MAY, 2023 |
ISSUE 347 |
BOOK REVIEW | QSALTLAKE MAGAZINE | 29
Qsaltlake.com
the bookworm sez REVIEW BY TERRI SCHLICHENMEYER
‘Pat in the City: My Life of Fashion, Style, and Breaking All the Rules’ BY PATRICIA FIELD, C.2023, DEY STREET BOOKS, $35, 272 PAGES
The shirt’s just a little too big. But that’s no problem; you’d rather your shirts be looser anyhow. Pants, they’re another matter; they need to be snug all over. You have your own sense of style, and you wear it fabulously. In the new book “Pat in the City” by Patricia Field, read about an icon’s journey into clothes, clubs, and couture. Almost from the time she was born, little Patricia
Haig (later, Field) knew that clothing made a statement. She knew it while wearing her cowgirl outfit to play when she clothes-shopped with her aunts and when recalling her father, who was “handsome, sweet, and mild” and who died when she was small. Adoption later changed her surname, but not her love of clothing. Working in her mother’s dry-cleaning “shop” as a kid, Field learned all about fabrics; her aunts’ forays into fashion taught her even more. She “always had beautiful clothes,” although a pair of men’s-style pants discovered in a small boutique in the mid-1950s was life-changing. Field entered college and landed dual degrees in philosophy and political science, though she says, “style came easy to me.” By then, she’d turned away from ’50s femininity, preferring an androgynous look. She also learned that she pre-
ferred women as partners. One of them was a partner in Field’s first business, a small shop near NYU in Manhattan that opened in 1966. In 1971, they opened a larger store, calling it “Patricia Field.” Partly due to her contacts with designers, Field sold inventive, trendy, “nouveau glamour” outfits to clubbers who made Studio 54 the “high-octane” place it was then. Field dressed a lot of celebrity clubbers, too, which led her to the ballroom scene, where she became a House “Father” and a part of vogueing history. And then someone suggested to someone else that Field would make a great costumer for an upcoming movie… If you could somehow take two books by a good author and smash them together to make one, that’s what you’d have with “Pat in the City.” This book is divided almost cleanly in two and almost with separate reader-audiences.
Networking will get you what you are looking for, though be prepared for some added responsibilities.
information is bound to cause a mess if revealed to a loved one.
In the first part, author Patricia Field shares her biography, her childhood, her formative years, and the awakening of her personal sense of style. Fashionistas won’t be able to put those pages aside, nor will anyone who attended any New York City club with any regularity back in the day. This half of Field’s book drips with disco lights and ballroom “reads.” Celebrities stretch into the second half, as Field writes about being the costumer for Sex in the City, the friendships she struck up with its cast, and how the iconic opening scene came to be. This part of the book – likewise glittering with big names and big productions – is for younger readers and Hollywood watchers. Reading this book is like time-travel to the ’70s and a backstage peek at your favorite show. If you love clothes and people who love fashion, then get “Pat in the City.” It fits. Q
q scopes MAY BY SAM KELLEY-MILLS
ARIES March 20–April 19
Change has always been cleansing to you, and this is a great time to refresh and renew. Time alone will do you good but make time for those who make you laugh. A big surprise could come in the form of an explosive force. Enjoy letting go of some tension.
TAURUS Apr 20–May 20
The time for sleep will elude you this month. With a calendar filled to the brim, you may find life overwhelming. Mix a little fun into your obligatory activities to keep your spirits high. A relationship or close friendship will expand your vision of the world if you take the time to look.
GEMINI May 21–June 20
Blow off some steam by jumping into an amazing project. A short trip or adventure will be very desirable. Don’t sweat the small stuff, and embrace challenging people.
CANCER June 21–July 22
When you spill the milk, don’t cry. Find some cream instead! The loss of something plain leads to something better. Love is always abundant, and your popularity will ensure a good time this month. Keep your chin up, Cancer. Things are about to get very interesting.
LEO July 23–August 22
Stop stressing about things you can’t control. Don’t fear the self-expression of others, and start expressing some of your own creative inclinations. It’s not the end project but the process that counts. A career choice could leave you questioning if your head or heart will prevail.
VIRGO August 23–Sep 2
You’ve been questioning your path. Now is the time to try something new. A difference of opinion with a friend will challenge your perceptions, and a fond discovery could set you in motion. An obligatory release of
LIBRA Sept 23–October 22
A flash of inspiration strikes this month. Your artistic medium of choice is your mind, and speech is your canvas. Share ideas with others. A family member who rarely speaks to you may make an appearance. Don’t let the lost time be a burden. It’s time to bond again.
SCORPIO Oct 23–Nov 21
A sense of confusion has been a recurring theme lately. Take a deep breath and clear your head. Don’t worry about being right all the time but put your focus on what is right for you. Make love to a lover or share a good romp with a friend. You shouldn’t be alone.
SAGITTARIUS Nov 22–December 20
Your family life is currently incompatible with your career, or so it seems. Find a balance by getting your priorities straight. The inclination to fight will lead to some passionate times. Channel passion into positive goals, and results will follow.
CAPRICORN Dec 21–Jan 19
Falling off the wagon is never fun, so hold on tight. Keep fiscal responsibility in mind and save your resources for something truly desired. A sleepy period has crept upon you, but a spicy time is right around the corner. Get some rest and be ready for when things heat up.
AQUARIUS Jan 20–Feb 18
Questions are bound to be plentiful while seeking for better understanding of a perplexing person. A dynamic with a co-worker or friend doesn’t go smoothly; it’s time to make things creamier. You may be more alike than you think. Good times will come in the form of a social affair.
PISCES Feb 19–Mar 19
Express yourself and enjoy expressions from others. Resist the need to issue decrees to friends. Experience simple pleasures, like listening to music or reading a book. Inspiration for your own work will be found. An authority figure will offer resistance; be aware.
