Happy birthday, SJP! From funky florals to ladylike Manolo Blahniks, a look back at Sarah Jessica Parker's iconic fashion and beauty moments as she turns 51 

  • Today is Sarah Jessica's 51st birthday
  • The Sex and the City actress has been lauded for her standout style since the beginning of her career in the 1980s
  • FEMAIL looks back at her most memorable style and beauty moments from the past 30 years

By Sarah Ferguson For Dailymail.com

Published: 21:42 GMT, 25 March 2016 | Updated: 23:25 GMT, 25 March 2016

Sarah Jessica Parker has provided us with endless fashion and beauty inspiration throughout her impressive 34-year, on-screen career. Given that it's her 51st birthday today, we thought it only right to honor the style icon by reminiscing about her most memorable looks.

Although the Sex and the City star's style has evolved over the decades - from funky starlet to polished A-lister - there are certain accessories, hairstyles and styling choices that she keeps coming back to.

Below, FEMAIL's definitive guide to the eight style and beauty tenets of Sarah Jessica Parker.

CURLS ARE FOREVER

Sarah Jessica's bouncy ringlets have become her signature both on and off the screen.

That's not to say the look hasn't been tweaked with the times. For the most modern take, her go-to hairstylist Serge Normant smooths out her natural texture to achieve soft waves.

Go big: Though Sarah Jessica Parker, 51, straightens her hair on occasion, bouncy curls have become her go-to on and off the screen
Go big: Though Sarah Jessica Parker, 51, straightens her hair on occasion, bouncy curls have become her go-to on and off the screen
Go big: Though Sarah Jessica Parker, 51, straightens her hair on occasion, bouncy curls have become her go-to on and off the screen

Go big: Though Sarah Jessica Parker, 51, straightens her hair on occasion, bouncy curls have become her go-to on and off the screen

MANOLO BLAHNIKS ARE THE ONLY SHOES WORTH SUFFERING FOR (EXCEPT MAYBE SJP BY SARAH JESSICA PARKERS)

Before launching her own line of heels, SJP by Sarah Jessica Parker, the actress told Net-a-Porter's digital magazine The Edit that she was advised by doctors to avoid wearing 'cheap shoes' that were taking a toll on her feet.

It's a good thing, then, that she has a personal relationship with high-end shoe designer Manolo Blahnik (below center).

A loyal customer: The Sex and the City star is a fan of designer Manolo Blahnik's (center) shoes. She even launched her own shoe line in 2014 with the help of the brand's CEO, George Malkemus
A loyal customer: The Sex and the City star is a fan of designer Manolo Blahnik's (center) shoes. She even launched her own shoe line in 2014 with the help of the brand's CEO, George Malkemus
A loyal customer: The Sex and the City star is a fan of designer Manolo Blahnik's (center) shoes. She even launched her own shoe line in 2014 with the help of the brand's CEO, George Malkemus

A loyal customer: The Sex and the City star is a fan of designer Manolo Blahnik's (center) shoes. She even launched her own shoe line in 2014 with the help of the brand's CEO, George Malkemus

PUT A FLOWER ON IT 

There are numerous similarities between Sarah Jessica's personal style and her famed Sex and the City character Carrie Bradshaw's. One of them is an affinity for floral accessories.

'SJP was really into the flowers,' Sex and the City costume designer Rebecca Weinberg told Instyle back in 2010. 'One day she said, "Let's do a big flower." They started small and got larger and larger and then it escalated into a comedy of flowers.' 

Flowers for days: SJP is fond of affixing fake flowers in her hair, on her lapels, on her hats and even on her arms (more on that below)
Flowers for days: SJP is fond of affixing fake flowers in her hair, on her lapels, on her hats and even on her arms (more on that below)
Flowers for days: SJP is fond of affixing fake flowers in her hair, on her lapels, on her hats and even on her arms (more on that below)

Flowers for days: SJP is fond of affixing fake flowers in her hair, on her lapels, on her hats and even on her arms (more on that below)

RED CARPETS ARE FOR SHINY DRESSES

The actress, who next stars in the HBO series Divorce, has worn many a standout gown over the years, but it's her iridescent numbers that she appears to enjoy showing off the most.

