The most striking aspect of Sex And The City is it's intertextuality with a film that came out almost 40 years before it first aired, Breakfast At Tiffany's.  Not only do the lead characters share many common traits (i.e. being able to whistle for a cab when no one else can, living alone in a NY brownhouse, sleeping with an eyemask etc), but the posters and marketing images use almost identical symbolism and layout.

John Berger said, "The state of being envied is what constitutes glamour" and glamour is certainly what defines SATC, fuelled by Carrie's limitless shoe collection and designer wardrobe.  In fact consumerism and the never-ending search for the perfect manolo blahnik could be metaphors for the search for love.  Men come and go, sometimes for only one episode and each one is categorised by a certain style, as if they were items of clothing to be tried on and discarded if ill-fitting.  Take Mr Big as an example, the leading man; a successful businessman who listens to Sinatra, smokes cigars, tips like a Rockerfeller, and is never seen out of his suit.  He is a symbol of old New York, as iconic as the little black dress (perhaps one that Audrey would have worn).  Ultimately he is the one Carrie marries - of course, she's in love with New York.  It seems a funny coincidence that Carrie also dated a writer for a while called Jack Berger.

It's not difficult to make a connection between the following film posters. The only thing to change in 40 years is the law on smoking, hence no cigarette for Carrie - although she does smoke in the show!

• Head shot of the leading lady, wearing black, with the New York cityscape in the background.  
• Black and pink all over
• The star's name at the top, with the title below

The association between these images is also very clear. The only difference is that Audrey Hepburn's sleek cigarette holder and casual come-hither look have been amplified in SATC to a spread-leg pose and a phallic skyscraper directly inbetween.  How times have changed.