Style Watch: Cashmere Mafia

I caught the new ABC show “Cashmere Mafia” Sunday night like every other 20-something fashionista wannabe, more due to the writer’s strike than the SATC comparisons. (Where is The Office?? *cry*)

I was entertained – Lucy Liu is witty and feminine, the girl you wish you were, and I loved spotting Frances O’Connor (the mom from A.I./girlfriend from Bedazzled) and Bonnie Somerville (Ross’s short-lived girlfriend Mona on Friends). Did I mention Eowyn of Lord of The Rings, AKA Miranda Otto? Or how about Noelle Beck as the menacing homewrecker Cilla Grey who played Big’s intimidating ex-wife?

With Darren Star at the helm and Patricia Field at the hem, this show’s got all the star power of its sexy predecessor and then some. And beauty-wise, it’s magnetic – all the characters have style to die for, Lucy Liu especially. Her outfits are so perfect for the character: beautiful, high fashion, and borderline arrogant. And thank God for a pretty redhead on television who actually has the classic redheaded pale skin and Irish features! If I see another bad dye job in Chestnut on some bronzed Russian girl, I’ll hurl.

But while it’s rife with potential, Cashmere Mafia lacks the approachability of Sex & The City. All four main characters are high-powered businesswomen with “real world” problems – but no “real world” outlook. Samantha of S&TC got away with being larger than life, because Carrie was the main character, and she had frizzy hair and tripped on the street and wasn’t uppity enough to afford the shoes she wanted. So until Mafia lets its hair down and clears some of these characters’ schedules, it won’t compete with the popularity of the girl show every girl was a character on. Still, I’ll be tuning back in if only to check out the fabulous coats!

The show has inspired me to post a How-to on Lucy Liu’s signature smoky eye makeup. Look for it, girlies!