JANUARY 2018 26 | The Arizona Costume Institute (ACI), under the pioneering leadership of Dennita Sewell, struck gold at their 2017 luncheon by bringing famed stylist and designer Patricia Field to Phoenix. The celebrated stylist is best known for her work creating looks for television shows and movies such as “Sex in the City,” “The Devil Wears Prada” and “Ugly Betty.” The fiery red-haired fashion maven brought with her a sense of whimsy and laughter and regaled the audience with stories about her famed career. Right out of the gate Field had the audience laughing referencing a signature look of hers, a silk jumpsuit and sneakers. The punch line — on the day of her visit to ACI, she was actually wearing the exact same ensemble as she was in the photos taken for the promotional materials used to publicize the luncheon. This amusing introduction into Field’s fashion philosophy continued throughout her speech and within the way she has lived her own life. Field left no topic untouched sharing both personal style advice and accounts of her storied style-shaping of Hollywood elite. A native New Yorker, Field grew up exposed to the eclectic scene of the fashion mecca. Field’s many years of retail experience was the launching pad for her illustrious career. She was first noticed for her exemplary window and mannequin styling. She learned through hands-on experience and leveraged her innate knack for making seemingly mismatched items work in synchronicity. Fashion was second nature to Field. Her interesting style led her to open her namesake store on Bowery in NYC’s Greenwich Village, where for 55 years she based her work. Through this endeavor, as well as through her many movie and television costume designs, Field has lived her life out loud, sharing her anti- establishment attitude and =promoting a flair for individuality through style. Field GIVING IN STYLE {fashion in the philanthropy lane} PATRICIA FIELD IN THE CITY

JANUARY 2018 | 27 Tyler Butler SOCIETY AND FASHION WRITER took her joy for design and continuously expressed herself through a unique twist with each project she undertook. Field’s store combated the globalization of fast fashion where everything is the same; people instead came to her store with a purpose. Her store became like a clubhouse where all types could find treasures that were uniquely their own. Everyone from Miley Cyrus to Sarah Jessica Parker shopped at the famous location. And just as her store fought against the mundane, so did her professional costume endeavors. The most captivating account of her ventures is the story behind the famed tool tutu worn by “Sex In The City” star Sarah Jessica Parker in the opening credits of the groundbreaking show. Patricia found the piece in a bargain bin for a mere $5. Knowing the actresses’ ballerina background and the edgy nature of the show, Field felt in her heart that this would be the perfect emblem for the opening credits. And while producer Darren Star disputed the idea of the tutu and t-shirt combo, Parker and Field joined forces to fight for the look that would ultimately set the tone for the show as one that was both crazy and cool. A lesser-known fact about Field, though, is her years of dedication to a few key causes. Field is an avid advocate for AIDS- related causes who has given her time and energy to DIFFA (Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS), an AIDS-service organization that helps improve the lives of people living with HIV. And through the neighborhood where her store is located, she's grown her philanthropic work through the Lower Eastside Girls Club. Field has long considered this charity as a main part of the community where she has operated her retail business. This organization has helped impoverished girls create a plan for their futures. This mission and the charity’s location, combined with Field’s focus on women and independence, made for a perfect synergy for paying it forward. The organization has even honored Field at a star-studded event where Rosario Dawson and Chloë Sevigny joined to celebrate the uniquely iconic woman. Earlier this year, after five decades serving the decadent NYC crowd selling an extraordinary mix of glitter, rhinestones, neon and leather collections, she shuttered the physical store which had become a New York institution. Her online shop, however, continues to flourish and serve the quirky and progressive fashion lovers, now allowing anyone to easily reach an assemblage of the Patricia Field effect. This change has allowed the creative to have greater flexibility and to pursue new projects. Whether it’s her current role leading costume design for the show “Younger” or her participation in a collaborative documentary effort which is tentatively titled the “House of Field,” Field has no shortage of exciting projects to keep her clever nature flowing. The stylist shared some words of wisdom with the audience in an effort to promote continued innovation in personal style and to leave her mark on the Valley of the Sun. She told the audience to connect with who they truly are and to also express this without excuses. She pollinated her mantra of self-love and encouraged creativity as a vital component for mental health and for quality of life. She urged everyone to take time in their own closets and to combine things that they might never think to pair together. She left the audience with the notion to reimagine staple pieces, throw away and traditional rules about dressing and to let their creativity direct each day. GIVING IN STYLE EVENTS CONTINUED