Sarah Jessica Parker visits Nordstrom Roosevelt Field
An fan and her baby were on hand to meet Sarah Jessica Parker as she visited Nordstrom's at Roosevelt Field Mall Saturday, Aug. 23, 2014, to promote her new shoe line and greet fans. Credit: Danielle Finkelstein
Show biz and the shoe biz collided at Nordstrom Roosevelt Field on Saturday afternoon as Sarah Jessica Parker made a personal appearance to meet fans and sign their purchases of her swanky shoes, boots and bags from her newish SJP collection.
About 150 diehard fans lined up with shopping bags in hand to meet the actor – many waxing poetic about her famously fashionable “Sex and the City” character Carrie Bradshaw. First in line was Alison Ortiz, 18, of Commack, who clutched a lavender suede SJP purse that Parker signed. “I’ve been obsessed with her forever,” said Ortiz, who waited in line for four hours. “Carrie’s my best friend in my head,” laughed Vanessa Robinson, 53, who was visiting from Cleveland.
Parker, who dressed down for the day in J Brand jeans, a Dashiki-style top from Royal Kulture, and navy grosgrain Daphne pumps from her collection, said she was “excited about meeting these customers and to express my gratitude to them.”
Although she doesn’t get stage fright, “not like when I’m doing a show,” she said, “I do get nervous and worry if they’ll [her brand] sell well.” Her SJP collection was introduced last spring.
Parker didn’t always have a massive shoe wardrobe (she doesn’t know how many pairs she has now). “Growing up we were allowed two pairs of shoes a year,” she said describing a perforated T-strap sandal in navy and white that she had to polish every Sunday. “I had shoe lust, because when I went into a store there were a lot of shoes I would have preferred.”
And while she doesn’t credit her role as Carrie Bradshaw for her interest in fashion and particularly shoes, she said, “It let me dream bigger. And gave me access. But I always stared in the windows of Maud Frizon and Charles Jourdan, but I wasn’t always making money.”
Next month, Parker said she’ll head to Italy for a five-week shoot for a film she can’t yet mention. And before that, she’ll make an appearance at one designer’s show during New York Fashion Week – but she’s also not saying which one. In the meantime, it’s about getting her three kids back to school, and of course shoes. “I’m obsessed with these,” she said holding a supple pair of high boots with a windowpane cutout. They’re called “The Pat” after "Sex and The City" costume designer Patricia Fields. More than convincingly Parker says, “They’re perfect for her.”
