Breaking down the fashion of 'Sex and the City 2'

Last Friday, I walked over to the Hippodrome to see an afternoon screening of the new "Sex and the City" movie.

Since I'm not Leonard Maltin and this column is not intended for movie reviews, I won't go into detail about my opinion of the film except to say that I didn't quite enjoy it as much as the first one.

What I did enjoy and, coincidentally, what this column devotes itself to, is the fashion.

The first time we see Carrie, she's wearing a white v-neck dress by Halston (there's a ton of the designer's clothing in this film, probably due to the fact that Sarah Jessica Parker has been named creative director for one of the label's lines).

Gold accessories -- heels, clutch and mirrored sunglasses -- finish the outfit. It's one of my favorite Carrie looks in the film.

When Carrie & Co. arrive in Abu Dhabi, she is wearing a shell pink, one-shouldered dress (also Halston) that hits above the knee and pairs it with a turban and her trusty Manolos.

And when Carrie needs to do some soul searching on a beach, she does it in yet another Halston, this time in a floor grazing, flame orange dress with spaghetti straps and accordian pleats.

Needless to say, I've become a fan of the label.

I also loved the outfit she's wearing when she runs into ex-flame Aidan in the souk. She pairs a "J'adore Dior" T-shirt and a cropped sweater with a huge, billowy purple and white asymmetrical skirt by Zac Posen and hot pink heels. It's classic Carrie Bradshaw.

A fashion highlight was the reappearance of the John Galliano for Dior "newsprint" dress she wore in Season Three of the TV show. I instantly recognized it and appreciated the continuity.

Another nod to the past was the flower necklace she wears throughout the movie, referencing the over-sized flower pin she used to wear in the show. Alas, no nameplate necklace this time.

Overall, I pretty much wanted everything Carrie wore in the movie, but there were a couple misses.

One was the ridiculous black, goth-y lace headpiece she wears with a skinny tux (loved the tux, by the way) to Stanford's hugely over-the-top wedding. I also didn't care for the hat she wears on the plane to Abu Dhabi. It looked like a cross between a paper sailboat and Sally Fields' hat in the late 1960's sitcom, "The Flying Nun."

I also happen to believe that wearing a midriff-baring shirt in your 40s is something that not even Carrie Bradshaw should attempt.

Regardless of what the critics say about the new movie, one thing is clear. No TV show or film has ever had more fun with fashion than "Sex and the City."

And for that, I say, "J'adore."