"Sex and the City 2" stilettos its way into theatres on May 27, following on the heels of Eric Cyphers' glitzy new "SACT2" companion book.
At 176 pages, "Sex and the City 2: The Movies. The Fashion. The Adventure" delivers an all-access, behind-the-scenes pass into the makings of this girl-power extravaganza.
Filled with on-set insights from Sarah Jessica Parker, director/writer Michael Patrick King and others, this "SATC2" tome is fast-paced and stylish.
The author and former associate producer on the HBO series also crams this travelogue with tidbits about the sequel's journey from New York to Morocco.
"It seems our ['SATC'] adventures never end," Parker writes. "But I never imagined this one would take us so very far away from New York City."
Parker and co-stars Kim Cattrall, Cynthia Nixon and Kristin Davis spent seven weeks amidst camels, sand dunes, fragrant Casbahs and desert tents flowing with champagne.
The escape was just was the stars and fans needed.
King was determined to create a "big, fun, decadent vacation for the girls on-screen as well as the girls in the audience."
The romcom's action centres around Dubai and Abu Dhabi, two Middle Eastern oases of excess.
These exotic locales and culture helped King play up the importance of tradition in his script.
"I wanted to show how tradition not only affects the women in the Middle East, but, more pointedly, how we are still struggling with traditional roles even in a cosmopolitan city like New York," King writes.
Costume designer Patricia Field dresses that message up with designer dynamite.
It's fashionista porn all the way
Every key outfit, including Carrie's white Halston dress for the film's opening, is brought to life by Parker's commentary.
"There were two dresses in contention for the movie's opening shot. I'm so glad this dress came out the winner," Parker writes.
From Carrie's sparkly Christian Louboutin shoes to her gold Chanel clutch and Mykita shades, Parker breaks every ensemble down for fans. Anyone with big budgets or great imaginations can easily copy them.
Parker also dishes on the challenges faced in recreating the perfect '80s look for Carrie.
"Hardest outfit to figure out, took about three fittings to get it right," she writes.
Thanks to a ballsy blend of Betsey Johnson corsets, Laura Ashley dresses, vintage accessories and big hair, Carrie flashes back with ease to the decade when she and her gal-pals first met.
It's too soon to tell if "Sex and the City 2" will be the summer blockbuster of 2010. But the clothes, visuals and dish in Cyphers' book deliver the "Sex" diehard fans want.
Sit back, kick up those Manolos girlfriends and read on!
