Patricia Field SATC-Inspired Collection for M&S is Tacky and Cheap

by Terri Potratz | October 15, 2008 at 02:42 pm

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The Patricia Field collection for retailer Marks & Spencer was unveiled today to mixed reviews, most of which were unfavourable. The 35 piece "Destination Style New York" collection ranges from 50-125£ and includes dresses, accessories and shoes - most of which appear to be sloppily constructed with cheap materials.

Many of the styles, such as the Iconic Orchid Corsage Dress and the Trailing Teal Silk Dress, are direct rip-offs from the Sex and the City show/movie but made simpler and a touch more kitschy - though cheapening the look hasn't brought the prices down.

And why bother about being cutting edge, when the cut itself is so shoddy? The dresses are made from flimsy fabrics and suffer from seriously stingy tailoring. Don't even think about it unless you're a size six, girlfriend. The clothes might look cheap, but most come in well above £60 - top-of-the-range prices for M&S.

Not all of the reviews have been negative, as it would seem that some have become blinded by desperately holding onto whatever scraps of "SATC-ness" they can find within the line:

The designer's collaboration with the store has been much hyped, and with good reason, because the whole range channels the Sex and the City style perfectly!
Carrie herself would quite happily be seen in any of the range, and dare we say it, some of her key looks from the movie have been adapted for Pat's very own collection.

I wholeheartedly disagree that this line channels anything Sex and the City, unless we're talking Samantha Jones on her worst day. Samantha Jones if she lost all her money and clout and found herself on a bar stool in Long Island sipping on her 9th margarita, gripping desperately to the bitter nostalgia of a life once lived. And when she rises to stumble home alone, the seam of her dress splits and she can't even summon the energy to feign embarrassment. Also, she may have lost one of her shoes by this point. It's not a pretty picture.

When the one-off, once-in-a-lifetime (fingers crossed!) collection was announced earlier this year, Field had this to say:

"It's just amazing to be working with such an iconic brand as M&S," Field adds. "I really wanted to get involved with a brand who really understood women of all ages and who would work closely with me to develop the range in a way that was right for them. I have conceptualised 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 democratisation of luxury'."

To me the SATC 'brand' is about confidence and originality, understated glamour, and top-notch quality and design - the characters wouldn't ever settle for anything less. To pass off this line for anything resembling "Carrie Bradshaw" is sacrilege, Field should have more respect for her own work than to tarnish it in this way.

At least when Sarah Jessica Parker came out with her inexpensive Bitten line for everyday women, she didn't attempt to capitalize directly by passing it off as Sex and the City 'inspired' - you have to respect that.

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