Marks & Spencer has scooped an exclusive deal with famed Sex and the City, Ugly Betty and The Devil Wears Prada designer and stylist Patricia Field to sell a one-off fashion range in its stores starting this November. This is the first time M&S has worked with a designer on a once-in-a-lifetime range in this way.
In another first for the retailer, the glamorous range will be sold not only in M&S’s UK stores and on its website, but also exclusively in its stores in a number of international markets in which it operates.
Kate Bostock, M&S executive director of clothing, said: “We are thrilled to have pulled off this deal with Patricia Field — as soon as we heard about the collection I knew we had to have it! We were determined to have exclusivity on it not only in the UK but also in our international markets, as it is such an amazing collection and a big ‘first’ for us.”
She continued: “For the first time ever, women all over the world will have a chance to own for themselves one or more of the sexy, glamorous and individual styles of Patricia Field. This year is the perfect time for this unique opportunity with the Sex and the City movie hitting screens, to showcase a range specially designed by the woman who created such amazing looks in so many films and TV series.”
Patricia said: “It’s just amazing to be working with such an iconic brand as M&S. I really wanted to get involved with a brand that really understands women of all ages and that would work closely with me to develop the range in a way that was right for them. I have conceptualized the line as ‘Destination Style New York’ and it consists of iconic womenswear including matching accessories. I like to see it as expression of my philosophy of ‘the democratization of luxury.’
“The Patricia Field for M&S Collection will be a unique chance to make New York’s hottest styles part of every woman’s wardrobe,” she added. “It embodies the splashy and exuberant lifestyle that I have consistently created in my work with superstars like Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Lucy Liu and Meryl Streep. The collection has a luxury appeal with a wink to on-trend, high-octane glamour and focuses primarily on dresses as well as a capsule collection of tops, trousers and accessories.”
Each piece within the collection reflects Patricia Field’s individual signature styling combined with Marks & Spencer’s exceptionally high standards in quality, precision cutting and finish. Fabrics include silks, georgettes, metallics and stretch satins. Prints significantly feature polka dots, stars, stripes, animal prints and traditional florals. Highlights include a stunning floral print dress in champagne and black with puff ball skirt, a sophisticated shift dress in deep turquoise with wide-flowing chiffon sleeves and a black stretch satin corseted halter dress.
Patricia Field is one of today’s most recognized and globally influential fashion designers and stylists. She is a native New Yorker who began her career in fashion when she opened a boutique in Greenwich Village. She has won two Emmys and earned an Academy Award nomination in 2006 for The Devil Wears Prada. However, her most influential work remains her costume design for the cult TV series and recent movie, Sex and the City, which made her a global trendsetter in fashion styling.
As Kim Cattrall recently said in an interview: “There is no one like Patricia Field; she creates trends by herself.” Her approach to fashion is so unique, no one has managed to copy it. The M&S partnership with Patricia Field provides a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to catch a piece of the “real” Patricia Field. Fashion lovers will adore it.
The Patricia Field collection will be available in the Philippines by the third week of November at Marks & Spencer Shangri-La Plaza Mall and Power Plant Mall.