And Just Like That: Sex And The City Faces Backlash Over Carrie's 'Sari' Scene

It's fair to say the much-anticipated Sex and the City reboot, And Just Like That, has divided viewers with its dramatic storyline, slightly pained humour and the treatment of Steve Brady (#justiceforsteve) – and now the episode titled ‘Diwali’ that has drawn widespread criticism after what appears to be an oversight in the costume department.

The episode saw newly widowed Carrie Bradshaw attend a Diwali party with her real estate pal Seema, meeting her parents for the first time.

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Carrie (who didn’t know what Diwali was, despite living in a city as cosmopolitan and diverse as New York for most of her life) decides to wear traditional Indian dress for the event, and is seen referring to her outfit as a ‘sari’.

Only, the elaborate suit she chooses to wear for the occasion isn’t a sari at all, but a lehenga.

What’s the difference? Well, typically, saris are unstitched garments which are freely draped over the body.

However, lehenga are usually three-piece stitched and structured Indian suits worn in celebratory settings such as weddings. The garment includes long-skirt, a tight-fitting blouse, and a dupatta – leaving the waist uncovered.

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And fans were quick to point out that the show doesn’t draw a distinction between these two traditional modes of Indian dress – leaving them disappointed that writers hadn’t done their research.

“Sorry, NOT a sari!” one person wrote on Twitter. “Carrie Bradshaw, in the latest episode of And Just Like That buys a sari to wear to her friend Seema's Diwali do. So far so ‘Diversity Tick-box' done.

“Except what she's actually wearing to the Diwali do is a Lehenga, not a sari.”

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“I’ve never had a lot of experience of British Indian & Pakistani culture but even I know that’s not a Sari, Carrie,” a second person wrote.

“AndJustLike That Carrie visits a sari shop and likes a sari but is shown wearing, what is known as a lehenga - a skirt and a top,” a third person pointed out.

“Actually the sari shop they visit is shown displaying only lehengas. And just like that they completely ignored doing even the tiniest bit of research.”

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“Sorry Carrie, you and your writers are clueless about India culture, that's not a sari!” said a fourth.

And Just Like That continues Thursdays on Sky Comedy and Now.