Sarah Jessica Parker always walks through New York City with grace and immense influence. From playing the well-known and iconic role of Carrie Bradshaw on HBO’s “Sex and the City” to her potent voice in the modern fashion world, there is no denying Parker’s unstoppable drive and flexibility for finding success within the arts. Parker currently serves as Vice Chairman for the New York City Ballet, stars in HBO’s “Divorce,” and works as a couture designer, now sponsoring the Intimissimi Italian lingerie brand.
In the middle of September 2018, Parker opened up her SJP boutique right here in the Financial District. SJP is located on 93 South St. directly across from Pier 17. The store is filled with her brand of designer shoes, showcasing high heels and flats for all occasions. These shoes, however, possess a much more profound meaning than what lies on the surface. The SJP store manager explained the significance of the ribbon placed on the back of each SJP shoe. “When Parker was a child, her family did not grow up with a lot, but her mother always made sure Parker had little ribbons in her hair.” Parker now places a simple ribbon on the back of SJP shoes. This simple fashion statement allows consumers to have a better understanding of who Parker is as a human. Opposed to embedding the brand name onto each product, the ribbon adds a much more personal touch to SJP products.
On top of the new SJP boutique, Parker has recently launched her own publishing imprint. SJP for Hogarth is an imprint under international publishing house, Penguin Random House. According to the website SJP for Hogarth, Parker is the editorial director and is “directly involved in the editorial and publishing process for each book issued under her imprint.” Her focus is to publish works of fiction that reflect her personal reading preferences. Parker’s first book published under SJP for Hogarth, “A Place for Us” by Fatima Farheen Mirza, was released on June 12, 2018. This novel surrounds a story about an Indian-American Muslim family and was an instant New York Times bestseller. This was Mirza’s debut novel as well as Parker’s debut publication. More exciting things are yet to come, as SJP for Hogarth will be releasing another novel titled “Golden Child” by Claire Adam this coming January.
Parker’s impact on the arts seems to be an encouragement to students at the University. Gigi Vallone, University junior, stated, “As for her role in Sex and the City, Sarah Jessica Parker will continue to be an icon for fashion because she represented the ‘young single woman’ in New York image so many of us relate to,” said Vallone. “Her personal involvement in the publishing, art, and fashion world showcases another side to Parker as someone who truly respects the arts, not as Carrie Bradshaw.”
SJP embodies the work ethic and creativity New York City thrives on. Whether it is in fashion, in acting, or in the publishing world, Parker is a woman of great influence in the ever-flourishing world of art in a city such as this. “As Parker has proved, with hard work and connections, anything is possible,” said Brianna Tarzia, University senior.
