I don't know what happened in "Sex and the City" so I can't comment on that.

I never have understood or participated much in gender-based socializing, and getting dressed up or not is irrelevant. How I dress would depend on my mood and where I'm going.

In general, I find groups of women oppressive. I think what is a genuine desire for sharing in other people translates into forced conformity in my mind. Neither good nor bad, just different.

As I get older, I'm more oriented toward friends who share a special interest, and toward one-on-one socializing regardless of gender.

I had an unusually large loss of friends (two died and two moved away) a few years ago and while that was hard, it also gave me a chance to look at what I really want out of friendships.