode, Kristin Davis and longtime costume designer Molly Rogers reunite for the second part of their Season 3 fashion retrospective. Together, they relive Sex and the City’s move to Los Angeles, dissect iconic and outrageous costume choices (including the infamous fake Fendi), and spill the tea on behind-the-scenes department drama, style secrets, and the evolution of the show’s legendary looks. The conversation sparkles with nostalgia, candor, and inside jokes—taking listeners backstage to where TV fashion history was made.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. LA Adventures—Season 3 in the Sun (03:13–05:15)

• The Surprising LA Episodes: Kristin and Molly are amazed that the LA episodes happened as early as Season 3, with Kristin recalling, “We were just rolling with it, all right? Woohoo, we’re going to LA. And look at this crazy set of outfits.” (03:24)
• Notable Looks & Designers:
  • Sarah Jessica Parker wore a unique vest by Hushi, described as “very political” and “painting Iranian women in burqa.” (04:21)
  • Outfits included shiny blue lamé, sequins, and an eclectic mix evocative of ‘90s department store brands—Molly draws amusing parallels such as "Mandalay is today's Shein.” (04:14)

Memorable Moment

“That's when Pat wore a name necklace that said Allah Akba... the elevator guy was Islamic, and he told Pat in the elevator, 'I'll cut your neck.' He thought that was very, very, you know, disrespectful, blasphemous.”
— Molly Rogers (04:52)
The encounter foreshadowed future controversies in their Morocco film shoot.

2. The Stories Behind Iconic Fashion Choices (05:56–11:36)

• Mismatched Shoes: Explained as a spontaneous SJP "you don’t have to choose, baby" moment that made it onto the show. (06:11)
• Unexpected Props: Carrie’s see-through clutch briefly contained a stolen restaurant fork—an inside joke and nod to NYC club culture. (06:31)
• The Fake Fendi (07:07): The show's playful subplot about knockoff bags, Samantha’s confrontation at the Playboy Mansion, and the ultimate pro-authentic message. “I can’t imagine Fendi was happy with us… but in the end, don’t we come out on the side that you shouldn’t buy the knockoffs?” —Kristin Davis (07:17)
• Personal Archive: Kristin reveals she’s kept several pieces, including a tiny crochet crop top—"My daughter would probably love it, but I wouldn’t want her to wear it." (07:53)

3. Inside the Playboy Mansion & Wild Scene Memories (08:40–11:27)

• Playboy Mansion Shoot: Molly shares photos with Hugh Hefner and his girlfriends; Kristin remembers feeling socially out of place and picking up on the “wacky, competitive” vibe among the mansion's residents. (08:42–09:49)
• Miranda's Iconic Colors & Charlotte’s Sarong: The show’s characters had distinct style lanes even in offbeat settings. “Everybody looks so great… such a great lineup of outfits.” (11:30, 13:18)

4. Crafting the Overall Look & The Costuming Process (11:36–14:28)

• Styling the Group: Costume choices were intricately staged so that “no one ever would wear someone else’s style.” SJP’s look was always set first—"plant Carrie and then do it art direction-wise on everyone else.” (12:16)
• Behind the Fittings: The complex interplay of individual fittings, color coordination, and distinct "lanes" for each character’s fashion personality.

Memorable Quote

"That was such a great thing that everybody had their own lane and no one ever would wear someone else's style. You just couldn't swap them... Like a lot of times you can on television."
— Molly Rogers (12:51)

5. Backstage Drama: Costuming Department Mutiny! (18:11–25:20)

• Growing Pains: As the show exploded, the costume department swelled with new hires, promotions, and a “mutiny” against legendary designer Pat Field. Assistants allegedly tried to form their own coup—"They wanted everyone gone. They wanted to take over." (23:05)
• Kristin’s Shock: The cast was mostly oblivious; Kristin: “I had no idea it was this bad. I really didn’t.” (25:33)

Notable Quote

“They wanted to overthrow the Pat government... Plan didn’t quite work out, but your first strategy was to go to Sarah Jessica and tell her that Pat drank too much.”
— Molly Rogers (22:40)

• Reflections: Molly notes she was “so miserable in season three,” even as they produced some of the show’s most lasting looks.

6. The Clothes That Still Give a Rush (29:20–37:33)

• Personal Favorites: Kristin raves about the green shorts outfit (“I see that outfit online still. It really lives on.” —29:29).
• Source Stories: Dresses from Century 21, vintage stores, and designer showrooms (including a Dior “free for all” thanks to connections in Paris).
• Red Carpet & Vintage Channels: The evolution of red-carpet promo, the rise in rarity and value of vintage pieces (the Dior newspaper dress “on sale for $250,000”—31:24)—and the pressures stylists now face for “the perfect look.”
• Richard Tyler’s Golden Globes Dress: Kristin amusingly recalls having her dress "twin" show up at the Golden Globes, all from buying off the rack at Melrose. (35:28)

Notable Moment

“Part of me, like, with Jenna Ortega, I felt like, okay, that's homage. Like, she's absolutely paying homage to Carrie.”
—Kristin Davis, on celebrities reviving SATC looks (31:29)

7. Inside the Life of a Show Stylist (41:53–47:49)

• The Never-Ending Fittings: Kristin shares a story of coming off set at 2 a.m. and still being called in for costume try-ons. “I got in serious trouble… I was in the doghouse for like a week.” (44:24)
• Careful Coordination: With more storylines for Charlotte in Season 3, Kristin tuned out the broader drama: "I did not know about how much drama you guys were going through. I was just so excited about my own stuff." (45:09)
• Favorite Pieces: The Chanel corset top, a vintage fur, and the “diabolical” jean skirt + tights look.

