‘Hocus Pocus 2’ Star Sarah Jessica Parker (61) Turns Heads at the NYC Ballet Gala With a Hair Detail You Have to See to Believe
Every autumn, one night at Lincoln Center belongs to Sarah Jessica Parker. As vice chair of the New York City Ballet’s board, the ‘Sex and the City’ star conceived the company’s annual Fall Fashion Gala, which launched in 2012 with a celebration of the legendary designer Valentino. It has since become one of the most anticipated style moments on the city’s calendar.
The event pairs fashion designers with choreographers, and over the years it has featured costumes by more than 30 designers, including Thom Browne, Sarah Burton, Carolina Herrera, Iris van Herpen and Dries Van Noten. New York City Ballet describes it as an evening celebrating the intersection of ballet and fashion, with new works on its stage. This year’s edition took place on Thursday, Oct. 1.
Parker was on the red carpet once again, and she had her husband, Matthew Broderick, by her side. TMZ shared a 25-second video of the couple posing together at the gala, crediting Instagram user @jpasc24 for the footage. The outlet urged viewers to swipe or watch closely to see the details on the back of her hair.
Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick stepped out together at the NYC Ballet Fall Fashion Gala. Make sure to swipe or watch closely to see the details on the back of her hair!
— TMZ (@TMZ) October 2, 2026
🎥 Instagram / @jpasc24 pic.twitter.com/gffgDNWQnS
In the clip, Parker turns away from the camera to reveal a long braid wrapped in ribbon. S She paired the look with a pale, embroidered gown, while Broderick kept things classic in a black tuxedo with a white boutonniere. The couple posed in front of the event’s New York City Ballet step-and-repeat.
Date night at the ballet! 🩰 Sarah Jessica Parker and husband Matthew Broderick step out for the New York City Ballet Gala ♥️🥹 pic.twitter.com/GYXjKuHL1B
— Page Six (@PageSix) October 2, 2026
Page Six also posted footage of Parker’s arrival, welcoming her to the ballet gala. The couple has been a fixture at the event for years. For the star, the hair is part of a pattern, as she has a long track record of making a statement at this gala.
Just two queens 🥹🥹🥹 Stevie Nicks and Sarah Jessica Parker together at the New York City Ballet Gala is everything. pic.twitter.com/FLEKxwm48D
— Page Six (@PageSix) October 2, 2026
Parker’s gala looks have been big talking points for years. In 2023, she wore a black off-the-shoulder Carolina Herrera gown with a ballerina-style tulle skirt and a wide satin bow in her hair. She also wore mismatched shoes, a nod to a classic ‘Sex and the City’ moment from Season 3, when Carrie Bradshaw wore two different colored Christian Louboutin heels.
Sarah Jessica Parker brings major Carrie Bradshaw flair on NYC Ballet date night look with Matthew Broderick https://t.co/eQE201OOmD pic.twitter.com/GWBU7wsCLu
— New York Post (@nypost) October 2, 2026
That oversized bow made waves beyond the red carpet. PureWow noted that her practically floor-length bow at the 2023 gala helped take the accessory from a twee relic of the past to a must-try. It is a good reminder of how much influence a single hair accessory from Parker can have.
In 2024, she went for head-to-toe silver, and last year she made a dramatic entrance in an Iris van Herpen gown with giant sheer wings. Marie Claire compared the 2025 outfit to something the Black Swan might wear. That look was a dramatic shift from the tea-length dresses she had favored in recent years.
Parker and Broderick have been a team for a long time. They met in 1991 through Parker’s brothers and have been married for nearly 30 years. At last year’s gala, Broderick also kept it classic in a tuxedo while Parker took center stage in her wings.
The gala is also a family affair for the New York arts community. Parker is the event’s founding chair, and her relationship with New York City Ballet began when she attended its school. This year’s gala chairs included Emily Blavatnik as visionary chair and Stevie Nicks as honorary chair, with a long list of co-chairs that included Julia Fox, Diane Kruger, Billy Porter, Andy Cohen, and Claire Danes and Hugh Dancy.
Part of the appeal is that Parker treats the gala as a showcase for playful fashion rather than one-note glamour. From the tulle and bow in 2023 to the dramatic wings in 2025, each year gives her a chance to try something new. This year’s ribbon-wrapped braid appears to be a more romantic, playful twist on the bow she wore 3 years ago, and it fits the ballet theme perfectly.
The detail is subtle enough that it could easily be missed from the front, which is exactly why TMZ’s tease worked so well. For fans who follow Parker’s style, it is a reminder that the most memorable part of a look can be the back of it.
What do you think of Sarah Jessica Parker’s ribbon-wrapped braid?
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