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Patricia Field's five fashion rules

The brilliant TV costume designer shares her top fashion secrets

Famed for creating Carrie's sassy style in Sex And The City and, more recently, Ugly Betty, costume designer Patricia Field shares her top fashion secrets.

Prints
‘I mix prints all the time. What I look for is what the two different prints share. Maybe they’re both graphic – perhaps one’s a polka dot and one’s a stripe – or they share certain colours in common. There have to be parallels that allow different prints to come together and that’s how you do it.’

Proportion
‘It helps a lot if you understand proportion. If you’re short and want to look taller, then elevate the eyeline of the viewer. A person with short legs, for example, should never wear low-rise pants because it makes the torso longer and the legs shorter. A short person will always look better if they raise the waistline because it brings the eye upwards. It’s just physics – it’s not brain surgery.’

Colour
Don’t feel that you have to turn the whole world into a psychedelic dream. Start out by using colour as an accent. If you wear neutral colours, get a red bag or pair of shoes instead of just matching them with another neutral. Do it as a touch, not as a complete look. Introduce yourself to it that way. Then, once you’ve taken that first step, the next one comes a little easier.’

Accessories
I like to use accessories a lot because today we all dress the same. The big trend over the years has been the simplification of clothing. It’s in the accessories that you can express yourself. It’s the accessory more than the clothes that gives you your look.’

Volume
Experimenting with volume will give you an odd silhouette, so stick to classic colours. You don’t want to put on the whole kitchen sink, either – if you’re wearing a balloon skirt, combine it with something plain, such as a T-shirt. Start off with a balloon-sleeved blouse or shoes with bubbles at the front. Otherwise, if you’re not careful, you’ll turn into a balloon and off you’ll fly.’


Tunic, £40, 6-16, French Connection, www.fcukbuymail.com
Bag, £55, Paul's Boutique at ASOS.com
Skirt, £45, 8-16, Warehouse, 0870 1228813
Pendant, £8, ASOS.com
Clutch bag, £50, Debenhams, 08445 616161
Puff-ball Dress, £65, one size, To Love Kuvva, 020 31162046
Wedges, £59.99, 3-7, Aldo, www.aldoshoes.com