Opinion – Pop culture has skewed Gen Z’s perception of money

But as I hit play on season 6, I realised this daftly unrealistic lifestyle had shaped my relationships to money, work, and fashion more than I’d like to admit.

It’s sobering to consider just how much my decision to be a writer was spurred by Carrie’s endless carousel of bags, parties, and artistic Russian boyfriends. Has this show cultivated toxic spending habits amongst our generation, at a time when financial security is arguably more crucial than ever?

I used to laugh fondly at Carrie’s famous phrase, ‘I would buy Vogue instead of dinner. I felt it fed me more.’ Her tussled curls and toned deltoid’s made frivolous spending seem glamorous. Now I worry that this message may be landing young people in financial hot water.

Press shots from the new series have already promised the same unattainable vision of adulthood that defined the first (Charlotte’s Burberry dog poo bag dispenser is a notable highlight).

This narrative is particularly dangerous for young women, who can be drawn in by the spectacle of female success that shows like SATC promise.

The outrageously expensive outfits that come with that success send the message that, to achieve their goals, women must cultivate an exorbitant self-image – regardless of the cost. Refinery29 calculated that just one of Carrie’s famous get-ups would have set her back a whopping $29,165.

This comes at a time when Gen Z are placed under increased pressure to spend money they simply don’t have. Social media is abound with luxury influencers. These so-called ‘rich kids of Instagram’ flaunt designer garb so casually that their lifestyles appear bizarrely normal.

A 2017 study found that 41% of 18–25-year-olds feel pressure to wear a new outfit each time they go out, and 1 in 6 won’t repeat an outfit if it’s been on social media. Despite efforts to boost conscious buying, this number only seems to be growing.

This culture of disposability is also threatening our mental health – and need I mention its impact on the climate crisis.

After the past 18 months, we certainly deserve some escapism, and Sex and The City’s reboot looks fit to provide.

But it’s important that Gen Z are able to guide themselves through this post-pandemic financial minefield. Resources like Thred’s ‘Hustle’ page are a great place to start, offering advice on everything from job hunting to investment.

I only hope this kind of content stretches into pop culture next year, too. Because no matter what Carrie Bradshaw’s wardrobe may suggest, nothing is more glamorous than financial stability.