Fashion Book Friday
PAT IN THE CITY; My Life of Fashion, Style, and Breaking All The Rules
by Patricia Field
✨ A Love Letter to Style, Sparkle, and Sheer Sass ✨
Darling readers, if you've ever dreamed of raiding Carrie Bradshaw's closet, swanning down Fifth Avenue in a vintage tutu, or pairing a nameplate necklace with Manolos like it's your birthright, then Pat in the City is your new bible. For this week's Fashion Book Friday, we're diving into the glitzy, gutsy memoir of Patricia Field, the flame-haired fashion iconoclast behind the wardrobe of Sex and the City, The Devil Wears Prada, and pretty much every delicious fashion moment that's ever made you gasp and screenshot.
PAT IN THE CITY
Why This Book?
My love affair with Sex and the City is well-documented, darlings—those four fabulous femmes defined an era of style that was audacious, unapologetically feminine, and dripping with meaning. And at the centre of all that high-heeled magic? Patricia Field. This book isn't just a memoir; it's an archive of creative rebellion, queer glamour, and personal evolution. As a queer fashion writer with a taste for the dramatic and the divine, I couldn't not review it.
Who Is Patricia Field, Really?
For the uninitiated (bless your hearts), Patricia Field is more than just a costume designer—she’s a New York institution. Born to an Armenian-Greek family, she opened her first boutique in the East Village in 1966, and that storefront became the epicentre of punk-meets-glam style before that was even a thing. Field’s work bridges the gap between underground fashion and global pop culture—her looks don’t just dress characters, they define them.
She’s the woman who told us that tutus weren’t just for ballet dancers. That sequins could be daywear. That being loud, mismatched, and fabulous is a political act. And she’s done it all while being unapologetically herself—queer, outspoken, and never, ever boring.
Andre' Leon Talley & Patricia Field
Pat Field at Boy Bar.
Patricia Field with Sarah Jessica Parker
Patricia Field
PAT IN THE CITY
The Book: A Roller Disco Ride Through Fashion History
Pat in the City reads like a high-speed convertible ride through downtown New York in the ‘80s—wind in your hair, neon lights flashing, and a soundtrack of Debbie Harry, Grace Jones, and house music vibrating in your bones. The memoir is structured chronologically, tracing Field's journey from a rebellious kid in Queens to a trailblazing stylist and Emmy-winning costume designer.
What's most thrilling is how Field breaks down her styling philosophy. Unlike designers who start with sketches and mood boards, Field begins with people. Characters. Attitude. Whether it's Carrie Bradshaw's chaotic charm or Miranda Priestly's icy precision, Patricia designs from the inside out. She isn't just putting clothes on bodies—she's revealing the character's soul.
And yes, she spills all the tea: how the iconic SATC wardrobe came together on a budget (pre-HBO opulence, mind you), how the infamous tutu came from a bargain bin, and how she dealt with actors, directors, and the industry's cookie-cutter expectations.
There's a giddy thrill in reading how Field scoured thrift shops, flea markets, and underground designers for looks that would later become era-defining. The book's tone mirrors her personality—funny, blunt, a little chaotic, but endlessly charming. And she does not hold back. Think sequins meet street smarts.
Field at the ARTFASHION Ruway show at NYFW 2019
PAT IN THE CITY
A Queer Lens on Fashion
For all its glitz, Pat in the City is also profoundly queer. Not just in Patricia's identity, but in her ethos: challenging binaries, celebrating difference, and dressing people in ways that defy the norm. She lifts the veil on how her East Village store became a sanctuary for drag queens, gender-nonconforming fashionistas, and everyone who couldn't find themselves in the pages of Vogue.
Her memoir honours queer creativity, not as a trend but as the origin story of modern fashion. Field acknowledges the drag community as a source of constant inspiration, and she lovingly recounts the chosen families, late-night parties, and downtown weirdos who helped shape her aesthetic. For those of us in the LGBTQ+ community, this isn't just nostalgia—it's validation.
Pat Field outside her Eighth Street store," Patricia Field ". A haven for queer and non-binary fashionistas.
PAT IN THE CITY
Why You Need to Read It
Reading Pat in the City feels like getting a makeover from your coolest queer aunt—equal parts empowerment and glitter. Whether you're a diehard fashion fan, a Sex and the City aficionado, or someone craving a glimpse into the eccentric and electric world of NYC style history, this book will leave you inspired, invigorated, and perhaps reaching for your old rhinestone belt.
Field's legacy isn't just the clothes—it's the confidence she gave us to wear what we want, be who we are, and own the sidewalk like it's our runway.
So grab your copy, pour a cosmopolitan (or two), and let Patricia Field remind you that fashion is freedom, self-expression is sacred, and sometimes the best style advice is: "F**k it, wear it anyway."
Fashion Book Friday Recap
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Title: Pat in the City
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Author: Patricia Field
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Published by: Dey Street Books
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Best for: Fashion lovers, SATC fans, style rebels, queer creatives
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Vibe: Glittery chaos meets heartfelt wisdom
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J. Andrew Speaks Verdict: An exuberant, essential read for anyone who's ever matched leopard with leather—and loved it.
CIAO FOR NOW, J. ANDREW JACKSON
CIAO FOR NOW, J. ANDREW JACKSON