Will Cashmere Mafia Beat Lipstick Jungle in the TV Fashion War?

When Candace Bushnell's famous characters hit the small screen, what female with a passion for fashion didn't upgrade her style profile after viewing Sex and The City? Since the unfortunate demise of our favorite TV guilty pleasure, the networks searched far and wide for the next bit hit to soothe our well-dressed broken hearts. As Cashmere Mafia and Lipstick Jungle enter the women's television fashion ring, I wonder which fashion prize fighter will emerge as the undisputed heavyweight style champion and rise above the Sex and The City TV fashion legacy.

The Former Style Champ: Sex and The City

From Manolo Blahnik and Fendi baguettes, to brooches, flower pins and boho chic, Sex and the City launched more designer names into the worldwide fashion lexicon, than any other entertainment programming to date. Fans ogled the fabulous styling prowess of Patricia Field. Faithful viewers wondered if a new entertaining concept could possibly replace the genuine affection the audience had for Carrie, Samantha, Miranda, and Charlotte.

Fashion TV Contender #1 - Cashmere Mafia

With Sex and The City's Executive Producer Michael Patrick King at the helm Cashmere Mafia's glam quotient is high and mighty. The show follows the lives of four Business school friends who are the undeniable masters of the business universe. Unfortunately Cashmere Mafia's style tour de force is breathtakingly distracting. In my opinion the show's style direction caused so much of a commotion that I could barely focus my eyes on the characters. I kept saying to myself, "OOOOOOHHHH Pretty. Or wondering" Would I wear that to the office" and" Where can I get those shoes?"

I'm sure the product placement agencies, stylists and advertisers are pleased that I love the featured clothing, handbags and makeup. However, I can fall in love with extraordinary clothes and shoes at Barneys New York and Saks Fifth Avenue any day. I want relatable and fashionable characters. Besides, who remembers the clothes in the first season of Sex and the City? Rent the first season and see for yourself. The clothes were a necessary component for the Sex and the City fashion adoration but not the essential factor in its global success. The audience grew to worship the characters first.

Sex and The City Fashion War Verdict: ABC's Cashmere Mafia is a little heavy on the fashion aspiration and light on the characters development. I don't want another NYC girlfriend TV foursome. The right mixture of fashion, aspiration and relatable stories should help Cashmere Mafia score a knockout punch to Lipstick Jungle in the second season.

Fashion Contender TV #2 - Lipstick Jungle

When compared to Cashmere Mafia, NBC's Lipstick Jungle is better to suited to win the TV fashion war. Instead of pummeling the audience with clothes and fashion references in the first couple of episodes, the savvy writers give viewers plenty of time to be properly introduced to Nico, Victory and Wendy. The storyline is magnetic and the characters complex.

Are the clothes phenomenal? Without a doubt; Lipstick Jungle has plenty of visual style and eye candy for your viewing pleasure. Unlike Cashmere Mafia, I can easily identify with the humanity of the characters and the real dilemmas that women face when attempting to balance career and family.

Sex and The City Fashion War Verdict: Lipstick Jungle is precise and perfect. But the poor use of product integration combining the advertisers and the characters is unbearable. I don't want to be told how to wear the makeup and clothes during a quick commercial break. The fashion instruction is better suited for America's Top Model's juvenile audience rather than speaking to the tiny sophisticate buried deep within every woman viewer. Continue to dilute my Lipstick Jungle high with meaningless advertising that seems artificial and contrived and I might be forced to watching Cashmere Mafia on TIVO during commercial breaks.

It is too soon to determine the actual winner of the TV fashion wars. As these two shows attempt to satisfy my Sex and The City fashion cravings, I will be glued to my big screen television watching the two entertaining contenders battle in the name of fashion until the very end.