When I first learned last week that Pat Field, the renowned stylist for the Sex And The City television series, SATC - The Movie, The Devil Wears Prada and my personal favorite Ugly Betty, was donning the title of "designer", I couldn't stifle an eye roll. Another designer?!? Does the world really need another designer?!? London, New York and Paris are teaming with talented young designers with little hope of making it in a brutal industry, how about supporting one of them for a change? But then, I read that she had paired up with Marks & Spencer and I must say, that changed my attitude a bit. For readers unfamiliar with this quintessentially British institution referred to affectionately by locals as "Marks & Sparks", you'll understand my affection for it when I tell you that you can buy a pair of knickers, your groceries and a good bottle of wine all under one roof. What's not to love?
Moreover, while the chain has had bleak periods when it was known for its rather dowdy women's fashions and grannie pants, Marks & Spencer's women's apparel and accessories was completely overhauled a few years ago by a very savvy woman by the name of Kate Bostock, M&S's executive director of clothing. Before long, Marks & Spencer started turning out some pretty fashionable frocks and accessories all reasonably priced and accessible to average women. It also carries larger sizes not readily available in more upscale venues and literally has something for everyone. Aided by a snappy television and print campaign featuring Twiggy and model Erin O'Conner among others, the brand has seen a real turnaround of late. As for Ms. Field, her knowledge of the transformative power of fashion and her ability to manipulate it to define a character on screen speaks for itself. Most importantly, unlike most celebrity stylists, her conception of fashion literally embraces women of all ages and income brackets - her design credentials include a shoe collection for Payless (a low-cost chain of shoe stores in the U.S.) a pair of which she wore proudly to walk the red carpet when she was nominated for an Oscar for her work on The Devil Wears Prada. When was the last time you saw Beyonce don a frock from her "fashion" line House of Dereon for the Oscars or for any important public appearance for that matter? Ms. Field's collaboration with M&S is especially fitting given that her signature is the ability to effortlessly mix high and low, a talent that was abundantly and effectively on display in the SATC television series (if not the movie). To my mind, the recruitment of Pat Field certainly enhances the brand's fashion credentials and more than justifies the deep affection Brits have for this most British of stores. Maybe I was a tad quick to roll my eyes after all. Well done M&S.
The 35-piece collection will go on sale in October 2008 in M&S stores throughout the U.K., online and a number of international markets. (Source)
Sincerely,
The Luxe Chronicles
Photographic References:
Left to right: Patricia Field, photo by Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene, courtesy of Style.com; Meryl Streep as "Miranda" in The Devil Wears Prada; Vanessa Williams as "Wilhemina Slater" in Ugly Betty.
