“Happy Clothes” is a candid fly-on-the-wall glimpse into the creative process and the extraordinary life and career of costume designer Patricia Field, whose unique vision has impacted fashion and popular culture for nearly six decades.
She opened a clothing store in New York City in the early 1960s when as a gay, female, first-generation American, everything was lined up against her not to succeed. But Field proved to be a savvy businesswoman, and her eponymous store quickly became a must-see destination for travelers from around the world for 50 years.
As a two-time Emmy-winning costume designer, Field is best known for her work on “Sex and the City.” Her resume boasts some 30 other television shows including “Emily In Paris” and “Run the World,” which are featured in this documentary. Field has costumed over a dozen films, most notably “The Devil Wears Prada,” for which she was nominated for an Academy Award.
“Happy Clothes” combines new verité footage of Field at work, mixed with archival material, media clips, and contemporary interviews. In this unvarnished portrait we explore Patricia Field the individual, the famed costume designer, her unconventional approach to fashion, her strong work ethic, and her dedication to sharing the wisdom of her hard-won life experience with younger generations. Field leads with her gut, never at the cost of her integrity. In this era of female empowerment, Field is an exemplar of straight-shooting, no-nonsense candor and self-reliance that has paved the way for so many to follow.
Featuring interviews with television fan favorites Lily Collins (Emily in Paris), Kim Cattrall (Sex and the City), Michael Urie (Ugly Betty), Darren Star (creator of Sex and the City and Emily in Paris), and more, this film delves behind the scenes with Field and uncovers the thought process behind her designs. Watch as she recalls incredible stories, from employing Daphne Rubin-Vega, Laverne Cox, and other NYC nightlife stars in the retail store she operated for 50 years; to her early patronage of Keith Haring and Jean-Michel Basquiat, who sold their designs in the back of her store.