After all, is there any fabric finish that looks more mesmerizing when twirled?

Shine bright: The actress, who stars in the forthcoming HBO series Divorce, is known to twirl on the red carpet when she's wearing an iridescent gown
Shine bright: The actress, who stars in the forthcoming HBO series Divorce, is known to twirl on the red carpet when she's wearing an iridescent gown
Shine bright: The actress, who stars in the forthcoming HBO series Divorce, is known to twirl on the red carpet when she's wearing an iridescent gown

Shine bright: The actress, who stars in the forthcoming HBO series Divorce, is known to twirl on the red carpet when she's wearing an iridescent gown

ABS ARE MEANT TO BE FLAUNTED 

Leave it to SJP to wear a bra on the red carpet and make it look stylish, not trashy. 

To maintain her sculpted figure into her 50s, the star swears by AKT InMotion, a boutique fitness studio in New York City. She even appears in the intro segment for one of founder Anna Kaiser's workout videos.

Staying fit: The actress works with New York-based celebrity trainer Anna Kaiser to keep her tummy toned
Staying fit: The actress works with New York-based celebrity trainer Anna Kaiser to keep her tummy toned
Staying fit: The actress works with New York-based celebrity trainer Anna Kaiser to keep her tummy toned

Staying fit: The actress works with New York-based celebrity trainer Anna Kaiser to keep her tummy toned

BLUE EYESHADOW IS PRACTICALLY A NEUTRAL

Sarah Jessica is known to keep it natural in the beauty department (when you wear a giant flower on your dress, you don't need any lipstick, you know?), but every once in a while she switches things up, namely when she's wearing blue.

The style icon is fond of complementing navy, teal and cerulean ensembles with a halo of the same shade around her eyes, which are also blue.

Baby blue eyes: To complement her eye color, SJP sometimes changes up her typical neutral eye make-up, instead wearing blue eyeshadow with a blue ensemble to match
Baby blue eyes: To complement her eye color, SJP sometimes changes up her typical neutral eye make-up, instead wearing blue eyeshadow with a blue ensemble to match
Baby blue eyes: To complement her eye color, SJP sometimes changes up her typical neutral eye make-up, instead wearing blue eyeshadow with a blue ensemble to match

Baby blue eyes: To complement her eye color, SJP sometimes changes up her typical neutral eye make-up, instead wearing blue eyeshadow with a blue ensemble to match

MENSWEAR CAN BE CHIC

The key to wearing pinstripes and boxy blazers out of the office? 

According to SJP, add a flower accessory (of course) or show some skin.

Like a lady: The style icon gives sex appeal to a menswear look with the addition of feminine accessories and flashes of skin
Like a lady: The style icon gives sex appeal to a menswear look with the addition of feminine accessories and flashes of skin
Like a lady: The style icon gives sex appeal to a menswear look with the addition of feminine accessories and flashes of skin

Like a lady: The style icon gives sex appeal to  menswear looks with the addition of feminine accessories and flashes of skin

FEATHERS ARE FUN

Who could forget the teal feather headpiece that Carrie Bradshaw wore when she was jilted at the altar by Mr. Big in the first Sex and the City movie?

In real life, the A-lister prefers to wear wispy plumes on skirts and tops.

It's a bird, it's a plane: Wispy feathers are one of Sarah Jessica's preferred ladylike accents
It's a bird, it's a plane: Wispy feathers are one of Sarah Jessica's preferred ladylike accents
It's a bird, it's a plane: Wispy feathers are one of Sarah Jessica's preferred ladylike accents

It's a bird, it's a plane: Wispy feathers are one of Sarah Jessica's preferred ladylike accents

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