In Sex and the City, when comparing herself to Natasha Naginsky, Mr. Big’s second wife, Carrie makes the statement that Natasha is so “Shiny Hair, Style Section… Vera Wang,” while Carrie is seemingly the opposite. But what does “Shiny Hair, Style Section… Vera Wang” even mean? And what makes someone like Natasha so appealing? This statement can evoke many images, but I’ve come to think of several fashion icons who truly match the SSV (Shiny Hair, Style Section, Vera Wang) aesthetic.
Audrey Hepburn, Kelly Rutherford, Jasmine Tookes, Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, and, of course, Natasha Naginsky (forever immortalized in Carrie’s famous quote) – perfectly embody this aesthetic. They’ve captured both fictional and real-life media by emitting a cool, classic, and classy aura.
It’s not flashy or desperate for attention, but subtle and inspiring. They shine without seeking approval. That’s the “Shiny Hair, Style Section, Vera Wang” way. But how exactly do you achieve this look?
Hair care – Health first, always
As the quote suggests, one of the most essential parts of having this energy is having shiny hair. In other words, healthy hair is key, similar to the long, sleek hair of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy or Jasmine Tookes. Much like skincare, getting healthy hair will look different for everyone. From my own experience over the years, the core of any great routine comes down to:
- A quality shampoo and conditioner.
- Nourishing hair oil.
- A heat protectant (for those who love a good ’90s blowout).
- Bonus points for a weekly hair mask. Trust me, it makes a big difference.
As stated, shiny hair only comes from healthy hair, so get that hair health journey going (if you aren’t on it already). TikTokers such as Abby Yung (@abbeyyung), Acquired Style (@acquiredstyle), and Audrey Peters (@audreypeters) openly talk about their hair health journey and what products have worked best on their hair.
When it comes to hairstyles, sleek updos and curated blowouts are the best among the women who represent this sort of style. Natasha, Lily van der Woodsen (played by Kelly Rutherford in Gossip Girl), and Audrey Hepburn have all been spotted wearing easy and stylish updos on many occasions.
Just like with clothing, functionality is essential, and finding put-together hairstyles that support hair health is not always easy. TikToker Ang Wells (@anggwells) has a 15-part summer hairstyle series that provides great, functional, and stylish hairstyles that may be great inspiration for your next hair day, business meeting, or run to the grocery store.
Style – Timeless over trendy
The chicest thing is having a signature style, whatever it may be. Of course, being yourself is key to your aesthetic and identity. However, if you feel that you don’t know where to start, I would start with the basics by building your capsule wardrobe.
A capsule wardrobe is a set of basic pieces that you can rotate to make other outfits. Natasha herself was more of a ’90s minimalist, so it’s safe to say that when recreating her image, it’s best to build a capsule wardrobe.
While being trendy can be fun, the real goal is to create an image that’s always in style, one that might nod to a trend here and there without being defined by it. Audrey Hepburn’s style (the OG SSV) is the perfect example: timeless, simple, yet playful. She stuck to the basics but would occasionally add a red lip or borrow from a men’s line to give her outfits a pop (as noted in Town & Country).
Indulging in a trend or two is fun and often necessary in discovering your style. I’d take a high-quality, simple outfit over something overly trendy and low-quality any day.
A capsule wardrobe is also kinder to the environment. When I’m 60, I want to be able to look back at photos from my 30s or 40s and still appreciate what I was wearing.
Jasmine Tookes’ “Jasmine Edit,” created in collaboration with Meshki, consisted of simple silhouettes, muted colors, and timeless basics. It is something that you’ll want to buy and hopefully reach for time and time again.
Remember, the other keys to SSV are functionality and practicality. Knowing what fits you well, what looks good, and why it looks good is impressive. The days of having a new outfit every day are out, and creating outfits with functional basics is in.
Clothing 101
What do I mean by timeless silhouettes and functional basics? Think boatneck long sleeves, dress pants, the occasional jean, silk tops/skirts, button-downs, and linen. The more you lean into business casual or your mother’s closet, the better. SSV could be considered mature, but I consider it magnetic.
Seeing someone look put together makes you want to 1) ask them about themselves and 2) also look put together. Don’t be afraid of a monochromatic set either.
While opinions on this may vary, I love a good monochrome look and matching sets, which you can use on rotation with different items in your ever-growing collection. Because let’s be real, who truly stops shopping for clothes?
In conclusion, dive into your inner tech entrepreneur, because nothing says chic like a knit turtleneck and jeans on a breezy Sunday morning. Every time Carrie cornered Natasha, be it in a coffee shop or a restaurant, she managed to deliver her lines with the poise of someone who could just as easily be dining with the president.
Finding your signature color might also be helpful. For example, Natasha wears mostly white in the show, and it doesn’t take a fashion genius to see that she looks great.
The other colors she wears during the show are light pinks and blues, which belong to the same color family. If you can find at least one color that suits you on every occasion, I would cling to it and find others in similar categories.
For example, if you find yourself wearing a lot of black and the color suits you well, it may be a good idea to try navy blue or dark grey. Those three colors can create a variety of chic outfits that are more likely to look good on you.
Sadly, sometimes the colors you like aren’t necessarily the colors that look good. It takes time and practice to find the colors that suit you both physically and in your day-to-day life.
Skin and makeup – Glowy, not overdone
When Jasmine Tookes appeared on Vogue Beauty Secrets to show her routine for glowy skin, she made it a point to start with skincare rather than makeup, continuing the “less is more” theme.
In a day of consumerism, it’s pretty refreshing. Like clothes, it’s better to find a few products that work well on your skin than a large collection that works only “good enough.”
Now, unlike clothes, testing skincare can be daunting, especially when trying to achieve a glowy look. Take what you know about your skin and ask your dermatologist or esthetician what they recommend.
Even searching online for the most effective products for your skin type, or looking for products with similar ingredients to the ones that already work for you, can be beneficial.
Meanwhile, when it came to makeup, Tookes kept it clean and simple with a no-makeup look. She focused on shimmer and shine, however, with a twist. Taking the makeup look from “clean girl” to SSV, Jasmine added a deep chestnut shimmer shadow and topped it with a highlight-esque eye shadow from Revlon to give her look a pop. Classic, sophisticated, and chic, this look can effortlessly take you from day to night
Confidence – The true SSV secret
My final input on the SSV topic is this: you can have the clothes and do your hair a certain way, but it’s the way you wear them that matters. What sets these women apart is that they are strong and confident in themselves. That’s what makes Natasha so iconic: her ability to look someone in the eye and be honest about how she felt.
Your energy introduces you before you even open your mouth, and while clothes play a big part, they’ll only take you so far. The final and most important way of mastering the SSV is personality. SSV people are calm, collected, kind, and most importantly, confident.
Of course, we all have moments. Sometimes, you just have to scream and yell, but nothing sends the message that you should be taken seriously like being calm and collected.
My mother always says, “Make your point in three words or less; after that, people stop listening.” Confidence is quiet, insecurity is loud. Pick your battles, advocate for yourself with calm authority, and never waste time defending yourself to those who aren’t worth it.
At the end of the day, SSV isn’t just a style; it’s a way of carrying yourself. It’s elegance without effort, shine without show, and power without noise.
You can have the clothes, hair, and skincare, but confidence makes the look. Every SSV woman or man radiates calm self-assurance. They’re composed, kind, and know their worth.
