A few months ago, it was announced that Patricia Field would be designing a collection for Marks and Spencer. That collection opened, slightly oddly, in New York yesterday. It will include:
flirty, 1950’s-style, puffball dresses in scarlet polka-dot jacquard and rose-print taffeta, which will cost £75 and £99, and a turquoise, angel-sleeved, silk shift, based on the dress the actress wore in the “Baby Shower Scene” in the SATC film, which will also cost £75.A black, sequined catsuit, at £99, and a skin-tight, black and white striped military jacket, £75, worn with gold leggings, were in the style of the sex-mad character of Samantha, played by Kim Cattrall.
Ms Kate Bostock, the executive director of all clothing at Marks & Spencer, watched the show from a ringside seat. She described the Patricia Field collection, developed with co-designer, David Dalrymple, as one of the most adventurous projects in the British high street chain’s history.
Field was at the show
. . . wearing a short blue Lurex mini-dress from her M&S collection, £60, and black, platform Dior stilettos which cost about ten times as much.
“If I can wear the clothes, anybody can,” she said. “Fashion is about enjoying clothes and having fun; it’s not about age.”
I slightly fear that the mad old bag look is upon us. It's such a tricky call, to go with the beige classics and die slowly inside, or follow the mutton route and be laughed at behind your back. I am starting to think that a touch of vulgarity, or blatant sex appeal, might be the hot chilli needed to spice up an outfit when you hit 50 (and Field is in her 60s, I believe)
On the other hand, some of the pieces look like 1980s market stall revival.
12 comments:
The photograph of Patricia Field showing her knees and upper arms in a ridiculous mini with tiny shoulder straps is a reminder to all of us of a certain age that we look downright ugly dressed as lamb. Compare this woman with Helen Mirren in her arm-concealing Oscar dress! One exudes classy class, the other looks like an ageing tart.
Ooops, typo. Helen Mirren exudes SEXY class.
No, please, Linda, there IS a third way!
I knew this collection was going to be a disaster when you first warned us about it months ago. New York is the best place for it I think, or any drag queen boutique! This is not serious fashion, just a desperate badly timed gimmick from good old sad M&S.
The 75+ grandmother of a friend of mine, who walked with a cane, loved to wear things like leopard print leggings. She dyed her hair that reddish pink you see on older ladies and she was a notorious flirt. She was really something to see at parties, and her joie de vivre was imporessive.
I agree with greying pixie, this has disaster written all over it.
I loved watching SATC, but apart from the occasional outfit worn by Miranda, I found the clothes laughable rather than wearable. Why does Kate Bostock think we will all be rushing out to buy this stuff?
I'm in agreemment with all the other comments - unwearable clothes that have had their time. Parhpas Kate Bostock thought she was doing a Kate Moss and Topshop ie sell clothes that are basically copies of what a style icon wears. However the difference here is that SATC has had its time and, like Susan says, a lot of the clothes were laughable especially Carrie's.
The clothes I saw on The Patricia Field site earlier this year looked hideous to me. I was expecting witty mixes of vintage and modern but discovered lots of items suitable only for street-walking in warm climates in the dark.* Really, I thought the site had been hacked and tried again. Nope.
*No offense to street-walkers in warm climates on night shifts. I'm sure you're doing a grand job.
Proper mingin'!
Going the mutton route? We're already mutton, if we're over 50, whether dressed in beige or colours. Personally, I abhor the expression, which compares us with meat and says we're butcher-dressed to deceive a consumer by posing a lamb anytime we dress "inappropriately young." Dressing, desperately or foolishly, to try to appear young obviously has its hazards, but I hate that we women police each other, pointing fingers and warning "mutton alert."
I like to think that Diane von Fürstenberg walks the third way. I usually would love to wear her entire collection (if only I could afford it) and I can imagine wearing it when I'm fifty.
But it is very difficult, isn't it? There is a time and space for everthing, including the mini, yet saying goodbye to something forever can hurt. Usually I try to follow the rule "If I ask myself 'Can I still wear (insert here: mini, shoulder straps, capri pants)' I probably already know the answer and don't want to hear it".
Then, detach.
I thought Pat Field was kind of daring and I admit a certain admiration for her defiance and individuality. On the other hand, I think Linda's right. M&S collection reeks of mad old bag. I didn't like SJP in SATC...OTT outfits and her scrawny physique was just repelling. Like Madonna, give that woman a bathrobe and a sandwich too (I borrowed that from an earlier post, but damn it's so apt).
It is a hard call. But I too wonder if it was deemed 'fashionable' to look mutton-esque a la Donatella/Nancy Del'Olio et al, maybe our eye would get used to it and it would become accepted? (Can't believe Field got paid £5million for it though, let's bloody bell hope it sells!)
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