8. Storytelling Through Clothes: Character, Vintage, and Symbolism (56:39–60:38)

• Costume as Character: The podcast highlights how Carrie's silhouette in the recent And Just Like That season was subtly influenced by her book writing and her surroundings, a detail even Kristin says viewers may have missed. (57:15)
• The Legendary Cat Dress: Molly shares the painstaking process of altering an exquisite, one-of-a-kind vintage cat print dress—accidentally removing the “cat ears” sewn into the sleeves. (58:17)
• Philosophy of Fit: “Until it goes to camera, we still have the opportunity to make it just one more pit better.” —Molly (63:34)

9. Modern Trends, Nostalgia & The Process of Style (61:26–64:27)

• Sourcing Is a Treasure Hunt: From glove jaunts to Brooklyn to scouring for jewelry, Molly and Danny's show Get the Look demystifies the labor that goes into dressing the cast.
• Evolution: The discussion touches on how much the process has changed—now with more options but ever-higher stakes.
• Accessories Count: Even “unseen” details, like the perfect shoes under a dress, remain crucial for the cast.

10. Iconic & Outrageous Looks Recapped (65:49–67:42)

• Outfits From the Rooftop: Fishnets, “Wizard of Oz Dorothy” shoes (Sonia Rykiel), Cavalli tiny tops, and Gap mini-skirts.
• Breaking Fashion Rules: "She has an open-toed shoe on with stockings. This is like, whatever rule there is, we're gonna break it!" —Kristin (50:30); “I mean, I know. Can you imagine? Victoria’s Secret bra. Like what on earth? Like we lost our minds a bit.” (50:49)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• “We were just rolling with it, all right? Like, we were just like, woohoo, we're going to la. And look at this crazy set of outfits.”
  —Kristin Davis (03:24)

• “Mandalay is today's Shein.”
  —Molly Rogers (04:12)

• “That was such a great thing... no one ever would wear someone else's style.”
  —Molly Rogers (12:51)

• “You don’t have to choose, baby. That’s what you say—you don’t have to choose.” (on mismatched shoes)
  —Kristin Davis (06:11)

• “I can’t imagine that Fendi was happy with us… but in the end, don’t we come out on the side that you shouldn’t buy the knockoffs?”
  —Kristin Davis (07:17)

• “They wanted everyone gone. They wanted to take over. They were better than Pat. They were smarter than Pat.”
  —Molly Rogers (23:15)

• "I had no idea that it was this bad. I really didn't."
  —Kristin Davis (25:33)

• "That was such a thing... Such a thing, such a thing." (on pashminas' popularity)
  —Molly Rogers & Kristin Davis (13:52)

• “It's a process... On the day, they’ll call Molly and Danny to make sure everything’s perfect. You have to make sure it's the best it can be before camera.”
  —Kristin Davis (63:13)

• “She looks fantastic. So who cares? People dress up like this for Halloween!” (on wild Season 3 fashion)
  —Kristin Davis (50:37)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 03:13: Fashion in LA, early Season 3 surprise, show’s timeline
• 05:56: Mismatched shoes, fork in the clutch, fake Fendi story
• 08:40: Playboy Mansion episode, unintended side effects, color coding characters
• 11:36: Art direction secrets, never swapping character styles
• 18:11: Adding to the costume team, department drama, "the coup"
• 29:20: Iconic outfits: green shorts, Dior, vintage dresses
• 41:53: Late-night fittings, group commitment, wardrobe dedication
• 56:39: Costuming as narrative: Carrie’s silhouettes, the "cat dress" story
• 65:49: Recap of wildest & most iconic season 3 outfits and style rule-breaking

Tone and Language

• Warm, honest, playful: Kristin and Molly are candid with memories and opinions, poke fun at themselves, and joyfully celebrate the show's legacy.
• Fashion-forward yet inclusive: The conversation is peppered with inside lingo but always returns to friendship, creativity, and the ongoing love for Sex and the City’s impact.

Summary Takeaway:
This episode offers a treasure trove of fashion history, camaraderie, and juicy behind-the-scenes revelations. Whether you’re a diehard satc fan or just love a good story about creative alchemy (and chaos), Kristin and Molly’s conversation captures why the show’s style—and sense of ensemble—still matters, and still inspires, today.