HAPPY CLOTHES; A FILM ABOUT PATRICIA FIELD
by Kathryn Loggins

Michael Selditch, USA 2023

I have to admit that I had never heard the name Patricia Field before I saw this documentary at the festival, but I knew who she was. “How is that possible?” you might ask. Well, Patricia Field is the costume designer responsible for some of the most iconic looks in television and film history: Sarah Jessica Parker’s famous tutu from Sex and the City being just one example. The fashion industry is not something I’m very familiar with, so it was a thrilling experience to watch a film about a woman who is not only one of the best in her field, but also an integral part of the cultural fabric of New York City. Before she became a designer Patricia opened a clothing store in the heart of Greenwich Village in the 1960s, which became popular in the underground, transgender, and gay communities. She had a heart for these marginalized groups, because she was a part of them, and she employed many young night lifers such as Laverne Cox when they were just starting out in the city. Soon her shop became an iconic, must-see destination and she ran the store for 50 years. She transitioned into film and television in the 1980s and became one of the most sought-after designers for her unique style, amazing eye for color, and fearlessness.

Patricia Field doesn’t follow trends, she sets them, all while being extremely humble. She’s not comfortable in the spotlight, and as she’s being interviewed it’s almost as if she doesn’t understand why anyone would want to interview her in the first place, but that just adds to her charm. Director Michael Selditch, who was an architect for years before he became a filmmaker, meticulously crafts a portrait of a woman who is professionally revered and admired but is also just a fun hang and as quick as a whip, even at 80 years of age. The documentary uses standard documentary techniques like interviews and archival footage, but as a throughline, Selditch shows the viewer Patricia’s process by having the camera go to work with her. We get a fly-on-the-wall view of what it’s like to be in the room with Patricia as she’s making her decisions, dressing actors, and shopping. Through these personal moments, we get a sense of Patricia’s fun and funky essence, and her outlook on life, which is to be happy, as the title of the film suggests. “I like happy. I could never do a war movie. I like color”, Patricia says. This type of energy is infectious and when I was sitting in the theater appreciating this woman's life’s work I smiled and thought: Yeah, Patricia. I like happy, too.