Call it the season of doubt.

        The four bed-hopping, shoe-shopping gal-pals in the new HBO season of Sex and the City, which began its new season Sunday, may have left their carefree days — and Cosmopolitans behind.

Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker) looks more grown up this season. Charlotte (Kristin Davis) stays prim and proper. (HBO photo) | ZOOM |

        It's been tough for the foursome. Everything failed last season — marriages, engagements, birth control, monogamy.

        The girls are facing reality — finally.

        Let's just hope they continue to find solace in shopping, turning up in arch-crippling Manolo Blahnik stilettos paired with their jeans, transparent tops, backless dresses, skirts too short and too tight to sneeze in and jewelry and purses that send wannabes out the door waving their plastic.

        Sarah Jessica Parker's real-life pregnancy threatened to put a damper on the season, but they've managed to pull out eight episodes instead of the planned 13. Her character, Carrie, looks no worse for the wear — or the morning sickness.

        Call it motherhood. Call it make-up magic. Call it a new hairdo. Ms. Parker looks better than last season — in the first two episodes at least.

        The end of last season saw her finally taming her trampy-looking, sundried locks. Her new, smoother shoulder-length curls were softer, simpler, if slightly off-kilter and goofy-looking, like her character. In one episode, she showed up in the Vogue magazine offices for-crying-out-loud with a severe case of bed head. No wonder “editor” Candice Bergen, gave her such a tough time.

        This year, it seems the star spent some time in the stylist's chair. She looks her character's age, instead of a hippie holdover. Her hair is highlighted with more finesse and a healthier finish.

        The “name-chain,” horseshoe and diamond engagement ring necklaces are gone. Instead, a simple silver heart pendant hangs around Ms. Parker's neck, or is pinned to her jacket in the first two new episodes. (Dior's fine jewelry line will play a starring role this year, Sex and the City costume designer Patricia Field told In Style magazine.)

        Ms. Parker's makeup is updated as well. She's been bronzed with that peachy earth-tone glow showing up on fashion pages — a very flattering look for her. And her eyes have gone dark, heavily shadowed and lashed with exotic kohl and dark purple.

        Hey, Carrie even orders a martini at the bar.

        Samantha, played by Kim Cattrall, on the other hand, got the straight-flat hair treatment this season and has a case of badly whacked bangs, almost diverting the viewer's attention when she plasters her wandering boyfriend with a martini facial. The actress, or her divine maker, deserves credit for the fact she can go braless at age 45 with no droopage — a poster child for growing older gracefully.

        Charlotte, played by Kristin Davis, is emerging from her unsuccessful WASP marriage but still dresses prim, pearls and proper — until she flashes some sailor at a docking party. Maybe she'll have fun this year. Give her one of Miranda or Carrie's sheer, backless tops.

        And Miranda, played by Cynthia Nixon, is going through some tough what-was-I-thinking times, heavy-hearted and heavier-breasted in the throes of new-mother confusion. Her hair is a little longer, her clothes pointedly frumpier and baby boy, Brady, is her newest accessory.

        The series' clothes, as always, are never boring. Carrie's stomach is pancake-flat in one scene and disguised under a bulky sweater in the next. She sports a man's oddball Scottish plaid golf hat in one scene, a slip of a dress in blue glitter in another. The giant posies are back — this one precariously plastered on the side of her head at Brady's baptism, where's she takes on godmother responsibilities.

        Talk about growing up.

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